Public procurement notice: Prior Information Notice Without Call For Competition
Published: 2018-05-19
Buyer: Hertfordshire County Council
Country: UK
Contract type: Services
CPV classification: 85100000: Health services | 85140000: Miscellaneous health services | 85323000

Technical requirements: Hertfordshire County Council (the "Council") is carrying out Pre-Procurement Market Engagement (“PPME”) in relation to adult weight management. The council will consider the feedback received to help inform the Council’s options and further decision making. For the avoidance of doubt, this stage of the project is not part of a formal procurement process and the council is not committing, at this stage, to carrying out such a process. Participation or non-participation in the PPME shall not prevent any supplier participating in a potential future procurement, nor is it intended that any information supplied as part of the PPME shall place any supplier at an advantage in a potential procurement process. Participation in the PPME will be at each organisation’s own cost. No expense in responding to this PPME will be reimbursed by the council.
Hertfordshire County Council (the “Council”) is carrying out Pre-Procurement Market Engagement (“PPME”) in relation to the provision of adult weight management. The council will consider the feedback received to help inform the council’s options and further decision making. For the avoidance of doubt, this stage of the project is not part of a formal procurement process and the council is not committing, at this stage, to carrying out such a process. Participation or non-participation in the PPME shall not prevent any supplier participating in a potential future procurement, nor is it intended that any information supplied as part of the PPME shall place any supplier at an advantage in a potential procurement process. Participation in the PPME will be at each organisation’s own cost. No expense in responding to this PPME will be reimbursed by the council. To access the PPME documentation please visit www.supplyhertfordshire.uk and follow the on-screen guidance. To participate in this PPME, organisations must submit their completed provider questionnaire, together with any supporting documents, through the in-tend system by the return deadline of 12:00 Noon on 8.6.2018. Please make sure that you have submitted your provider questionnaire following the instructions above. The council will not be held accountable for any errors made by an organisation in submitting their provider questionnaire. If you are experiencing problems in-tend offer a help section which includes a dedicated UK Support Desk which can be contacted via email support@in-tend.com or telephone +44 (0)114 407 0065 for any website /technical questions. Monday to Friday 8:30 am – 5:30 pm.
The council is seeking to provide a weight management service to support adults in Hertfordshire who are obese to lose weight and to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. The programme will require a multi-component intervention, addressing dietary intake, physical activity levels and lifestyle change. East and North Hertfordshire CCG, Herts Valleys CCG and Hertfordshire County Council have been working in partnership to develop an integrated adult obesity pathway for residents of Hertfordshire. As a result of this ongoing work it has been agreed that the focus should be on improving and developing clearer mechanisms to manage and support the existing services of the obesity pathway. Hertfordshire County Council currently commission community weight management programmes through 2 commercial weight management providers, weight watchers and slimming world. The service provides individuals with a free 12 weeks programme. This consists of access to a coach and group sessions, including dietary resources and plans, physical activity advice, behaviour change support and regular weighing at over 150 sites across the county. Since the current provision began in October 2013, over 23 000 individuals have accessed the service. It is estimated the service has had 5 500 - 6 000 referrals per annum. The existing contracts are due to conclude on 31.8.2018. Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) would like to maintain the provision of the programme across the county. The council is seeking for a lead provider to oversee the delivery and implementation of a the service across the county, to ensure there is significant capacity and resource to service Hertfordshire the commissioner would be supportive of providers working together to provide a variety of delivery options. 8.1 The purpose of the council’s pre-procurement market engagement process is to allow and enable, potentially interested organisations with appropriate expertise and relevant experience to:
— outline and generate initial views/ideas around the outcomes, scope and the potential procurement strategy (with no commitment to themselves or the council),
— to explore limitations and risks associated with the proposed service this stage of the project allows the council to understand the strengths and weaknesses of weight management providers available to deliver the service and the proposed outcomes.
Furthermore, this process enables organisations to effectively plan for any potential forthcoming procurement. The council will consider the input and responses received as part of this pre-procurement market engagement to help inform the council’s options and further decision making.