Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
NHS Devon Integrated Care Board
Apeture House, Pynes Hill
Exeter
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKK4 - Devon
Justification for not providing organisation identifier
Not on any register
Internet address(es)
Main address
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
The provision of an Integrated Urgent Care Service to NHS Devon Integrated Care Board
Reference number
WA11777
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85100000 - Health services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
NHS Devon ICB (the Commissioner) is has awarded the provision of an Integrated Urgent Care Service (IUCS) for Devon.
The contract is for the provision of:
• 111 call handling services (NHS 111)
• Clinical Assessment of 111 calls through the Clinical Assessment Service (CAS)
• Out of Hours GP provision (OOH)
This procurement was carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioner in 2022 this notice is being issued retrospectively to allow a link to a modification notice. The original contract notice 2022/S 000-004971 was issued in 2022.
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: £163,054,012
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 64200000 - Telecommunications services
- 79512000 - Call centre
- 85312310 - Guidance services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKK4 - Devon
Main site or place of performance
Devon
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
NHS Devon ICB (the Commissioner) has awarded a contract for the provision of an Integrated Urgent Care Service (IUCS) for Devon.
The contract is for the provision of:
• 111 call handling services (NHS 111)
• Clinical Assessment of 111 calls through the Clinical Assessment Service (CAS)
• Out of Hours GP provision (OOH)
The NHS Long Term Plan clearly set out the need to act in redesigning the NHS urgent care 'access point', moving towards a "consult and complete" model.
NHS 111 provides a vital service to help people with urgent care needs to get assessment, clinical advice, and treatment quickly. The service is significantly enhanced by increasing clinical consultation for patients calling 111, so that more patients get the care and advice they need over the phone, and only those who genuinely need to attend A&E or use the ambulance service are advised to do this. All other patients have their issue resolved over the phone if possible, or if not will be directed to appropriate primary care or community services, with an emphasis on strongly supporting patients in self-care.
The core vision for the IUC service in Devon builds upon the success of NHS 111 in simplifying access for patients and increasing the confidence that they, commissioner, health
professionals and most importantly the public have in services.
The offer is easy access to urgent health care services that is fully integrated with all aspects of the system - through NHS 111. Integration sees urgent care services collaborating to deliver high quality, clinical assessment, advice, and treatment, with shared standards and processes and clear accountability and leadership. The 111 number must become the single telephony access
point.
The Clinical Assessment Service (CAS) is central to this, offering patients access to clinicians, both experienced generalists and specialists (such as Dental Nurses, Mental Health Nurses and Palliative Care Nurses). These clinicians will also be available to health professional colleagues who work with patients in the community, such as paramedics and nurses in nursing homes. Primary care out of hours and 111 services have been combined, and multidisciplinary clinicians added to the integrated working model. IUC services will book people into urgent face- to-face appointments where needed.
This processed was managed by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioner in 2022 this notice is being issued retrospectively to allow a link to a modification notice. The original contract notice 2022/S 000-004971 was issued in 2022.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Cost criterion - Name: Delivering value for money and adding value to the system / Weighting: 20
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.14) Additional information
At the end of the initial contract term the Commissioner will have an extension option for any number of periods up to a maximum of 3 years (with any initial extension period used being no less than 12 months), which will be awarded at their discretion (within a budget of £167m over 8 years if the full contract term is
fulfilled).
The services are healthcare services falling within Schedule 3 to the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 ("the Regulations") which are not subject to the full regime of the Regulations, but is instead governed by the "Light Touch Regime" contained within Chapter
3, Section 7 of the Regulations (Regulations 74 to 77).
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:
This notice is issued retrospectively, see notice 2022/S 000-004971 for the contract notice. This is in addition to the modification notice that was issued on the 21/10/2024.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
Section five. Award of contract
Title
The provision of an Integrated Urgent Care Service to NHS Devon Integrated Care Board
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
18 February 2022
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 4
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 0
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 4
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Practice Plus Group Urgent Care Limited
Hawker House, 5-6 Napier Court, Napier Road,
Reading
RG1 8BW
Telephone
+44 3339992570
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKJ1 - Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Companies House
05232967
Internet address
https://practiceplusgroup.com/
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £167,000,000
Total value of the contract/lot: £163,054,012
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
The services are healthcare services falling within Schedule 3 to the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 ("the Regulations") which are not subject to the full regime of the Regulations, but is instead governed by the "Light Touch Regime" contained within Chapter
3, Section 7 of the Regulations (Regulations 74 to 77).
The tendering process was conducted in accordance with the requirements and flexibilities provided by Articles 74 to 76 of the Directive, and Regulations 74 to 76 of the Regulations. The Authority ran a transparent tender process, treating all Bidders equally.
For the avoidance of doubt, the Authority was not bound by the Regulations or any other regulations or legislation except for the specific parts or circumstances that apply to the procurement of these Services.
Neither the inclusion of a Bidder selection stage, nor the use of any language or terms found in the Directive or Regulations, nor the description of the procedure voluntarily adopted by
the Authority ("Open", "Restricted", "Competitive Procedure with Negotiation", "Competitive Dialogue" or any other description), nor any other indication, shall be taken to mean that the Authority intends to hold itself bound by the Directive or Regulations, save by the provisions applicable to services coming within the scope of Annex XIV of the Directive / Schedule 3 of the Regulations.
The Contracting Authority voluntarily observed the award decision notices provisions and 10 day standstill period described in Regulation 86 of the Regulations.
Unsuccessful Bidders received scores and reasons for the decision, including the characteristics and relative advantages of the winning bid and the reasons why the Bidder/application was unsuccessful.
Deadline for lodging of appeals should be in
accordance with Regulation 87 and Regulation 91 of the Regulations
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
NHS Devon Integrated Care Borad
Exeter
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
As described in VI.3, deadline for lodging of appeals should be in accordance with Regulation 87 and Regulation 91 of the 2015 Regulations.