Market Engagement: Procurement for the provision of a Diabetic Eye Screening Programme for Surrey

NHS England are seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) from providers who have the capability and capacity to undertake a contract for the provision of a Diabetic Eye Screening Programme (DESP) in Surrey, and would wish to take to part in a potential procurement exercise.

The procurement is likely to take place in Spring and Summer 2016 and the contract is due to begin in April 2017.

The initial contract duration is currently anticipated to be 3-5 years, excluding any possible extensions, but this is subject to approval and the precise term will be advised at a later date. It will have an annual value in the region of £1million. The contract would serve a population of around 1 million, of whom 52000 are eligible individuals over the age of 12 currently identified as diabetics in need of screening. Estimates suggest that there are a further 8,000 people who may be as yet undiagnosed. Currently about 80% of people invited attend for screening.

The successful bidder will be required to deliver a screening programme which is fully compliant with all relevant national standards and pathways and which include the following elements:

• Identification and invitation of the eligible diabetic population for screening at regular/appropriate intervals (i.e. call/recall) in accordance with national guidance; • Taking and grading of digital images of service users’ eyes; • Provision of Digital Surveillance Clinics, clinics with Slit Lamp Biomicroscopy (SLB) and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) assessments within the commissioned service in accordance with national guidance; • Referral of service users to appropriate Hospital Eye Services/Treatment Services in accordance with nationally agreed protocols and treatment pathways.

The population expected to be served by the programme will be those covered by the following 6 CCGs: NHS East Surrey, NHS Guildford and Waverley, NHS North East Hampshire and Farnham (Farnham area only), NHS North West Surrey, NHS Surrey Heath and NHS Surrey Downs, however, NHS England envisages that this may be expanded to meet expected new guidance for populations served by Diabetic Eye Screening Programmes. Whilst this is the preferred approach, NHS England reserves the right not to increase the footprint but to carry out individual procurements where this is in the best interests of patients and patient choice.

If you wish to express an interest in taking part in a future procurement exercise to identify a provider to deliver these services in Surrey, please register on the In-Tend portal and submit a completed Provider Sounding Questionnaire by 12pm on Monday 7th March 2016.

Further information in the additional text section

Additional information: To register on In-Tend please visit: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/scwcsu/aspx/Registration

Please send the completed questionnaire by correspondence on the below project: NHS E South (South East) - Procurement for the provision of a Diabetic Eye Screening Programme for Surrey (SCW/NHSEQ81/00000155/2016)

This notice is an information gathering exercise rather than a call for competition in its own right, and therefore publication or response does not commit NHS England or respondents to a future procurement, nor provide any process exemptions or preferential treatment to any parties expressing an interest. NHS England will not be liable for costs incurred by any interested party in participating in this exercise.