Public procurement notice: Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency Notice
Published: 2020-08-14
Buyer: NHS East Sussex Clinical Commissioning Group
Country: UK
Contract type: Services
Procedure: Negotiated without a prior call for competition
CPV classification: 34114122 | 34115200 | 60000000 | 60130000 | 60140000
Estimated value: 18700 GBP

Technical requirements: This is a VEAT notice for the award of an additional contract of 12 months to the incumbent provider.
Patient transport journeys are booked for patients being moved to and from NHS funded treatment at a range of sites across Sussex including acute hospitals and local venues providing community-based care.
The service is responsible for safely and effectively transporting eligible patients between their nominated place of residence, to, from and between NHS-funded healthcare facilities in a timely manner, so that they can receive the health care for which they are booked.
The Covid-19 outbreak has delayed the Commissioners detailed preparation and engagement for a full procurement for the non- emergency patient transport services in Sussex. This has given rise to an urgent need to secure a safe continued provision of service during these uncertain times.
There is insufficient time for West Sussex CCG, East Sussex CCG and Brighton and Hove CCG to comply with undertaking a competitive procurement process under Public Contracts Regulations 2015.
Accordingly, the contracting authority considers this is a state of urgency that is duly substantiated and been brought about by circumstances which a diligent contracting authority could not have foreseen and award an additional contract of 12 months to the incumbent provider. This does not alter the overall nature of the contract.
Patient transport journeys are booked for patients being moved to and from NHS funded treatment at a range of sites across Sussex including acute hospitals and local venues providing community-based care.
The service is responsible for safely and effectively transporting eligible patients between their nominated place of residence, to, from and between NHS-funded healthcare facilities in a timely manner, so that they can receive the health care for which they are booked. This responsibility includes:
— allocation of journeys across the sub-contracted transport providers through an equitable, open and transparent process;
— NHS West Sussex CCG — NHS Coastal West Sussex CCG, NHS Crawley CCG, NHS Horsham and Mid Sussex CCG;
— NHS East Sussex — NHS High Weald Lewes Havens CCG, NHS Eastbourne Hastings and Seaford CCG, NHS Hastings and Rother CCG;
The Covid-19 outbreak has delayed the Commissioners detailed preparation and engagement for a full procurement for the non- emergency patient transport services in Sussex. This has given rise to an urgent need to secure a safe continued provision of service during these uncertain times.
There is insufficient time for West Sussex CCG, East Sussex CCG and Brighton and Hove CCG to comply with undertaking a competitive procurement process under Public Contracts Regulations 2015.
Accordingly, the contracting authority considers this is a state of urgency that is duly substantiated and been brought about by circumstances which a diligent contracting authority could not have foreseen and award an additional contract of 12 months to the incumbent provider. This does not alter the overall nature of the contract.
NHS England has announced its intention to conduct a 1-year national review into NEPTS, recognising the high number of unsuccessful procurements taken place over the past few years and the overall fragility of the market. The stated purpose of the review is to establish a set of standards, deliverables and outcomes to support the commissioning and delivery of NEPTS services. The impact of the Covid crisis has delayed the outcome of the National Review which was intended to form part of the developmental process of the procurement.


Winner: South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust
Award value: 18700