Tier 2 MSK Service for NHS MSE ICB

This is a contract award notice and is intended to provide notice of NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board (herein "the Authority")'s intention to award a contract to deliver Tier 2 MSK Services to the patients within Mid and South Essex's geographical footprint. This contract award notice is made following the Authority's publication of the voluntary ex ante transparency notice (Notice Number: 2023/S 000-032170) on the 31st October 2023 which outlined the rationale and reasoning for the Authority's decision to award this contract, under Regulation 32 (2) (c) of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 ("PCR 2015") (as amended The Public Procurement (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020).

In line with best practice, the Authority has observed the 10-day standstill period from the publication date of the voluntary ex-ante transparency notice before awarding the contract, pursuant to Regulation 99 (3) (c) of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 (as amended (EU Exit) 2020 etc.)

The Authority intends to enter into a contract for 7 months, with the option to extend for a further 5 months, from 01st April 2023 - 31st March 2024 . The aggregate contract value is forecasted at £3,019,454.

The Authority has taken the decision to award this Tier 2 MSK Service (which was previously for Basildon and Brentwood CCG) to incumbent provider Connect Health Ltd. The provider is considered most technically capable of providing the most economically advantageous solution to the Authority under the current environment whilst the ICB undergoes restructure, review and alignment of contracts. The Authority is applying the NHS Standard Contract Terms and Conditions to support a combination of services, all of which are part funded under a single clinical contract, to ensure appropriate clinical governance and service delivery quality as well as consistency of service to patients.

The contract will be for 7 months, with the option to extend for a further 5 months, from 01st April 2023 - 31st March 2024 . The aggregate contract value is forecasted at £3,019,454.

The Service to which this procurement relates fall within Schedule 3 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 as amended by as amended by The Public Procurement (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020, (the "Regulations"). As such, the Authority does not intend to hold itself bound by any of the Regulations, save those applicable to Schedule 3 Services.

The Authority is commencing a procurement-process for it's own MSK Services for the whole of the ICB and will publish appropriate Notices accordingly to communicate any such future changes and opportunities to the market, once final.

Additional information:

As detailed in the voluntary ex-ante notice (Notice Number 2023/S 000-032170) that was published by the Authority on the 31st October 2023, a 10 day standstill period has been observed by the Authority.

The Authority has taken a decision to award a contract to the incumbent provider as it is considered to be the most technically capable provider in the current environment, whilst the ICB undergoes its own procurement process to formally award this service. This award is made to ensure quality, safety and consistency in provision of care that meet the needs of the population during this transition period. The Authority will publish appropriate Notices accordingly to communicate any such future changes and opportunities to the market, once final.