Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
NHS England Midlands
County Hall, Glenfield, Leicester
Glenfield, Leicester
LE3 8RA
Contact
Anna Salt
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.england.nhs.uk/midlands/
Buyer's address
https://www.england.nhs.uk/midlands/
one.3) Communication
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at
https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome
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
Critical Care Transfer Coordination Service (Call Handling) – East Midlands
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 75122000 - Administrative healthcare services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
NHS Arden and Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support Unit (AGCSU), on behalf of NHS England Midlands (referred to as the Commissioner), is undertaking a market engagement exercise to understand the current and future capacity and capability of the providers and potential providers within this specialised area. Interested parties are encouraged to register their interest and participate in the market questionnaire which will provide feedback to commissioners.
The service provider will receive and coordinate urgent and emergency requests made via telephone and digital routes 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year from specialised service leads who require advice on resuscitation and stabilisation, to facilitate cot/bed locating from within and outside the East Midlands region, and/or to facilitate patient transfers to and from general hospitals to specialist treatment centres via the commissioned Ambulance Transport Provider (currently St John Ambulance).
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKF - East Midlands (England)
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
NHS England Midlands would like to identify providers who are interested in the provision of a 24/7 critical care transfer coordination service (Call Handling) in line with the service specification.
The service will receive and coordinate all urgent and emergency requests for advice and/or transfers (via telephone and digital routes) for intra-uterine, neonatal critical care (CenTre), paediatric critical care (CoMET), and Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) for the East Midlands Region. It will manage requests according to agreed protocols and act as a conduit to support the provision of advice, patient referrals and transfers being processed, including the facilitation of cot/bed locating calls where required. The service will be delivered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The service will respond to all requests within the Key Performance Indicators.
This notice is to advise prospective providers in the market of the commissioner’s intention to commission this service and to provide an opportunity to engage with and participate in a market engagement questionnaire. The outcome of this market engagement will help inform commissioners of the current and future capacity and capability of the market and will be considered with other evidence to inform the commissioning approach. Where it is noted that competition is absent, direct awards may be considered. All providers will be notified of next steps following the conclusion of this market engagement exercise.
It is anticipated that the contract duration for this service will be 5 years, including an option to extend for up to an additional 12 months.
The questionnaire is available through the Atamis portal:
https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome
There will also be an opportunity to attend a market engagement event via Microsoft Teams at 3.30pm – 5pm on Thursday 19th October 2023. If you would like to participate in this event, please email anna.salt@nhs.net by 9am on Thursday 19th October 2023. All slides and questions and responses will be made available to all bidders following the event.
The reference is C211721 and the closing date for submission of the completed questionnaire will be: 12pm midday on Wednesday 15th November 2023.
two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice
22 December 2023
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes