Market Engagement for Non-Emergency Patient Transport for Norfolk & Waveney ICB

NHS Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board are inviting suitably qualified and experienced providers to express their interest in delivering Non- Emergency Patient Transport services ((NEPTs) for eligible Norfolk and Waveney patients across NHS Norfolk and Waveney ICB.

Following the abandonment of the most recent competitive process, the Commissioners are inviting the market to express their interest in the future delivery of these services and seeking feedback from the market on the feasibility of these services commencing from 1st October 2024, to help inform any future competitive procurement process. Potential providers interested in this service are requested to complete the soft market testing questionnaire.

The aim of this service is to provide Non- Emergency Transport for eligible Norfolk and Waveney patients with a medical need, between their places of residence, community, social care and acute settings transporting patients in safe, timely, comfortable and clinically appropriate transport without detriment to their medical condition. This includes all Mental Health transport, both secure and non/specialist. There is a need for the NEPTS Provider in the post-COVID pandemic to be able to respond to rapidly changing regional demand patterns to cater for the patient, the Acute Trusts, Community partners, Mental Health partners and other stakeholder partners across Norfolk and Waveney ICS.

It is anticipated that the contract period will be for an initial period of 5 years with the option to extend for up to a further two years, commencing 1st October 2024. The indicative timescales for the tender release date is scheduled for January 2024. Commissioners have included an indicative timeline to support this market testing process. These dates may be subject to change depending on the engagement feedback.

The aim of this Expression of Interest is to; 1. provide the market with visibility of the proposed opportunity; 2. support the ICB decision making to inform the future commissioning of services (as applicable); 3. to help define the future service approach, model and timelines; 4. to gauge the level of interest from the market of capable providers with capacity across the region to deliver the services noted above.

The deadline for Soft Market Testing responses is by 14:00 hours on Friday 22nd December 2023. Please note this is a market testing exercise and does not commit the ICB to carry out any further procurement process. Current services will remain in place during this period in line with existing contracts and service level agreements.

Further information and the expression of interest documentation can be found via the 'Live Opportunities' list on the e-procurement system at the following link: https://health-family-contract-search.secure.force.com/?searchtype=Projects. You can search for the opportunity by entering the following contract ref C231235