Flu Swabbing Management of Outbreaks for NHS Mid and South Essex ICB

This is a contract award notice and is intended to provide notice of NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board (lead Commissioner) and NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (herein "the Authority")'s intention to award a contract to deliver the management of infectious diseases outbreaks within Care Homes to the patients and staff working within these Care Homes within Mid and South Essex', Suffolk and North East 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 000-037631) on the 15th December 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 contract will be for 3 year period with the option to extend for a further 24 months, from 01st April 2024 - 31st March 2029 including all extensions. The aggregate contract value including all extensions is forecasted at £900,000.00

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.

Additional information:

This contract award notice is made in Find a Tender Service (FTS) and Contracts Finder following the Authority's publication of the voluntary ex ante transparency notice (Notice Number: 2023/S 000-037631) on the 15th December 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).

The Authority has taken the decision to award this management of infectious diseases outbreaks within Care Homes (including Flu Swabbing) to incumbent provider Commisceo. The provider is considered most technically capable of providing the most economically advantageous solution to the Authority under the current environment. 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. It is noted that this service is joint Commissioned by MSE ICB and SNEE ICB, the breakdown of costs are as follows:

NHS MSE ICB: £90,000 per annum

NHS SNEE ICB: £90,000 per annum

Contract value from 01st April 24 - 31st March 27 (3 year period): £540,000 Contract Value from 01st April 27 - 31st March 29 (2 year period): £360,000 Total Aggregate Contract Value for 5 year term is £900,000

The Authority has a duty to meet its statutory function which includes ensuring that appropriate, effective and safe service provision is in place for the management of infectious diseases outbreaks within Care Homes. The incumbent provider is considered the most technically capable of the delivery of this service. The Management of Outbreaks, including Flu, in Care Homes ensures the prevention, management of, and safety for all staff working within the care home and all persons, including vulnerable resident in care/nursing homes located within the geographical boundaries of MSE ICB and SNEE ICB. Failure to award this service and to ensure the continued safe and effective service delivery would result in the Authority failing to meet the statutory functions of the ICB. This is an unacceptable outcome to the Authority, in which the safety and care of staff, healthcare workers, persons within Care Homes and vulnerable patients and service users would be put in unacceptable risk. The Authority deem this contact to be made appropriately made due to the lack of alternative providers that are technically capable of meeting the service requirements to deliver the service within the current market environment.