Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board
Charter House, Parkway
Welwyn Garden City
AL8 6JL
Contact
Sarah Beaumont
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKH23 - Hertfordshire
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://hertsandwestessex.icb.nhs.uk
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
Hertfordshire Admission Avoidance Response Car (HAARC)
Reference number
ACE-0734-2023-HWE
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85100000 - Health services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
This is a Voluntary Ex-Ante Transparency Notice and as such provides notification of the intention of the Authority to enter into a contract for the Hertfordshire Admission Avoidance Car (HAARC) with its incumbent provider, East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST).
The new contract is intended to begin on 1st April 2024 and end on 31st March 2025 with the option to extend for a further 12 months. The value of the new contract is £630,121 (excl. VAT) with a maximum cumulative value of £1,260,242. Please note that these are expected values and may be amended post contract finalisation with the provider.
The service has been in place since 1st April 2019 and has a total cumulative value of £2,889,498 (excluding the value of this new contract).
This service has an MDT approach with the ICBs Care home Improvement Team working alongside the HAARC Service / Specialist paramedic team to ensure the ICB reduces the number of admissions and attendances from care homes across South and West Hertfordshire. This is a specialised service which is only available from ambulance Trusts. This is a short-term arrangement with our incumbent provider which will allow the ICB time to review the service and understand future commissioning intentions.
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: £1,260,242
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH23 - Hertfordshire
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
This is a Voluntary Ex-Ante Transparency Notice and as such provides notification of the intention of the Authority to enter into a contract for the Hertfordshire Admission Avoidance Car (HAARC) with its incumbent provider, East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST).
The new contract is intended to begin on 1st April 2024 and end on 31st March 2025 with the option to extend for a further 12 months. The value of the new contract is £630,121 (excl. VAT) with a maximum cumulative value of £1,260,242. Please note that these are expected values and may be amended post contract finalisation with the provider.
The service has been in place since 1st April 2019 and has a total cumulative value of £2,889,498 (excluding the value of this new contract).
This service has an MDT approach with the ICBs Care home Improvement Team working alongside the HAARC Service / Specialist paramedic team to ensure the ICB reduces the number of admissions and attendances from care homes across South and West Hertfordshire. This is a specialised service which is only available from ambulance Trusts. This is a short-term arrangement with our incumbent provider which will allow the ICB time to review the service and understand future commissioning intentions.
The HAARC service provides quick access to specialist clinical advice and support to enhance the Care Home care management plans so that patients only attend hospital if it is clinically necessary. This has reduced ambulance conveyances to A&E, unplanned admissions, and frequent use of the UEC services. The HAARC service work closely with the EEAST ambulance service to assess ambulance callouts from care homes and is complemented by admission avoidance services, such the CLCH Rapid Response Service.
The service also provides bespoke training for the Care Home staff to enhance their skills.
HAARC provides the following outcomes:
• Reduction in ambulance conveyances to A&E from care homes.
• Reduction in unplanned admissions of care home patients.
• Reduction in frequent use of UEC services.
• Upskilling care home staff.
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
Option to extend for a further 12 months to 31st March 2026.
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
two.2.14) Additional information
In line with best practice, the Authority will observe a voluntary 10-day standstill period prior to finalising a new contract with the East of England Ambulance Service.
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:
There is a MDT approach to this service with the ICB's Care Home Improvement Team working alongside the HAARC Service/Specialist Paramedic team to ensure the ICB reduce the number of admissions and attendances from care homes across S&W Hertfordshire.
This is a specialised service only available from NHS Ambulance Trusts. Our local ambulance trust has been used for ease, however this is a short-term arrangement whilst the ICB is reviewing the service to understand future commissioning intentions which will ensure continuity of service for our patients.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
Section five. Award of contract/concession
Title
Hertfordshire Admission Avoidance Response Car (HAARC)
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
8 December 2023
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
East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST)
Whiting Way, Melbourne
Cambridgeshire
SG8 6EN
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKH12 - Cambridgeshire CC
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: £1,260,242
five.2.5) Information about subcontracting
The contract/lot/concession is likely to be subcontracted
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
High Court of Justice England and Wales
The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained
Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board
Charter House, Parkway
Welwyn Garden City
AL8 6JL
Country
United Kingdom