Section one: Contracting authority/entity
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://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
Enhanced Community Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Service
Reference number
ACE-0728-2023-HWE
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85100000 - Health services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The purpose of this Voluntary Ex-Ante Transparency Notice is to inform the market of NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Boards (HWE ICB) intention to award a short-term contract to its incumbent provider, Communitas Clinics Ltd, to continue providing an Enhanced Community Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Service across South and West Hertfordshire.
Communitas Clinics Ltd were awarded a 3-year contract in October 2018 (with the option to extend for 2-years) to provide the service following an open competitive process.
The extension period comes to an end on 3rd February 2024. The intended new contract will start on 4th February 2024 and will end on 31st March 2025. This new short-term contract will enable time for full engagement and consultation on the services across the three 'places' within Hertfordshire and West Essex to fully review existing services with the aim of moving towards a more equitable ENT offer across the ICB.
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: £1,593,206
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH23 - Hertfordshire
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The purpose of this Voluntary Ex-Ante Transparency Notice is to inform the market of NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Boards (HWE ICB) intention to award a short-term contract to its incumbent provider, Communitas Clinics Ltd, to continue providing an Enhanced Community Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Service across South and West Hertfordshire.
Communitas Clinics Ltd were awarded a 3-year contract in October 2018 and went live on 4th February 2019 (with the option to extend for 2-years) to provide the service following an open competitive process.
The extension period comes to an end on 3rd February 2024. The intended new contract will start on 4th February 2024 and will end on 31st March 2025. This new short-term contract will enable time for full engagement and consultation on the services across the three 'places' within Hertfordshire and West Essex to fully review existing services with the aim of moving towards a more equitable ENT offer across the ICB.
The service delivers an Enhanced Community Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Service for patients with non-emergency ENT conditions across all four localities in South and West Herts place. This specialist community model is provided and led from a muti-disciplinary hub, enabling specialist assessment of patients in the community and quicker access to multi-disciplinary team assessment, diagnostics and treatments with a choice of an elective care provider, if required. It focusses on clearly defined clinical pathways, GP support, advice and guidance and education.
The value of the contract to date is estimated at £6,608,951 (excluding VAT). This is an estimate as the 2023/4 full year effect is not yet known.
The value of the intended new contract is £1,593,206 (excluding VAT).
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
two.2.14) Additional information
In line with best practice, the Authority will apply a voluntary 10-day standstill period before conclusion of the contract. The 10-day standstill period will start the day after the publication date of this notice.
Therefore, the date of conclusion of contract within this notice is the date on which the approach was approved through internal governance.
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below
- The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations
Explanation:
NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board became a legal entity on 1st July 2022 in place of the three Clinical Commissioning Groups which previously covered the areas (West Essex CCG, East & North Herts CCG and Herts Valleys CCG). Since it was formed, NHS HWE ICB have been reviewing the services provided across its area.
This short-term contract will enable the ICB sufficient time to undertake full and robust engagement and consultation across the three 'places' within the ICB area to review existing services with the aim of moving towards a more equitable ENT offer across the ICB as historically, these services were commissioned separately by each of the Clinical Commissioning Groups.
This approach will allow continuity of services for the patient population and will ensure that a new service is developed which fully meets their needs going forward.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
Section five. Award of contract/concession
Title
Enhanced Community Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) Service
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
25 October 2023
five.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
Communitas Clinics Limited
83 Brigstock Road
Thornton Heath
CR7 7JH
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKJ2 - Surrey, East and West Sussex
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £1,593,206
five.2.5) Information about subcontracting
The contract/lot/concession is likely to be subcontracted
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
High Court of Justice England and Wales
The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained
Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board
Charter House, Parkway
Welwyn Garden City
AL8 6JL
Country
United Kingdom