Expressions of Interest for Wheelchair Services across Derbyshire

NHS Arden & Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support Unit (NHS Arden & GEM CSU) on behalf of the Derbyshire CCGs including NHS Southern Derbyshire CCG (who is leading this process), NHS Hardwick CCG, NHS Erewash CCG and NHS North Derbyshire CCG are inviting Expressions of Interest from suitably qualified providers capable of delivering a comprehensive Wheelchair Service for adults and children across Derbyshire.

The service will be required to provide service users with timely assessment based upon their identified need and develop individualised action plans that are outcome focused, and reflective of the service user's identified health and wellbeing. Plans must meet the particular changing development needs of children and individuals with rapidly deteriorating conditions.

The service will assess children, young people and adults and provide wheelchair and all associated equipment as appropriate based on broad categories of need; examples of which are set out below:

Low:

Occasional users of wheelchairs with relatively simple needs that can be readily met.

Medium:

Daily users of wheelchair, or use for significant periods most days

Some postural or seating needs.

Physical condition may be expected to change

Comprehensive, holistic assessment by skilled assessor required Regular follow up/review

High:

Permanent users who are fully dependent on their wheelchairs for all mobility needs Complex postural or seating requirements

Physical condition may be expected to change/degenerate over time

Very active users requiring ultra-lightweight equipment to maintain high level of independence Comprehensive, holistic assessment by skilled assessor required

Regular follow up/review, with frequent adjustment required/expected

Specialist:

Permanent users who are fully dependent on their wheelchairs for all mobility needs

Highly complex postural or seating requirements (e.g. for high levels of physical disability) and/or are at greatest risk to their health and well being Physical condition may be expected to change/degenerate over time

Have complex and/or fluctuating medical conditions and multiple disabilities, which may include physical, cognitive, sensory and learning aspects.

The overarching aims of the wheelchair service will be:

• To ensure a safe, effective, individualised and timely service that meets the needs of service users (and their parents/carers and families as appropriate) in the assessment, provision, maintenance and repair of high quality wheelchairs and associated equipment; and,
• To maximise health and wellbeing by increasing choice and control of wheelchair users to improve quality of life through increasing independence and opportunities to contribute and participate in society.

The Derbyshire CCGs invite interest from providers who wish to express interest for individual or all of the following elements of a wheelchair service:

• Assessment
• Provision
• Maintenance
• Repair

Additional information: Please note that this expression of interest has been designed to allow the market visibility of the proposed opportunity and support early engagement and networking between providers looking to sub-contract or form partnerships with other providers.

The aim of the expression of interest exercise is to;

1. Support the CCGs informed decision making on the potential options on the future commissioning of these services;
2. To help refine the commissioning and procurement approach and;
3. To gauge the level of interest from the market of capable providers with capacity across Derbyshire to deliver the services illustrated above.

This is a market testing exercise and does not commit the CCG to carry out a procurement process. Current Wheelchair services will remain in place during this period in line with existing contracts and service level agreements.

Bidders who have expressed an interest in this market testing exercise will have the opportunity to submit a separate response to the Contract Notice as applicable.

If you wish to express an interest please register on the Bravo Portal https://ardengemcsu.bravosolution.co.uk. The PQQ reference is PQQ_442.

Once registered please complete the questions in the qualification envelope which asks providers to give details about your organisation's name and postal address, email address, contact name and number. Your response should also include capability and previous experience of delivering this or a similar level of service.

Please note the deadline for responses is by 12pm (noon) on 9 March 2018.