Procurement for the provision of a Framework Agreement for Digital Solutions for the deployment of sessional clinical capacity in primary care to NHS England & NHS Improvement

The NHS faces one of its biggest challenges yet with the need to effectively and efficiently respond to Covid-19. It is increasingly important to prepare the NHS for the potential surge in demand of primary care services both as a direct result of Covid-19 and as we move into the recovery phase of the Covid-19 response, to support (i) people who have not attended General Practice during the Covid-19 outbreak with other clinical conditions, (ii) people who have had Covid-19 who require ongoing support from general practice care once discharged from a secondary care setting (iii) people most at risk of Covid-19, including people in care homes. This will require rapid mobilisation of sessional clinical capacity, and specifically GP locums who can be utilised across primary care to respond to this demand flexibly and efficiently.

For this purpose, NHS England & NHS Improvement are now conducting an urgent framework procurement utilising the Accelerated Open procedure to implement a digital solution for the deployment of Sessional Clinician Capacity into General Practice. Providers are invited to offer a solution which makes both COVID-19 shifts and non COVID-19 shifts available and enables practices to post these available shifts, with individuals easily indicating their availability and selecting shifts that suit them. Contracts awarded will reflect this.

The service will be awarded as a framework for the use of CCGs and other relevant Authorities, and it is anticipated that a maximum of 6 providers will be awarded contracts. The framework will be for an initial duration of 6 months, with a possible extension of a further 6 months.

The procurement is being carried out by NHS South, Central & West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of NHS England. Interested providers will be able to view the tender opportunity via the 'current tenders' list on the In-Tend website. https://in-tendhost.co.uk/scwcsu/aspx/Home

In order to access the tender documentation providers will need to 'express an interest' and register on the system. Bidders are required to respond directly within In-Tend and attach any requested documents separately in the placeholders provided by the specified date and time (9:00am on the 27/07/2020).

Additional information: The COVID-19 outbreak has given rise to an urgent need for the Digital Solutions for the deployment of sessional clinical capacity in primary care. This does not give NHS England & NHS Improvement sufficient time to comply with the standard open procedure timescales for this procurement. NHS England & NHS Improvement considers this to be a state of urgency which it has duly substantiated. Accordingly, NHS England & NHS Improvement is using the accelerated time limits permitted under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (regulation 27(5) for the open procedure) in respect of this procurement

This Framework Agreement is for the use of NHS England and Improvement, Clinical Commissioning Groups, Primary Care Networks, GP practices, NHS Trusts, NHS Special Health Authorities and all organisations as found at the following address and updated from time to time. https://www.nhs.uk/ServiceDirectories/Pages/NHSTrustListing.aspx

Interested providers will be able to view this notice via the 'current tenders' list on the e-procurement system In-Tend, available on the following link: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/scwcsu/aspx/Home

In order to submit a bid, you will need to be registered on the e-procurement system and 'express an interest', and then complete a response as specified within the procurement documents.

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

The services are deemed to be subject to the full regime of current EU procurement legislation and as such this tender will be conducted in accordance with, and governed by, the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. This contract will therefore be awarded in accordance with the provisions applicable in Section 5 (sub-section 7) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.

The contracting authority intends to observe the provisions and 10 day standstill period described in the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. Unsuccessful Bidders and applicants will receive scores and reasons for the decision, including the characteristics and relative advantages of the winning bid and the reasons why the Bidder/applicant was unsuccessful. Deadlines for lodging appeals should be in accordance with the Regulations.