Public procurement notice: Contract Award Notice
Published: 2020-08-31
Buyer: NHS Devon Clinical Commissioning Group
Country: UK
Contract type: Services
Procedure: Open procedure
CPV classification: 85100000: Health services
Estimated value: 2755801 GBP
Award criteria: The most economic tender

Technical requirements: NHS Devon CCG has appointed a prime provider in the locality of Devon to provide a termination of pregnancy service within the community.
This procurement was carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners.
Devon CCG has appointed a prime provider in the locality of Devon CCG to provide a Termination of Pregnancy Service within the community.
— contraception; the provider will ensure that the full range of reversible contraceptive options are available for women on the same day as the ToP by staff who have the knowledge and skills to provide these. This will include implants and intrauterine devices if this is the women’s preference. For women having medical ToP and who choose depot medroxyprogesterone acetate as contraception this must be provided at the same appointment they take mifepristone. They will ensure that there is a risk of ongoing pregnancy but that it will be low,
The service being provided will be sensitive to the service user’s needs and feelings. Information both written and verbal will be provided in an objective and non-judgmental way, which allows service users to make choices. The provider will inform the service user that ToP does not increase the risk of long-term health problems. Information will be provided about the benefits and risks of medical and surgical methods of termination without being directive, so that women can make their own choices. Guidelines have been provided which detail these and differentiate risks and benefits for each by gestational stage. Information will be provided as early as possible to help women prepare, ensuring that they know what the process involves and what stages happen next in terms of pain and bleeding and what to expect. The provider will use a variety of formats to explain this. If the ToP method is medical, information will be shared of what they may see, what it will look like and whether there may be movement. If the ToP is at home the service will include explanations on how to be sure that the pregnancy has passed. Signs and symptoms will be provided to ensure that the service user has indications on when they may need to seek medical help and who they should contact. Information will be provided about the different ways of handling foetal remains. If the ToP is for foetal anomaly and this is not within a maternity setting, the service user will have clear referral pathways and communication routes to enable easy transfer and access to information about the anomaly.
This procurement was carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners.
The contract will be for a term of 5 years. At the end of the 5 years term the commissioner will have the option to extend the initial period up to a maximum of a further 2 years.
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 services are healthcare services falling within Schedule 3 to the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (‘the Regulations’) which were 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 was conducted in accordance with the requirements and flexibilities provided by Articles 74 to 76 of the Directive, and Regulations 74 to 76 of the Regulations. The authority ran 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 selection stage, nor the use of any language or terms found in the Directive or 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 Directive or Regulations, save by the provisions applicable to services coming within the scope of Annex XIV of the Directive/Schedule 3 of the Regulations.
The contracting authority has voluntarily observed the award decision notices provisions and held a 10 day standstill period as described in Regulation 86 of the Regulations. Deadline for lodging of appeals should be in accordance with Regulation 87 and Regulation 91 of the Regulations.
As described in VI.3), deadline for lodging of appeals should be in accordance with Regulation 87 and Regulation 91 of the 2015 Regulations.


Winner: Marie Stopes International
Award value: 2755801
Number of bids: 2