Public procurement notice: Contract Award Notice
Published: 2016-01-23
Buyer: NHS England
Country: UK
Contract type: Services
Procedure: Open procedure
CPV classification: 85100000: Health services | 85145000
Award criteria: Quality, Financial

Technical requirements: Quality
Financial
NHS England sought to commission Framework Agreements with multiple Framework Providers on behalf of its CCG authorities, to carry out testing for latent Tuberculosis (TB) infection. The procurement was split into a number of regional lots across England so as to provide maximum flexibility to both the Commissioner and bidders, based on the corresponding TB Control Region.
NHS England on behalf of its Authority(s) anticipated that it would enter into a Framework Agreement with a maximum of 3 Framework Providers for each regional lot.
The Collaborative Tuberculosis Strategy for England: 2015 to 2020 (‘the Strategy’) published in January 2015 by NHS England and Public Health England (PHE), set out approaches to be taken to support TB prevention, treatment and control. This includes the setting up of TB Control Boards to plan, oversee, support and monitor all aspects of local TB control. The Control Boards will have representation from CCGs, NHS England, Public Health England, local authorities, local TB service providers and others. However, the formal responsibility for commissioning NHS TB services will continue to rest with CCGs.
LTBI can be diagnosed by a single, validated blood test (interferon gamma release assay (IGRA)), and is usually treated with antibiotics, preventing active TB disease in the future. Where patients' test results show that they are LTBI positive, treatment is offered via referral to an appropriate TB service.
— the provision and analysis of the Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) test for identification of LTBI.
The framework duration will be for an initial period of 3 years, with the option to extend for a further period of 12 months. The service commencement date is anticipated to be during February 2015.
The intention was to appoint providers to a number of regional framework agreements on the basis of a price per test that each provider sets out as part of the selection process, together with the meeting of specified quality criteria.
The contracts that arise from the framework agreements will be held by lead CCGs within each TB Control Board area. Lead CCGs will have a wider set of responsibilities under the TB Strategy and are identified as part of wider implementation. CCGs will be able to select from any provider on the relevant regional framework agreement who has indicated that they are willing to provide services within the relevant Control Board area.
Although NHS England has undertaken this procurement and made the award hereunder, it is intended that each regional Authority will enter into an individual contract with the successful Bidder on the basis of the terms and conditions of contract contained in the Invitation to Tender.
The Services are healthcare services within the meaning and scope of the National Health Service (Procurement, Patient Choice and Competition) (No.2) Regulations 2013 and are therefore not governed by the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The tendering process will therefore be conducted in accordance with the current legislation that applies to the tendering of healthcare services within the meaning and scope of the National Health Service (Procurement, Patient Choice and Competition) (No.2) Regulations 2013. The Commissioner will run a fair and transparent tender process, treating all bidders equally. For the avoidance of doubt, the Commissioner will not be bound by the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. In addition, the Commissioner will not be bound by the Public Contracts Regulations 2006, 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.
To receive more information about this tender, including any amendments and/or clarifications and to request any clarifications and/or to respond to this tender, you must register your interest to this tender on the following site: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/swcsu/aspx/Home
and/or to respond to this tender, you must register your interest to this tender on the following site: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/swcsu/aspx/Home
The Contracting Authority intends to voluntarily observe the award decision notices provisions and 10 day standstill period described in Regulation 32 of the 2006 Regulations. Unsuccessful tenderers and applicants will receive scores and reasons for the decision, including the characteristics and relative advantages of the winning bid and the reasons why the tenderer/application was unsuccessful. Deadline for lodging of appeals should be in accordance with Regulation 32 and Regulation 47 of the 2006 Regulations.


Winner: Although NHS England is undertaking this procurement and shall make the award hereunder, it is intended that each regional Authority will enter into an individual contract with the successful Bidder on the basis of the terms and conditions of contract contained in the Invitation to Tender. Furthermore, the framework(s) shall be available for us by all NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups throughout England.
Number of bids: 4