Kent and Medway Wheelchair Service - Market event

Market event for a wheelchair service across Kent and Medway. The lead commissioner is NHS West Kent CCG, together with NHS Ashford CCG, NHS Canterbury and Coastal CCG, NHS Dartford Gravesham Swanley CCG, NHS Medway CCG, NHS South Kent Coast CCG, NHS Swale CCG, and NHS Thanet CCG.

Kent and Medway has approximately 23,000 wheelchair users and receives approximately 8,200 referrals annually: approximately 4,400 new referrals and 3,800 re-referrals from existing clients.

The main aim of the service is to ensure that patients within the Kent and Medway area who have a long term illness or disability, will have a better quality of life and are able to maximise their mobility through the provision of a wheelchair that meets their clinical needs.

The service will include the assessment, postural management, rehabilitation engineering services, procurement, storage, delivery and collection, repair and servicing, refurbishment, modification and decontamination and cleaning of wheelchairs and specialist seating for children, young people and adults living in the Kent and Medway areas.

The Commissioner has arranged a market event to present details of the service context and drivers and to outline its vision and requirements. At the end of the event providers will have an opportunity for a private meeting with the Commissioner. This will be by appointment only and on a first come first served basis.

Event date: 13 April 2016

Event time: 10am (registration from 9.30am)

Event venue: NHS West Kent CCG , Wharf House, Medway Wharf Road, Tonbridge TN9 1RE

Interested parties must register in advance:

Email to: annabelsheppard@nhs.net

Registration deadline: 12noon on 8 April 2016

Please give the name of your organisation, the name, job title, and email address of not more than three attendees. Please also state whether you would like a private meeting with the commissioner at the end of the event.

The Commissioner aims to publish the outline service specification prior to the event and welcomes any comments which along with feedback from the market engagement process will help to fine tune the service requirements.

Expected service arrangements:

Annual contract value: £5.5m - £5.7m

Contract start date: 1 April 2017

Contract term: 5 years, with optional 2-year extension

Procurement start date: Early May 2016

The Commissioner expects to contract with a single provider for the entire service provision. Providers are encouraged to form cooperative alliances in order to deliver the service. The Commissioner will facilitate inter-provider introductions by the exchange of contact details. The procurement will be advertised separately in early May and will be open to all providers. Providers do not need to attend this event in order to participate in the procurement

The Commissioner is supported in this project by NHS South East CSU (SECSU) and its procurement partner NHS Commercial Solutions (NHSCS).

Additional information: Please complete registration details as outlined in the description.