Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board (ICB)
Sackville House, Brooks Close
Lewes
BN7 2FZ
Contact
Stuart Meredith
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKJ2 - Surrey, East and West Sussex
NHS Organisation Data Service
QNX
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.sussex.ics.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
Self-Funder Support Service
Reference number
C363865
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85100000 - Health services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
NOTIFICATION OF INTENTION TO AWARD: The service supports patients who have been determined as not eligible for adult social care due to being over the funding threshold in the next steps to discharge from acute and community hospitals. This includes care home placement or packages of care to return home.
Following a successful two-year contract in West Sussex and a pilot of the service in East Sussex, the service is well established in Sussex contributing supporting self-funders and supporting discharges from hospitals.
Contract length: 2-year contract with an option to extend for a further 2-years
Annual contract value: £222,407
Total contract value (2-year + 2-year option) = £889,628
Contract service dates = 1st August 2025 to 31st July 2027
2-year extension dates = 1st August 2027 to 31st July 2029
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: £889,628
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85100000 - Health services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKJ2 - Surrey, East and West Sussex
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
NOTIFICATION OF INTENTION TO AWARD: The service supports patients who have been determined as not eligible for adult social care due to being over the funding threshold in the next steps to discharge from acute and community hospitals. This includes care home placement or packages of care to return home.
Following a successful two-year contract in West Sussex and a pilot of the service in East Sussex, the service is well established in Sussex contributing supporting self-funders and supporting discharges from hospitals.
Aims and objectives
The objectives of the service are to:
• support self-funders and their family/carers in the process of discharging from an acute and/or community hospital.
• contribute to overall patient flow releasing hospital beds for those that need them
• provide a speed of service from referral to placement of no more than 6 days (current average speed of service per month).
• provide a supportive, positive experience for patients and their family/carers.
Contract length: 2-year contract with an option to extend for a further 2-years
Annual contract value: £222,407
Total contract value (2-year + 2-year option) = £889,628
Contract service dates = 1st August 2025 to 31st July 2027
2-year extension dates = 1st August 2027 to 31st July 2029
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: The contract award criteria are specified in the procurement documents / Weighting: 80
Cost criterion - Name: The contract award criteria are specified in the procurement documents / Weighting: 20
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: 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:
This procurement process used a SBS Framework.
four.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement
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
Contract No
SBS10230
Lot No
Lot 2
Title
Patient Discharge and Mental Health Step Down Beds (Care) Services
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
10 July 2025
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
Pulse Healthcare Limited t/a Xyla
9 Appold Street
London
EC2A 2AP
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKI - London
Companies House
03156103
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £889,628
Total value of the contract/lot: £889,628
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 and the Procurement Act 2023 do not apply to this award.The standstill period begins on the day after the publication of this notice. Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority by Midnight 11:59pm on 5th August 2025. Representations can only be made by providers party to the framework agreement. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR
Written representations should be sent to Stuart Meredith at the following email address: stuart.meredith1@nhs.net.
No conflicts of interest were identified. Decision maker: Deputy Director of Commissioning and Transformation, NHS Sussex ICB.
Evaluation key Criteria
The service evaluation was reviewed against the 5 key criteria:
The key criteria were weighted as follows:
• Quality and innovation - 30%
• Value -20%
• Integration, Collaboration and Service Sustainability - 15%
• Improving access, reducing health inequalities and facilitating choice -25%
• Social Value -10%
Quality & Innovation: This criterion is the heaviest weighting as quality and innovation are key aspects of successfully delivering the service, in particular ensuring the patient and their family/carer are at the centre of the process.
Value: This criterion shares the second heaviest weighting as well. The contract needs to display it is good value for money in ensuring the number of placements for patients across the three areas of Sussex.
Integration, Collaboration and Service Sustainability: This criterion shares the second heaviest weighting with "Improving Access, reducing health inequalities and facilitating choice" and "Value". The service relies on working closely with a range of system partners to support self-funders, placing patients at the centre of the service. The service must be sustainable longer term to continuously contribute to system flow and improved patient outcomes.
Improving access, reducing health inequalities and facilitating choice: This criterion shares the second heaviest weighting as the service will ensure better outcomes for patients and contribute to flow, so acute care is available to those who need it most.
Social Value: This criterion recognises the potential impact of the service to broader social, economic, and environmental improvements in the community.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board (ICB)
Sackville House, Brooks Close
Lewes
BN7 2FZ
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
NHS England
Skipton House, 80 London Road
London
SE1 6LH
Country
United Kingdom