Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board
Charter House Parkway
Welwyn Garden City
AL8 6JL
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKH23 - Hertfordshire
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.hertsandwestessex.icb.nhs.uk/
Buyer's address
https://www.hertsandwestessex.icb.nhs.uk/
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Health
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Telephone and Messaging Based Advice & Guidance Service for Health Professionals
Reference number
C244252
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board (referred to as the Commissioner) invited suitably qualified and experienced providers to express their interest in delivering an Telephone and Message based Advice and Guidance Service to Health Care Professionals across the NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care System.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £3,000,000
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85140000 - Miscellaneous health services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH - East of England
Main site or place of performance
Herefordshire and West Essex
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board (referred to as the Commissioner) invited suitably qualified and experienced providers to express their interest in delivering an Telephone and Message based Advice and Guidance Service to Health Care Professionals across the NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care System.
The key aims and objectives of the digital platform were to enable both telephone based and clinically secure photo messaging application for the provision of Clinical Advice & Guidance for a range of clinical specialties.
The platform will provide a consistent level of stability and importantly a high level of connectivity with exceptional connection times measured in seconds.
The service is able to offer a range of specialties covering both physical and mental health.
The service is integrated with key local providers in HWE Integrated Care System (ICS) but is backed up by a network of NHS clinicians located outside of Hertfordshire and West Essex but within the UK.
The service will allow healthcare professionals to speak to other healthcare professionals locally or where not available to other healthcare professionals based elsewhere in the UK. The service will provide access to these UK based healthcare professionals either through their own network or through a third-party network that they will sub-contract.
This ensures that primary care always has access to immediate clinical advice and guidance.
The provision of healthcare professionals outside of HWE should be in a manner that does not result in a detrimental effect on NHS patients or services, nor diminish the public resources that are available for the NHS.
The service will also be available to other healthcare professionals and organisations within HWE ICS to allow appropriate advice and guidance to be given.
The process was a one stage open process.
The contract is for a period of 3 years with the option to extend for up to a further 2 years, commencing 1st August 2024.
The annual contract value was £600,000 inclusive of VAT (£1,800,000 for the initial 3-year term with an option to extend for a further 2 years totalling £3,000,000 over the total 5 year term).
Please note there was a financial threshold associated with this procurement. Any bids exceeding £600,000 per annum was excluded from evaluation and disqualified from the process. No bids over £600,000 per annum were accepted.
Providers registered for the opportunity via the link below, as detailed: https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome
Project Reference: C244252
Project Name: Telephone and Messaging Based Advice & Guidance Platform for Health Professionals
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Service Delivery / Weighting: 14
Quality criterion - Name: Workforce / Weighting: 4
Quality criterion - Name: Patient / Service User Focus / Weighting: 6
Quality criterion - Name: Information Management and Technology / Weighting: 8
Quality criterion - Name: Mobilisation and Continuity / Weighting: 5
Quality criterion - Name: Systems / Weighting: 10
Quality criterion - Name: Contract Management / Weighting: 6
Quality criterion - Name: Social Value / Weighting: 10
Quality criterion - Name: Clinical Governance Performance Quality / Weighting: 9
Quality criterion - Name: Information Governance / Weighting: 8
Cost criterion - Name: Finance / Weighting: 20
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
Contract was awarded on an initial term of 3 years contract term (1st August 2024 to 31st July 2027), with
the option to extend for up to a further 2 years (1st August 2024 to 31st July 2029).
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2024/S 000-004709
Section five. Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
19 August 2024
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Consultant Connect
One St Aldates, St. Aldates,
Oxford,
OX1 1DE
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKJ1 - Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £3,000,000
Total value of the contract/lot: £2,761,290
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
High Court
The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom