Any Qualified Provider (AQP) for Assessment and Complex Disability Equipment: Environmental Controls Aids (All Ages)

NHS Arden and Greater East Midlands CSU (AGCSU) on behalf of NHS England - Midlands and East, Specialised Commissioning is inviting suitably qualified and experienced providers to deliver Assessment and Complex Disability Equipment: Environmental Controls Aids (All Ages) under Any Qualified Provider (AQP) framework to serve the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

As a result of this AQP exercise an agreement will be established with the successful Applicant(s) for a period of 3 (three) years with the option to extend the contract for up to a further 2 (two) years.

The Service(s) will be required to meet the following objectives:

• Undertake assessment of individual patient's EC needs by professionals with relevant competencies, working with, or alongside the service. This should include recommendations on equipment solutions and referral to other agencies as appropriate.
• Maintain access to a loan bank of appropriate EC equipment for assessment, trial and long term loan to patients.
• Provide equipment to meet individual patient's independence goals.
• Support patient's use of EC equipment by regularly reviewing them and their equipment requirements so as to meet changing needs and enable them to maintain a degree of independence.
• Ensure all equipment provided is maintained in a satisfactory state and checked in accordance with manufacturers' recommendations.
• Health and social care professionals working in areas where service uptake is low are targeted and encouraged to refer those who could benefit from equitable equipment provision.

Service description/care pathway:

• The service will deliver environmental control and other related equipment as the specialist hub serving a catchment population typically in excess of two million people

How the service is organised:

• The specialist centres providing ECS: conduct assessment of the individual's needs, usually in their place of residence; prescribe equipment solutions to meet these needs; and undertake or oversee their installation. A stock of relevant equipment is available to demonstrate ECS and computer access to patients and carers and, if needed, a trial can be arranged.
• The services are also responsible for: on-going support of the equipment, including initial tuition; clinical review with additions and modifications to suit changing needs; equipment maintenance; and service support, including emergencies.

What local authorities commission:

Local authorities commission non-specialist environmental controls.

Please refer to the Service Specification as listed in Schedule 2 of the NHS Standard Contract and Document 3 and 4 for reference.

Premised Expectations

The provider will demonstrate to the service user equipment in their chosen environment. The service will be delivered to service users within the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland area.

Estimated Contract Value

It is important to note the contract does not guarantee any volume of activity or payment to a provider.

Additional information: If you wish to submit an application please register on https://ardengemcsu.bravosolution.co.uk. The AQP reference numbers are: prject_907; itt_901.

NHS Arden and GEM CSU is managing this Procurement in accordance with the Light Touch regime of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (the "Regulations"). Neither the publication of this notice nor the employment of any particular terminology nor any other indication shall be taken to mean that the contracting authorities intend to hold themselves bound by any of the Regulations save those applicable to the procurement of Light Touch regime services.

The Contracting Authority will be using an eTendering system in this procurement exercise.

Suppliers Instructions: How to Apply:

1. Register your company on the eSourcing portal (this is only required once).

Browse to the eSourcing Portal: https://ardengemcsu.bravosolution.co.uk and click the link to register - Accept the terms and conditions and click 'continue' - Enter your correct business and user details.

• Note the user-name you chose and click 'Save' when complete.
• You will shortly receive an e-mail with your unique password (please keep this secure).

• 2.Submit an application
• Login to the portal with the username/password.
• Click the 'ITTs Open To All Suppliers' link. (This is AQP process using the ITT functionality of Bravo and is open to any registered supplier).
• Click on the relevant ITT_901 to access the content.
• Click the 'Express Interest' button at the top of the page.
• This will move the ITT into your 'My ITTs' page. (This is a secure area reserved for your projects only)
• You can now access any attachments by clicking 'Buyer Attachments' in the 'ITT Details' box.

• 3.Responding to the tender
• Click 'My Response' under 'ITT Details', you can choose to 'Create Response' or to 'Decline to Respond' (please give a reason if declining).
• You can now use the 'Messages' function to communicate with the buyer and seek any clarification.
• Note the deadline for completion, then follow the onscreen instructions to complete the ITT.
• There may be a mixture of on-line and off-line actions for you to perform (there is detailed on-line help available).

You must then submit your reply using the 'Submit Response' button at the top of the page. If you require any further assistance please consult the on-line help, or contact the eTendering help-desk.