GP Services Purchasing System (PDPS) for APMS contracts: GP services and GP Caretaking services

NHS England has set up an online platform called Pseudo Dynamic Purchasing System (PDPS) to help streamline the process of procurement of primary care services in England.

This PDPS is an electronically managed list of pre-approved (accredited) providers which local commissioners can use to call-off and award Alternative Provider Medical Services (APMS) contracts - usually following a bid evaluation process.

The system is intended to simplify the procurement process by maintaining a directory of accredited providers who can be invited to bid at any time when the requirements arise. Under limited circumstances the system also allows direct awards when the relevant requirements are met.

This website hosts relevant information about the PDPS for both the Providers who may wish to join the platform or are already on the platform as well as the Commissioners who may wish to use the platform to procure primary care services using an APMS contract.

Lots

This PDPS is split into Lots differentiating between:

Lot 1: Substantive APMS contracts - generally longer-term contracts for the delivery of primary medical services.

This Lot supports procurement plans for replacing existing or securing additional GP services and covers the core list-based services expected from all GP practices in England.

The emphasis here is on meeting planned needs that are typically subject to full commissioning and procurement processes. APMS contracts awarded will reflect the bespoke needs of each local commissioner.

Lot 2: GP Caretaker service contracts - generally urgent short-term APMS contracts for a step-in provider of primary medical services.

This Lot seeks to support urgent cover arrangements, approved by primary care commissioning committees, on a case by case basis, to ensure a safe and sustainable GP service continues for patients when a GP contract terminates suddenly or unexpectedly.

Each Lot is broken down into 7 Sub-Lots by geographical region. Applicants (Providers) are asked to confirm their Lot and Sub-Lot interest as part of their PDPS Application.

When the requirements arise, call-Off procurements will be run within specific Sub-Lots and only the accredited Providers listed on the PDPS in the relevant Sub-Lot in will be invited to submit tender responses.

Application Rounds - Timetable

The PDPS will remain open for four (4) years until 19 January 2024 and providers can apply for accreditation at any time. For the purposes of organisation of applications and evaluations, the timeline is divided into 'Rounds'. In each application Round bidders who apply, will be evaluated and where successful accredited on the PDPS in line with the published timetable.

Please refer to the PDPS webpage for detailed timeline:

https://londoncommercialhub.nhs.uk/pdps/

Additional information: Bidding for contracts

Providers may bid for specific contracts when local commissioners use the system to procure APMS contracts in their geographical areas. When a requirement arises, an optional Prior Information Notice (PIN) may be published to inform the market of the forthcoming opportunity so that any providers who are not already on the PDPS may register and get accredited. A call off invitation will be only sent to the accredited providers. A tender submission from a provider who is not accredited on the PDPS at the point of call-off publication will not be accepted.

Regulations

This PDPS has been set up in line with "Schedule 3 - Social and Other Specific Services" under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, and the Commissioners are bound only by those parts of the Regulations applying to Schedule 3 services.

This PDPS is being managed by NHS London Commercial Hub on behalf of the CSU collaborative that provides procurement services for commissioners, including primary care, on behalf of NHS England.

Process

This PDPS involves a 4-year procurement exercise being and will see:

• GP providers appointed to an electronically managed list of pre-approved providers - providers can apply to join the list almost at any time, unlike a traditional procurement framework, as there will be a series of regular application rounds held during the 4-year period. The pre-approval is largely concerned with eligibility to hold an APMS contract.
• Approved GP providers will be invited via a procurement portal to respond to requests for APMS services from local commissioners. This local "call off" will be matched to the bespoke needs of local commissioners and is where providers will set out their plans to deliver the services in question.

How do I apply?

To apply you need to register on the procurement portal (Health family), and apply to join the PDPS in one of the Application Rounds by using the link provided above. Bidders registered on the Health Family portal may locate the project documents using reference 'C169276' in the search facility of the portal.

The values of the individual contracts and individual contract durations will be confirmed at the call off stages. The dates/values mentioned in the contract information section of this notice do not reflect the actual contract dates/values.

Follow the instructions given in the description or the more information section About the buyer

Contact name

Ahsan Haji

Address

4th Floor - Unex Tower,

5. Station Street, London E15 1DA

Email hub.queries@nhs.net