Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
NHS England
1st Floor, Quarry House, Quarry Hill
Leeds
LS2 7UE
Contact
Anna Salt
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKE - Yorkshire and the Humber
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
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
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted to the above-mentioned address
Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at
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
Critical Care Transfer Coordination Service (Call Handling) – East Midlands
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 75122000 - Administrative healthcare services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
NHS Arden and Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support Unit (AGCSU), on behalf of NHS England (referred to as the Commissioner), is seeking to commission a suitably qualified and experienced provider to deliver the specialised critical care transfer co-ordination service (Call Handling) for the East Midlands Region through the publication of this ITT.
The service provider will receive and coordinate all urgent and emergency requests via telephone and digital routes, for intra-uterine (IUT), Neonatal critical care (CenTre), Paediatric critical care (CoMET), and Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO), for the East Midlands Region.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £4,253,832
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKF - East Midlands (England)
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Following a market engagement exercise which had a return date of 15th November 2023, Commissioners are now running an Invitation to Tender (ITT) process.
The Service is required to meet the following needs:
• To provide an expeditious 24/7 service that meets the quality schedule within the NHS Standard Contract for the management of all advice, facilitation of cot/bed locating where required, and/or transfer activity associated with IUT, Neonatal, Paediatric, and ECMO patients.
• To record, index, retain, and access when required, all requests received or facilitated by the service via digital and/or telephone/conference calling safely and accurately in line with NHS records retention policies.
• To provide accurate and timely information on all contacts (digital and/or telephone calls) managed as per the service specification and the information schedule (Schedule 6 within the NHS Standard Contract).
Commissioned Provider(s) must be able to meet all of the following key criteria:
• The ability to work with service leads to manage and coordinate requests for advice, cot/bed locating, and/or transport 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year in accordance with agreed quality and performance indicators for the services referred to above.
• Robust business continuity plans to ensure delivery of a safe service 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
• To have robust capacity and demand policies to manage any planned or unplanned surge in activity.
• The ability to accurately record reliable activity information on all requests as per the service specification and described within the NHS Standard Contract.
• The ability to digitally record, safely store, index, retrieve, and retain all requests (whatever format) received or made in or out of the services in accordance with NHS record retention policies and protocols.
• Evidence of being able to work collaboratively and cooperatively with NHS and Non-NHS providers / stakeholders to improve patient experience and safety.
• The ability to work with stakeholders to enhance and improve the service provision and delivery over the length of the contract.
• The ability to provide a reliable and secure communication (telephony, digital conferencing, and digital messaging) conduit for all requests between general hospitals, specialist treatment centres (Providers) and transport services.
• To have full support of their Board to provide this service in accordance with the NHS Standard Contract.
• This is an Administrative Service and does not require clinical qualifications. However, the Service Provider staff should have a basic understanding of the Clinical Services as it will involve communicating and facilitating discussions between clinicians.
• To be able to deliver this service safely and effectively from the contract start date of 1st November 2024 until 31st October 2029 and there is an option to extend the contract for up to a further 12 months.
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: £4,253,832
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start date
1 November 2024
End date
31 October 2030
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
The contract period is 5 years with the Commissioner having the option to extend the Contract for up to a further 12 months.
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
Open procedure
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2023/S 000-028235
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
23 February 2024
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: 4 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
23 February 2024
Local time
12:00pm
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
NHS Arden and GEM CSU
St John's House, East Street
Leicester
LE1 6NB
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
https://www.ardengemcsu.nhs.uk/
six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
NHS Arden and GEM CSU
St John's House, East Street
Leicester
LE1 6NB
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
https://www.ardengemcsu.nhs.uk/
six.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained
NHS Arden and GEM CSU
St John's House, East Street
Leicester
LE1 6NB
Country
United Kingdom