Framework VCSOs/SMEs Contracts (re-opening PDPS) for NHS Mid and South Essex ICB

NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board (herein referred to as the 'Authority') seeks suitably qualified Providers for the establishment of this Framework Agreement for the provision of Voluntary Sector and Specialist SME Contracts in Mid and South Essex (previously referred to as the 'Pseudo Dynamic Purchasing System PDPS').

The overarching contract period of this Framework Agreement is from the 01/04/2024 - 31/03/2028 (a total of 4-years), with this Tranche 2 (the re-opening of the framework) period from the 18/06/2025 - 17/06/2026. The Framework will re-open on annual basis, as outlined in the tender documentation.

The key objectives of this Framework Agreement (FA) are to:

- Establish a compliant contracting mechanism to allow the Authority to quickly source appropriate, suitable, capable providers to deliver place-based services.

-To establish an Approved Provider List of providers who have met and continue to meet the Authority's minimum selection criteria over the term of the FA.

-To establish a transparent Call-Off and Award Procedure that can be adapted to the individual requirements of each Call-Off contract whereby the Authority can effectively narrow the pool of eligible providers from the Approved Provider List to those most appropriate and capable to be Invited to Tender based on pre-published Categories.

The scope of services is a range of purpose led, place-based, supplementary community services that are uniquely suited to the Voluntary sector and small-to-medium-enterprises (SMEs). The framework aims to enable NHS MSE ICB to develop a process that will support the community and voluntary organisations of any size to have a governance process in place to support with future commissioning and best utilise funding as it is available. The framework aims to enable Commissioners to best distribute funding and commission services at pace, particularly during in seasonal pressures, and to cover a wide range of support services within the MSE geographical footprint. Services in this FA include Locality Specific Community Services, Voluntary Sector Specialised Services, Supplementary Community Services (Adults and Children's Services), and Supplementary Mental Health Services across the Mid and South Essex geography.

This FA has no activity guarantee, with a minimum contract value of £0.00 per annum. This notice has reflected a minimum value of £1.00 due to an error on this form which prevents the true figure of £0.00 per annum being illustrated in Section II.1.7) of this form. The minimum contract value of £0.00 pa and maximum indicative aggregate contract value £500million. This indicative value was calculated by using the Authority's actual annual spend across a wide range of voluntary, small and medium-sized enterprises, specialist and locality specific purpose led services across the entire geography of Mid and South Essex.

Additional information: The Authority aims to procure such services via this FA (once it is established). Any services that do not align with the aims and objectives of this PDPS will be procured outside of this FA, in strict accordance with the Regulations.

Under this FA the Authority may look to award a Call-Off Contract of between a minimum of 3 and maximum 24 months to a provider who has been pre-approved and gained entry onto the Approved Provider List. The headline mechanisms for undertaking a Call Off Procedure under this FA are set out later in the procurement pack and will be detailed within each Call-Off Invitation to Tender (ITT).

In order to be accepted onto the FA, all Bidders responding to the Stage 1: Request to Participate will complete the mandatory Selection Questionnaire, Qualification and Technical envelopes within the e-procurement portal. The Authority aims to open the FA each year to allow for new providers to Request to Participate, complete the mandatory questionnaires and onboard onto the FA.

All potential Bidders who wish to join the FA must provide information about their proposed ability to provide the Service that is the subject of this FA, in relation to the following 'Categories' of information. The Authority will use a Filtering Process (described in Document 7) based on the information that Providers have submitted and evaluation of their SQ response, as well as any updates to such information from time to time, to identify all potential suitable PDPS Providers for the Call-Off Contract in question.

The Contracting Authority intends to reopen this FA on the following dates April 26, April 27. All relevant details pertaining to this FA are expressed within the procurement documentation that is available at https://attain.bravosolution.co.uk/. Potential Bidders can apply to be added to the FA until such time it is terminated. It should be noted that the dates are expected dates at the time of issuing this FA and may be subject to change. All details will be contained within the tender documentation and will be issued upon each new round.

Please Note: Any expenditure, work or effort undertaken by you in relation to any procurement activity is a matter solely for your own commercial judgment.

To register interest please go to https://attain.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html . Click on 'Register here' and follow the onscreen instructions. The relevant documentation will be available within the 'itt_166- VCSO & Specialist SME Contracts for NHS MSE ICB (PDPS Framework Tranche 2)'' project. The deadline for receipt of compliant bid submissions is 14th May 2025 at 17:30hrs.

This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) Contract Notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award.