Swindon Clinical Commissioning Group Continuing Healthcare (CHC) Assessment Service

NHS Swindon Clinical Commissioning Group seeks to commission an NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) Assessment Service, which means a package of care arranged and funded solely by the NHS where an individual has been assessed to have a primary health need. Such care is provided to an individual aged 18 years or over to meet needs that may include; End Of Life, Learning Disabilities, Mental Health (including Dementia), and Physical Disabilities including Brain Injury.

The CCG is aware that following a comprehensive review of patients in receipt of CHC in 2016/17, the numbers who are currently on the existing caseload is lower than perhaps anticipated and therefore numbers should be seen as indicative activity levels only. It is acknowledged with a population demographic of increasing numbers of patients living with chronic disease and living longer, there is likely to be growth in these numbers. Any service provision will need to take account of potential changes in checklist criteria (currently under review by the Department Of Health) which could reduce the number of people presenting for initial checklist assessment, and resources diverted to case management as a priority.

The anticipated contract start date will be 1st April 2018. The contract duration will be for an initial period of 3 years, with the option to extend by an additional 2 years at the discretion of the Commissioner. The maximum annual value of the service is £518,560 per annum, including the optional extension.

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

Additional information: Interested providers will be able to view the tender opportunity via the 'current tenders' list on the e-procurement system https://in-tendhost.co.uk/scwcsu/aspx/Home

In order to access the tender documentation you will need to 'express an interest' and register on the system.

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.

The Contracting Authority intends to voluntarily observe the award decision notices provisions and 10 day standstill period described in Regulation 86 of the Regulations. Unsuccessful Bidders will receive scores and reasons for the decision, including the characteristics and relative advantages of the winning bid and the reasons why the Bidder/application was unsuccessful. Deadline for lodging of appeals should be in accordance with Regulation 87 and Regulation 91 of the Regulations.