Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services for East and North Hertfordshire, Herts Valleys and West Essex CCGs

NHS East and North Hertfordshire, NHS Herts Valleys and NHS West Essex Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) are seeking to appoint a suitably qualified provider for the delivery of the Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service (NEPTS) that will safely, effectively and sustainably transport eligible patients between their nominated place of residence to, from and between NHS-funded healthcare facilities in a timely manner, in support of their health care.

The contract will be for an initial 60 months for NHS East and North Hertfordshire and NHS Herts Valleys CCGs and 58 months for NHS West Essex CCG due to the phased start dates. There is an option to extend for a further 24 months. The anticipated contract start date for NHS East and North Hertfordshire, NHS Herts Valleys CCGs is 1.4.2018 and NHS West Essex CCG is 1.6.2018..

Moving forward the Contracting Authorities intend to introduce additional journey's. To this end, Bidders should be aware that after the award of contract, there is a possibility that the successful Bidder may be offered a variation to the contract to include but not be limited to London activity and low acuity activity currently sitting in the blue light services, in accordance with Regulation 72 (1) (a) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.

Furthermore, the service specification will be reviewed by the Contracting Authorities as the Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP), and integration programme develops across Hertfordshire and West Essex. Bidders should be aware that after the award of contract, dependent upon agreement within the Hertfordshire and West Essex STP footprint, there is a possibility that the successful Bidder may be offered a variation to the contract, in accordance with Regulation 72 (1) (a) of the Public Contract Regulations 2015, for provision of NEPTS covering the Hertfordshire and West Essex STP footprint.

The successful Bidder will equitably apply the agreed eligibility criteria as stipulated within the service specification along with the associated eligibility assessment questions for all referrals to determine whether patients are entitled to the service.

Additional information: Attain is conducting this procurement exercise as agent for and on behalf of the Contracting Authorities i.e. NHS East and North Hertfordshire CCG, NHS Herts Valleys CCG and NHS West Essex CCGs, and will be the main point of contact. Under no circumstances should Bidders approach the CCGs.

The Contracting Authorities and Attain are not and shall not be liable for any costs by those expressing an interest or concern for this contract opportunity. The Contracting Authorities reserve the right at all times acting in their absolute discretion, not to award a contract, to make changes to the structure, format, procedures, CPV codes and timing of the procurement process and to cancel or vary the process in its entirety or any part of it. The most economically advantageous or any tender will not be automatically accepted.

It is anticipated that the contract award decision will be made after 14.12.2017 (though these timings may be subject to change).

For NHS East and North Hertfordshire, and NHS Herts Valleys CCGs, the contract will be for an initial 60 months, with the option to extend for a further 24 months. For NHS West Essex CCG, the contract will be for an initial 58 months, with the option to extend for a further 24 months.

Therefore the aggregate indicative contract value for all 3 CCGs is £34,067,526 based on the initial term, and £48,299,291 should the contract be extended.

Please note the above amounts will be inclusive of all taxes.

The procurement process will be a traditional restricted procedure. The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 apply to the conduct of this procurement exercise.

To express your interest in this procurement and to obtain further information please go to the Bravo website at: www.attain.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html

Click on 'Register here' and follow the on screen instructions.

Please note that expressions of interest will not be accepted by any means other than through the Bravo e-tendering system.

The closing date for submitting SQ bids is 12:00 noon on 18th October 2017.