NOUS (Non-Obstetric Ultrasound) for Sussex CCGs

****Market Engagement event to be held 11/3/2020 - See Portal for details***

Led by NHS Coastal West Sussex CCG, Commissioners within the seven Sussex CCGs (NHS Brighton and Hove, NHS Coastal West Sussex, NHS Crawley, NHS Eastbourne Hailsham and Seaford, NHS Hastings and Rother, NHS High Weald Lewes Havens, and NHS Horsham and Mid-Sussex) are considering how to recommission an Non-Obstetric Ultrasound Service (NOUS) Service. The service currently provides for circa 26k scans/year. Approx value of contract(s) = £2.5m/year.

***Further activity has been identified as being in-scope since initial publication in CF and OJEU and the revised value is now estimated to be £4.4m/year or £22m over the example 5 yr contract period.***

The key changes we are considering are as follows;

Coverage: The service will need to be provided across the whole county of Sussex, with proportionate, reasonable coverage of rural areas such that rural populations are not disadvantaged.

Synchronicity: There will be an alignment of services, IT systems, processes, referrals and reporting forms across Sussex.

Quality and Reporting requirements: We are redesigning quality and reporting requirements, to improve assurance, enable better triangulation of information, minimise processing and duplication of scans in Trusts. One of the more significant potential changes for providers will be a requirement to ensure all patient scans and reports are stored into the PACS system for easy access by GPs and Trusts.

Aims & Objectives

Determine a clinically improved and robust service model

Identify ways to remove the inequality of service provision across Sussex footprint, including alignment of service specifications where appropriate Improve quality of patient scans and reports; thus reducing duplication of scans by all Providers

Ensure providers are linked to the (PACS) system to share timely images with secondary care easily

Remove unwarranted variation in service provision across Sussex

Reduce inappropriate and incomplete referrals from Primary Care

Address inefficiencies for both commissioners and providers arising from lack of monitoring and reporting

Use Lessons Learnt from recent audits to improve the service offered to patients

The Commissioners are considering the contract duration for the service but envisage that this may be for either 3 or 5 years, with an option to extend.

The purpose of this RFI is to gauge market interest and gain feedback via the RFI response form for the provision of NOUS Services and provide the CCG with valuable information to help update and improve the current service specification.

A Market engagement event is being held on 11th March 2020. Places for these events can be reserved by prior arrangement. To book your place and for further information (and if you have not already done so please complete and return the questionnaire at: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/soepscommissioning/aspx/Home

Additional information: Other information

This is a process designed to help the Commissioners form a view of the best way to commission the

service and is not the beginning of a tender exercise. A further tender advertisement will be issued at the appropriate time as/if required. You will not be disadvantaged in any subsequent tender process if you choose not to respond to this RFI but the Commissioners will use the level of response received as part of the supporting evidence for any next steps taken. The Commissioners wish to understand your views at this early stage, so you are encouraged to respond and complete the RFI form as fully as you can.

How to apply

Please apply directly to the buyer using the e-tendering portal

Closing date: 12pm Monday 4th November 2019