NHS England and NHS Improvement South West - North & East Devon Breast Screening Programme

NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSE/I) seeks Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from providers who have the capability and capacity to deliver a Breast Screening Programme for the residents of North and East Devon. The contract will serve an eligible population of approximately 100,000 women aged 50-70 and women over 70 who self-refer across the 3-year period.

The recommissioned contract is due to commence on 1st April 2022. EOIs received will be used to help NHSE/I identify any existing or potential capacity and determine commissioning and contracting options for these services. As such, only organisations with appropriate experience, capability, and actual/potential capacity to mobilise in this timeframe should respond to this notice.

The aim of the NHS Breast Screening Programme is to reduce mortality from breast cancer by diagnosing cancer at an early stage when treatment is more successful. For a full list of the aims and objectives, please see the attached document.

The provider must be prepared to work with commissioners to implement any such alterations that do arise due to emerging system changes or other developments during the life of the contract.

EOIs received will be used to help NHSE/I finalise their commissioning and contracting approach for this service. This PIN as a call for competition is initially published as a notice for expressions of interest. The Commissioner may then choose to proceed directly to a procurement process with parties who have responded to the notice and there shall be no further notice published.

In order to submit an EOI, you will need to be registered on the e-procurement system and 'express an interest'. Upon doing so you will be able to access the associated provider questionnaire. IMPORTANT: The questionnaire must be completed in conjunction with your EOI. The deadline for registration, EOI and questionnaire returns is 22nd September 2021.

Additional information: On registration, please include at least two contacts to allow for access to the system in times of absence.

The contract will be awarded on a block basis at this point, however, should national changes in funding approach be introduced the provider must be prepared to work with the commissioner to assess any impact and work collaboratively to safely implement any such alterations during the life of the contract.

Should NHSE/I proceed to a procurement process it is anticipated to consist of two stages: Stage 1 is a shortlisting stage; the aim of this shortlisting stage is predominantly to test the capability and capacity of potential Providers and to identify whether there is more than one capable provider Stage 2 will either be: (a) a competitive process (if more than one capable provider is identified at Stage 1) which may involve dialogue and will involve assessment of bids against published evaluation criteria and weightings; or (b) a collaborative "Assurance Process" with a single provider (if only one capable provider is identified at Stage 1). Both approaches will involve evidence being considered by subject matter experts and assessed against critical success factors and expected minimum standards.

This procurement is being carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners.

The services are healthcare services falling within Schedule 3 to the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 ("the Regulations") which are not subject to the full regime of the Regulations, but is instead governed by the "Light Touch Regime" contained within Chapter 3, Section 7 of the Regulations (Regulations 74 to 77).

The tendering process will be conducted in accordance with the requirements and flexibilities provided by Articles 74 to 76 of the Directive, and Regulations 74 to 76 of the Regulations. The Authority will run a transparent tender process, treating all Bidders equally. For the avoidance of doubt, the Authority will not be bound by the Regulations or the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union or any other regulations or legislation except for the specific parts or circumstances that apply to the procurement of these Services.

Neither the inclusion of a Bidder selection stage, nor the use of any language or terms found in the Directive or Regulations, nor the description of the procedure voluntarily adopted by the Authority ("Open", "Restricted", "Competitive Procedure with Negotiation", "Competitive Dialogue" or any other description), nor any other indication, shall be taken to mean that the Authority intends to hold itself bound by the Directive or Regulations, save by the provisions applicable to services coming within the scope of Annex XIV of the Directive / Schedule 3 of the Regulations.