Echocardiography Service to Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group

Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (the commissioner) is seeking to commission a Echocardiography service for patients registered with a GP in Oxfordshire. The successful provider will deliver a safe and clinically effective service providing rapid local access to diagnostic echocardiograms for patients including ambulatory rhythm monitoring and demand management.

The community-based service will adopt a whole system approach to the delivery of care that is safe, effective, patient centred and equitable. Accepting referrals from GPs, Heart Failure Diagnosis and Advice service and ambulatory care units whilst fully co-ordinating with the ICS.

The initial contract term will be for 3 years from 1st March 2022, with an optional extension of any period(s) up to a maximum of a further 2 years, as defined and at the discretion of the commissioners.

The financial envelope is £280,000 per annum.

This procurement is being carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) 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 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 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 Regulations, save by the provisions applicable to services coming within the scope of Annex XIV of 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.