Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
NHS England
Wellington House, 133-135 Waterloo Road
London
SE18UG
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKI - London
Justification for not providing organisation identifier
Not on any register
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
NHS England South East - Diabetic Eye Screening Programmes (DESP) across the South East
Reference number
C253273
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85100000 - Health services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
NHS England South East (NHSE) sought to commission a Provider(s) which had the capability and capacity to deliver Diabetic Eye Screening Programmes (DESP) across the South East region, in line with the specified requirements.
The procurement was divided into 5 lots within the South East as follows:
Lot 1: Kent and Medway (ICB footprint)
Lot 2: Surrey Heartlands (ICB footprint)
Lot 3: Hampshire and IOW (ICB footprint)
Lot 4: Berkshire (Local Authority) and Frimley (ICB footprint)
Lot 5: Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire (Local Authority footprint)
Providers were able to bid for one or all Lots.
Contracts are for a term of 5 years, with the option to extend for up to a further 3 years. Services are planned to commence from 1st April 2025.
The eligible population includes patients over the age of 12 diagnosed with diabetes and registered with, or eligible to be registered with a GP, as well as individuals within prisons, secure units, and the armed forces.
The aim of the Diabetic Eye Screening Programme is to reduce the risk of sight loss amongst people with diabetes by the prompt identification and effective treatment, if necessary, of sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy.
This should be achieved by delivering an evidence-based service that:
• focuses on improving uptake, reducing inequalities, and improving outcomes
• is accessible across all service elements
• is engaging, and integrated, working effectively with service users and stakeholders to ensure seamless and high-quality care
• is safe, effective, and high quality, with robust processes along the pathway
• embed a culture of quality, improvement, and learning
• is well-led, managed, and staffed
There are three key elements of service delivery, namely:
• routine digital screening - from 2025 and 2026, all eligible patients are to be managed on 12- or 24-month intervals
• digital surveillance where more frequent screening of those individuals who may be at increased risk of developing diabetic retinopathy but have not reached the threshold to be referred into the Hospital Eye Services (HES), as required
• slit lamp bio-microscopy (SLB) for those individuals where normal photography is inappropriate (e.g., those having cataracts)
Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) will be introduced into the programme across England in line with national guidance.
The total contract values for the 5 year initial term were advertised as follows:
Lot 1: Kent and Medway - £17,755,303
Lot 2: Surrey Heartlands - £8,084,825
Lot 3: Hampshire and IOW - £16,695,800
Lot 4: Berkshire and Frimley - £11,311,121
Lot 5: Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire - £9,927,015
This notice serves as an intention to award a contract under the competitive process of the Provider Selection Regime (PSR).
This procurement has been carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners.
Section six. Complementary information
six.6) Original notice reference
Notice number: 2024/S 000-032257
Section seven. Changes
seven.1) Information to be changed or added
seven.2) Other additional information
The contract award date for these contracts is 22nd October 2024. The contract period for these contracts is 5 years, the contract start date is 1st April 2025 and the contract end date is 31st March 2030. The parties will also have the option to extend the contract for a further 3 years, with mutual agreement
The total awarded contract value of the contract are as follows:
Lot 1 - Kent and Medway: £16,815,307
Lot 2 - Surrey: £7,656,783
Lot 3 - HIOW: £15,811,901
Lot 4 - Berkshire & Frimley: £10,712,264
Lot 5 - Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire: £9,401,519
Overall total contract value: £60,397,774
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) confirmation of contract award notice. This contract has been awarded under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award. This contract has now been formally awarded using the competitive process.