Opportunity

NHS Dorset ICB - Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service (NEPTS) Discharges, enhanced priority, HDU, and 'on-the-day' activity

  • NHS Dorset Integrated Care Board

F02: Contract notice

Notice reference: 2023/S 000-034046

Published 17 November 2023, 10:24am



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

NHS Dorset Integrated Care Board

Vespasian House, Barrack Road

Dorchester

DT11TG

Contact

Angela Mortley

Email

angelamortley@nhs.net

Telephone

+44 7990551036

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKK2 - Dorset and Somerset

NHS Organisation Data Service

11J

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://nhsdorset.nhs.uk/

Buyer's address

https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome

one.3) Communication

The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at

https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via

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

NHS Dorset ICB - Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service (NEPTS) Discharges, enhanced priority, HDU, and 'on-the-day' activity

Reference number

C226461

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 85000000 - Health and social work services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

NHS Dorset Integrated Care Board (Dorset ICB) are seeking the provision of Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service (NEPTS) for Discharges, enhanced priority, HDU, and 'on-the-day' activity.

The service is to be responsive and organised to meet people's needs. This includes service planning and delivery to meet the requirements of local people and their individual needs in accessing care and treatment flow in a timely way.

Health systems suffer alongside Service Users if transport is delayed:

o Creating disruption and unnecessary cost.

o Holding back the use of beds for others who need them.

o Undermining a Service User's continued recovery and wellbeing during discharge.

The NEPT Service promotes access to healthcare provision through an NHS funded transport service for those patients registered with a GP in NHS Dorset meeting the eligibility criteria as set down by NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). Including vulnerable people by reason of mental health or learning disability, children, and eligible escorts.

It is therefore a requirement that journeys must comply with eligibility/access criteria contained within the Service Specification and the NHS Dorset Eligibility Criteria Framework Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services (NEPTS). As such, a Service User's need will determine the required vehicle, crew, and any escort/s. Full details including specification, activity, scope and requirements can be found within the procurement documentation.

The Contract will be for an initial term of 5 years, with an option to extend for any period up to a further 2 years, as defined and at the sole discretion of the Commissioner. Services are scheduled to commence on 27th April 2024. The budget is £1,623,566 inclusive of VAT per annum which would give a total contract value of £11,364,961 inclusive of VAT, over 7 years if the full contract term is fulfilled.

This procurement is being carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners.

two.1.5) Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: £11,364,961

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.2) Description

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKK2 - Dorset and Somerset

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

NHS Dorset Integrated Care Board (Dorset ICB) are seeking the provision of Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service (NEPTS) for Discharges, enhanced priority, HDU, and 'on-the-day' activity.

The service is to be responsive and organised to meet people's needs. This includes service planning and delivery to meet the requirements of local people and their individual needs in accessing care and treatment flow in a timely way.

Health systems suffer alongside Service Users if transport is delayed:

o Creating disruption and unnecessary cost.

o Holding back the use of beds for others who need them.

o Undermining a Service User's continued recovery and wellbeing during discharge.

The NEPT Service promotes access to healthcare provision through an NHS funded transport service for those patients registered with a GP in NHS Dorset meeting the eligibility criteria as set down by NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). Including vulnerable people by reason of mental health or learning disability, children, and eligible escorts.

It is therefore a requirement that journeys must comply with eligibility/access criteria contained within the Service Specification and the NHS Dorset Eligibility Criteria Framework Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services (NEPTS). As such, a Service User's need will determine the required vehicle, crew, and any escort/s. Full details including specification, activity, scope and requirements can be found within the procurement documentation.

The Contract will be for an initial term of 5 years, with an option to extend for any period up to a further 2 years, as defined and at the sole discretion of the Commissioner. Services are scheduled to commence on 27th April 2024. The budget is £1,623,566 inclusive of VAT per annum which would give a total contract value of £11,364,961 inclusive of VAT, over 7 years if the full contract term is fulfilled.

This procurement is being carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents

two.2.6) Estimated value

Value excluding VAT: £11,364,961

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Duration in months

84

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

At the end of the contract term.

two.2.10) Information about variants

Variants will be accepted: No

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: Yes

Description of options

The Contract will be for an initial term of 5 years, with an option to extend for any period up to a further 2 years, as defined and at the sole discretion of the Commissioner.


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: No

four.2) Administrative information

four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate

Date

18 December 2023

Local time

12:00pm

four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted

English

four.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender

Duration in months: 6 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)

four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders

Date

18 December 2023

Local time

12:10pm


Section six. Complementary information

six.1) Information about recurrence

This is a recurrent procurement: Yes

six.3) Additional information

Interested providers will be able to view this opportunity via the live opportunities list on the 'Health Family' e-procurement system, Atamis. Click on 'View our Live Opportunities' from the home page, available on the following link: https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome.

Once you have found the opportunity (via the search function, using the title or reference number), to gain full access to the bid documentation (including questionnaires), you will need to click on 'Register interest' - this will take you to the log-in page.

If you are not already registered on the system, you will need to do so before gaining full access to the documentation and be able to submit a bid.

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 are instead governed by the "Light Touch Regime" contained within Chapter 3, Section 7 of the Regulations (Regulations 74 to 77).

The tendering process will be 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 will run a transparent tender process, treating all Bidders equally. For the avoidance of doubt, the Authority will not be 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 intends to voluntarily observe the award decision notices provisions and 10-day standstill period described in Regulation 87 of the Regulations. Unsuccessful Bidders will receive 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

High Court

London

Country

United Kingdom

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.