Public procurement notice: Contract Notice
Published: 2016-10-01
Buyer: Department Of Health
Country: UK
Region: UNITED KINGDOM
Contract type: Services
Procedure: Open procedure
CPV classification: 75122000 | 79990000 | 85100000: Health services | 85120000: Medical practice services | 85121270
Estimated value: 2569857 GBP
Submission deadline: 2016-10-31
Award criteria: The most economic tender

Technical requirements: Under section 12(2) of the Mental Health Act 1983 (‘the MHA’) the Secretary of State for Health approves, for the purposes of that section, registered medical practitioners who have ‘special experience in the diagnosis or treatment of mental disorder’(‘s12 doctors’). Additionally, under section 145(1) of the MHA, the Secretary of State is to approve persons to act as ‘an approved clinician for the purposes of the Act’ (‘Approved Clinicians’). These functions are collectively referred to as ‘the Approval functions’. The Approval functions have been vested in the Secretary of State since the enactment of the MHA, but had been delegated by virtue of regulations made under the National Health Service Act 1977 and directions issued under the National Health Service Act 2006. Following a procurement the Secretary of State contracted with four approving bodies. The contracts end on 31.3.2017, the requirement is for new contracts for the Approval functions for between two to three years.
Any combination from — Lot 1, Panel one — North of England. Lot 2, Panel Two — Midlands and East. Lot 3, Panel Three — London. Lot 4, Panel Four — South of England.
Please note that the current expectation is that TUPE will apply and given that the staff expected to be in scope to transfer participate in the NHSPS it is expected that New Fair Deal will apply.
The Department of Health (DH) helps people to live better for longer. We lead, shape and fund health and care in England, making sure people have the support, care and treatment they need, with the compassion, respect and dignity they deserve. DH is a ministerial department, supported by 28 agencies and public bodies.
Provision of the proposed Contract services for the area covered by NHS England North (the former North East, North West, Yorkshire and Humber SHA areas). Refer to the Contracts Finder contract notice and the BMS Invitation to Tender (60252) for more Information and for full details of the services required.
The Department of Health (‘DH’) is seeking bids from organisations to provide the following services:
— establish one or more of the four regional panels of experts who will work in accordance with statutory instructions issued by the Secretary of State from time to time (‘the Instructions’) with respect to the exercise of the Approval functions
— maintain accurate records of s12 doctors and Approved Clinicians as part of a national database of s12 doctors and Approved Clinicians (‘the Database’) for which DH is the Data Controller
— maintain records of doctors who have completed annual Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) training
— develop effective working relationships with employers of s12 doctors and Approved Clinicians in the area for which the panel is responsible, including maintaining an overview of use of the Database by end users including Approved Mental Health Professionals and employers;
— provide consistent expert advice about the approvals process to s12 doctors and Approved Clinicians and applicants for approval;
— obtain Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks from applicants where required by the Instructions;
— attend no more than three national meetings annually to discuss issues arising from the operation of the approvals process with other panels and DH.
For each regional panel where they are awarded the contract the Contractor will enter into an agreement under s.12ZA of the MHA with the Secretary of State for the exercise of the approval functions, thus becoming an ‘approving body’ within the meaning of the current instructions, which came into force on 5.1.2016 (‘the current Instructions’). The Contractor must not delegate the exercise of the Approvals Function outside itself.
The Contractor must comply with the MHA, the MHA Code of Practice: and any such instructions as the Secretary of State may publish from time to time under section 12ZA(5) of the MHA (including the current instructions ) with respect to the exercise of the Approval Functions within the meaning of the current Instructions.


Award value: 2569857