Scope
Reference
I-4570
Description
The provision of Oxfordshire's Integrated Community Equipment Service (ICES) is a critical service for Oxfordshire County Council, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
ICES covers the provision, delivery, collection and recycling of a wide range of community equipment. It supports hospital discharges, prevents and reduces hospital admissions and supports people who may be vulnerable to maintain their independence.
Contract 1. Integrated Community Equipment Contract
Supplier
Contract value
- £45,000,000 excluding VAT
- £54,000,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Earliest date the contract will be signed
1 August 2025
Contract dates (estimated)
- 2 August 2025 to 31 July 2028
- 2 years, 11 months, 30 days
Main procurement category
Goods
CPV classifications
- 33000000 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products
Contract locations
- UKJ14 - Oxfordshire
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Direct award
Direct award justification
Extreme and unavoidable urgency
A contract is being awarded in accordance with section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023 ("PA 2023") because of extreme and unavoidable urgency.
Pursuant to the Care Act 2014, the Council has a statutory duty to provide the integrated community equipment and telecare services (the "Services").
The existing provider of integrated community equipment services have notified the Council that they will cease trading on the 31st July 2025 and therefore cease providing the Services to the Council and the Consortium. This was unforeseen and outside of the control of the Council.
This means that it is necessary for the Council (on the behalf of the Consortium) to urgently award a replacement contract to secure continuity of critical statutory Services in Oxfordshire.
This is an exceptional situation where extreme urgency has been brought about by events unforeseeable and not attributable by the Council, making it impossible for the Council to conduct a regulated competitive tendering process within prescribed time limits due to the requirement to secure continuity of critical statutory Services from 31st July 2025.
The Council have considered all options and taken independent advice and have concluded that there is insufficient time and that it is impossible to run a competitive tendering procedure (even on an accelerated basis, or otherwise a call-off from a framework agreement) in time to ensure continuity of the Services with effect from 31st July 2025.
ICES is a very complex service and the market is in a state of flux in response to the financial collapse of one of the leading suppliers. Three years will allow sufficient time for the unplanned transition and stabilisation of the service, commercial shaping of the wider equipment market, subsequent competitive tendering and mobilisation of longer term ICES contract.
A shorter contract would put increased risk on stakeholders and suppliers at a time when they are focussing on establishing, stabilising, and recovering multiple services. There would be significant commercial implications for taxpayers and the public purse, such as capital funding demands and significantly higher overhead / margin recovery from suppliers who need to recoup set up costs on a much shorter timescale.
Supplier
Millbrook Healthcare Ltd
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PXMQ-4279-NRYQ
Nutsey Lane, Calmore Industrial Es
Southampton
SO40 3XJ
United Kingdom
Region: UKJ36 - Central Hampshire
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Contract 1. Integrated Community Equipment Contract
Contracting authorities
Oxfordshire County Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PZNW-8281-MHNM
County Hall
Oxford
OX1 1ND
United Kingdom
Contact name: Matthew Clothier
Email: matt.clothier@oxfordshire.gov.uk
Website: http://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk
Region: UKJ14 - Oxfordshire
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PMNX-8259-DYLT
Headley Way, Headington,
Oxford
OX3 9DU
United Kingdom
Region: UKJ14 - Oxfordshire
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government