Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Department for Infrastructure
10-18 Adelaide St
BELFAST
BT2 8GB
SSDAdmin.CPD@finance-ni.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps
Buyer's address
https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
General public services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
DAC 156/22 - DfI - DVA - Provision of Professional Medical Advisory Services relating to DVA License Applications
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
This DAC is to provide Occupational Health Services to the DVA, acting on behalf of the Department for Infrastructure.
As a result of reducing resources and additional work demands, OHS’ specialist medical assessment service provider are currently experiencing difficulties in delivering the medical assessment service for driver assessments which they carry out for the Driver & Vehicle Agency (an Agency of the Department for Infrastructure).
These are urgent, critical services. The ability to procure these services to support will safeguard the delivery of fitness to drive medical assessments to the DVA.
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: £4,200,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKN - Northern Ireland
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
This DAC is to provide Occupational Health Services to the DVA, acting on behalf of the Department for Infrastructure.
DVA are required to be satisfied that a driver meets the required medical fitness to drive standards as part of the licensing consideration. This may be done in-house by DVA staff who assess the information available, or by referring the case to the qualified medical officers who may be able to assess the case on the information provided, request further information or determine that a specialist medical assessment is required, in which case the driver is referred to the OHS’ specialist medical assessment service provider. As a result of reducing resources and additional work demands, OHS’ specialist medical assessment service provider are currently experiencing difficulties in delivering the medical assessment service for driver assessments which they carry out for the Driver & Vehicle Agency (an Agency of the Department for Infrastructure).
These are urgent, critical services. The ability to procure these services to support will safeguard the delivery of fitness to drive medical assessments to the DVA. There are capacity and capability issues in this sector, with competing demand for resources in both the private and public sector and the Department must act quickly to secure essential support. This DAC provides support for a period of up to 24 months. During this time DVA will continue to consider options and seek to implement a longer term solution to secure the provision of fitness to drive medical assessments. Services must be covered in the interim to cover statutory responsibilities. These are urgent, critical, citizen facing services. There is no option to do nothing and it is in the public interest to expedite the appointment of a contractor.
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
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:
The provider is an established and experienced occupational health service provider, and they have confirmed that they can deliver a range of occupational health services to assist the DVA. The ability to procure these services to support OHS activities will safeguard the delivery of critical, citizen facing services.
Approval is being sought to procure these services through a Direct Award Contract (DAC) as an interim
arrangement while longer term solutions are implemented.
Under Regulation 32 of PCR 2015 (as amended), there are derogations to award a contract to a single supplier where the supplies or services can only be supplied by a particular supplier. In this case specifically applying the derogation under Regulation 32(2)(c) whereby it is strictly necessary where, for reasons of extreme
urgency brought about by events unforeseeable by the contracting authority, the time limits for the open or restricted procedures or competitive procedures with negotiation cannot be complied with.
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/concession
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
21 December 2022
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
3fivetwo Healthcare
21 Old Channel Road
Belfast
BT3 9DE
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKN - Northern Ireland
Internet address
https://www.3fivetwohealthcare.com/
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £4,200,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
The UK does not have any special review body with responsibility for appeal/mediation procedures in public procurement competitions. Instead; any challenges are dealt with by the High Court, Commercial Division, to which proceedings may be issued regarding alleged breaches of the PCR 2015.
Belfast
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
The Public Contract Regulations 2015 (as amended) provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by a breach of the rules to take action in the High Court (England, Wales and Northern Ireland). The authority incorporates a standstill period (i.e. a minimum of 10 calendar days) before this contract is awarded.