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
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
Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service (NEPTS)
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 provision of Non-Emergency Transport Services (NEPTS) with its incumbent provider, East of England NHS Ambulance Trust (EEAST).
The new contract is intended to start on 1st October 2024 and will be for a period of 1-year, ending on 30th September 2025. Prior to the the incorporation of NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB, the service was provided to each of the Clinical Commissioning Groups under separate contractual arrangements but delivered by the same provider.
The contract has now been consolidated into a single contract under an all inclusive block arrangement. The total cumulative value of all contracts since they started, to 30th September 2024 will be £43,065,760 (exclusive of VAT). Please note that these are expected values and may be amended post contract finalisation with the provider.
The value of the new proposed contract is £9,293,757 (exclusive of VAT).
NHS England has bene working to improve NEPTS and as a part of this work, certain regions have been identified as pathfinder areas to test the implementation of the new national framework for NEPTS. The East of England Region is one of those pathfinder areas. EEAST are participating in the second wave of the national pilot for the coordination of NEPTS at both a regional and place-based level to explore how the service can support the regionally agreed clinical model of Access to the Stack, 'Call before you Convey' and Community Hubs.
This work may have implications for the future service model which the new specification should consider. To procure the service at this point would likely mean that a service model is implemented which is not fit for the future and not in line with the national model.
A process will be undertaken prior to the new contract end date to ensure a new contract is in place by 1st October 2025.
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: £9,293,757
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH23 - Hertfordshire
- UKH35 - West Essex
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 provision of Non-Emergency Transport Services (NEPTS) with its incumbent provider, East of England NHS Ambulance Trust (EEAST).
The new contract is intended to start on 1st October 2024 and will be for a period of 1-year, ending on 30th September 2025. Prior to the the incorporation of NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB, the service was provided to each of the Clinical Commissioning Groups under separate contractual arrangements but delivered by the same provider.
The contract has now been consolidated into a single contract under an all inclusive block arrangement. The total cumulative value of all contracts since they started, to 30th September 2024 will be £43,065,760 (exclusive of VAT). Please note that these are expected values and may be amended post contract finalisation with the provider.
The value of the new proposed contract is £9,293,757 (exclusive of VAT).
NHS England has bene working to improve NEPTS and as a part of this work, certain regions have been identified as pathfinder areas to test the implementation of the new national framework for NEPTS. The East of England Region is one of those pathfinder areas. EEAST are participating in the second wave of the national pilot for the coordination of NEPTS at both a regional and place-based level to explore how the service can support the regionally agreed clinical model of Access to the Stack, 'Call before you Convey' and Community Hubs.
This work may have implications for the future service model which the new specification should consider. To procure the service at this point would likely mean that a service model is implemented which is not fit for the future and not in line with the national model.
A process will be undertaken prior to the new contract end date to ensure a new contract is in place by 1st October 2025.
Non-Emergency Patient Transport is an eligibility-based service that provides transport and care to individuals that, due to their medical needs, would otherwise be unable to travel to or from the point at which they receive health care services.
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
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 East of England Ambulance NHS Trust.
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:
NHSE has been working on improving NEPTS and as part of this effort certain regions have been identified as pathfinder areas to test the implementation of the new national framework for NEPTS. Our region, the East of England, is one of the pathfinder areas. East of England NHS Trust (EEAST) are participating in the second wave of the national pilot for the co-ordination of NEPTS, at a regional and place-based level to explore how the service can support the regionally agreed clinical model of Access to the Stack, ‘Call before you Convey’ and Community Hubs.
This work may have implications for the future service model which the new specification should consider. To procure the service at this point would likely mean that a service model is implemented which is not fit for the future and not in line with the national model.
A process will be undertaken prior to the new contract end date to ensure a new contract is in place by 1st October 2025.
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
Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services (NEPTS)
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, Melbourn
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: £9,293,757
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