Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board
Charter House Parkway
Welwyn Garden City
AL8 6JL
hweicbhv.procurementteam@nhs.net
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKH23 - Hertfordshire
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.hertsandwestessex.icb.nhs.uk/
Buyer's address
https://www.hertsandwestessex.icb.nhs.uk/
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
one.5) Main activity
Health
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
SWH - Verulam Chronic Migraine Service 25/27
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85100000 - Health services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The chronic migraine service is provided by Neecare Health Care Ltd
The service undertakes clinical management of chronic migraine for patients who suffer persistent headache.
Neecare chronic migraine service provides clinical intervention for the management of chronic migraine by administering Botulinum injection including regular therapy.
Patients are referred by Neurologist having been diagnosed with Chronic Migraine and meet NICE Guidelines for Botulinum Injection administration.
To confirm, as per the PSR direct award process C, the existing provider is satisfying the existing contract, delivering a good service, meeting all KPIs, with no quality concerns with very good feedback from Clinicians and patients and are likely to satisfy the new contract, The proposed contracting arrangements are not changing from the existing contract.
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: £155,496
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH23 - Hertfordshire
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Chronic Migraine Clinic provide treatment for patients who suffer from persistence headache of:
• Either tension-type and/or migraine quality and occurs on ≥15 days per month for at least 3 months.
• No medication overuse.
A strict referral criterion ensures patients would have to see a Neurologist to be diagnosed with Chronic Migraine and then meets the NICE Guidelines for Botulinum administration.
As such the clinic only accepts referrals from a Neurologist who has diagnosed Chronic Migraine in the patient and who fulfil the NICE criteria.
The clinic maintains close links with the Neurology department at East & North Hertfordshire Trust to receive appropriate support, resources, and education.
The clinic offers face to face and virtual educational sessions about chronic migraine with clearly defined pathway.
The contract is for one year with option to renew for a further one year based on FOT of £77, 748.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: The existing provider is satisfying the original contract and will likely satisfy the proposed contract to a sufficient standard / Weighting: 100
Cost criterion - Name: Price / Weighting: 0
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
1 year with option to extend for a further 1 year
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
The contract is for one year with option to renew for a further one year based on FOT of £77, 748. From April 2025 to March 2027
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
- New works/services, constituting a repetition of existing works/services
Explanation:
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to 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. The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority by 24/12/2024. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR
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
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
12 December 2024
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Verulam Chronic Migraine Injection Clinic
Neecare Ltd 129 London Road ST Albans United Kingdom
St Albans
AL1 1TA
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKH23 - Hertfordshire
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £155,496
Total value of the contract/lot: £155,496
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to 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. The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to decision makers by 24/12/2024. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR
The business case including the recommendation to award the contract under Provider Selection Regime Process C was approved at the ICB Strategic Finance & Commissioning Committee on the 12/09/2024.
The options paper for this service was presented at the following panels and committees:
• SWH HCP Finance and Commissioning Committee - 22/08/2024
• ICB Commissioning and Contracting Panel - 29/08/2024 (extraordinary meeting)
• Financial Scrutiny Panel - 06/09/2024
• HWE ICB Strategic Finance and Commissioning Committee - 12/09/2024
The were no conflict or potential conflicts declared.
The decision to award this contract in line with Direct Award Process C was based on evaluation against the five required key criteria as follows:
• Quality and Innovation – Assured – HWE ICB are assured that the provider is delivering a safe and effective service as required by the specification and contract they are currently delivering. This criterion was reviewed in line with the Quality Impact Assessment.
• Value – Assured – HWE ICB are assured that the provider is delivering value for money and providing an innovative, sustainable, high-quality service with positive outcomes for patients within the financial envelop.
• Integration, Collaboration and Service Sustainability – Assured – HWE ICB are assured that the provider is positively impacting on the Integrated Care System through their integration and collaboration delivered as a requirement of the specification or alternative elements linked to the delivery.
• Improving Access, Reducing Health Inequalities and Facilitating Choice – Assured – HWE ICB are assured that the provider is meeting needs of the population to ensure equitable access and choice as required by the specification and contract. This criterion was reviewed in line with the Equality Impact Assessment.
• Social Value – Assured – HWE ICB are assured that the provider is delivering in line with the HWE Green Plan, supporting with the implementation of carbon reduction and increase in initiatives which positively impact on the wider determinants of health.
There is currently no alternative local provider for the service and the main benefits include:
• Reducing avoidable A&E attendances and GP appointments and costs associated with these attendances, and potential patient transport costs to attend out of area appointments mainly Royal Free and University College London.
• A locally agreement price for the activity.
• Patient experience and outcomes including self-manage their condition, care closure to home, and seamless care between community, secondary care and primary care.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board
Charter House Parkway
Welwyn Garden City
AL8 6JL
Country
United Kingdom