Procurement for the Provision of Reading Central Surgery for NHS Berkshire West CCG

NHS Berkshire West CCG, the Commissioner, seeks to procure primary care services for central Reading, comprising a registered list and management of unplanned urgent (same day) primary care illness currently provided on a walk-in basis. The new contract will be a length of 4 years, commencing on 1st July 2020.

The maximum value of the 4 year contract will be circa £6.1m based on 19/20 FY activity for existing services at the Reading Walk in Centre and appropriate minor illness activity at the Royal Berkshire Emergency Department (ED).

The expected activity within the service to be provided is:

• provision of Alternative Provider Medical Services (APMS) services to a registered list population of c. 10,000 patients in year 1, growing to c. 12,000 in year 4 of the contract and;
• management of patients registered at other Berkshire West practices seeking same day minor illness care with activity planned to reduce from an anticipated level of c. 28,350 cases in year 1 decreasing to c. 4,000 in year 4 of the service. On-the-day care is currently delivered between the hours of 8am-8pm, 365 days a year.

The strategic intention for same day primary care is that patients should be seen primarily on a registered basis either by their own practice or through hub arrangements and patients attending ED with minor illness needs that can be met within primary care redirected to primary care.

The provider will deliver walk-in care to patients registered at the practice, patients registered at other Berkshire West practices and out of area patients (those registered outside of Berkshire West CCG, working in partnership with Primary Care Networks in Berkshire West, but particularly in Central Reading where many current walk-in attendees reside, to manage same day care in a planned and coordinated manner and reduce the numbers of patients attending as walk-ins. The level of on-the-day activity expected to be managed by the service will reduce during the contract term.

The provider will have regard to the needs of the local population, as part of a registered list and unplanned walk-in activity including:

• homeless patients
• parents of young children who frequent the Emergency Department that are clinically appropriate for management in the community
• patients for whom English is not their first language

The provider will provide care to patients in a manner appropriate to their needs, potentially including 'drop in' clinics and rapid access in the after-school period.

The full scope of the service can be found on the eTendering system (SCW In-Tend system- https://in-tendhost.co.uk/scwcsu/aspx/Home). The deadline for response to this opportunity is at 12:00 midday on the 13th January 2020.

This procurement is being carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit on behalf of the Commissioners.

Additional information: Interested providers will be able to view this notice via the 'current tenders' list on the e-procurement system In-Tend, available on the following link: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/scwcsu/aspx/Home

In order to submit a bid, you will need to be registered on the e-procurement system and 'express an interest', and then complete a response as specified within the procurement documents.

On registration, please include at least two contacts to allow for access to the system in times of absence.

The services are healthcare services falling within Schedule 3 to the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 ("the Regulations") which are not subject to the full regime of the Regulations, but is instead governed by the "Light Touch Regime" contained within Chapter 3, Section 7 of the Regulations (Regulations 74 to 77).

The tendering process will be conducted in accordance with the requirements and flexibilities provided by Articles 74 to 76 of the Directive, and Regulations 74 to 76 of the Regulations. The Authority will run a transparent tender process, treating all Bidders equally. For the avoidance of doubt, the Authority will not be bound by the Regulations or the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union or any other regulations or legislation except for the specific parts or circumstances that apply to the procurement of these Services.

Neither the inclusion of a Bidder selection stage, nor the use of any language or terms found in the Directive or Regulations, nor the description of the procedure voluntarily adopted by the Authority ("Open", "Restricted", "Competitive Procedure with Negotiation", "Competitive Dialogue" or any other description), nor any other indication, shall be taken to mean that the Authority intends to hold itself bound by the Directive or Regulations, save by the provisions applicable to services coming within the scope of Annex XIV of the Directive / Schedule 3 of the Regulations.

The Contracting Authority intends to voluntarily observe the award decision notices provisions and 10 day standstill period described in Regulation 86 of the Regulations. Unsuccessful Bidders will receive scores and reasons for the decision, including the characteristics and relative advantages of the winning bid and the reasons why the Bidder/application was unsuccessful. Deadline for lodging of appeals should be in accordance with Regulation 87 and Regulation 91 of the Regulations.