Digital First, Online Consultation and Video Consultation (DFOCVC) Framework

NHS England seeks to alert existing and potential providers of its intention to establish a new Digital First Online Consultation and Video Consultation Framework, which will operate under the Digital Care Services Catalogue. The Contracting Authority is also exploring the addition of on-demand General Practice medical services as purchasable services, through online consultation tools. The framework will support NHS England in its delivery of the NHS Long Term Plan commitment that every patient will have the right to be offered digital-first primary care by 2023/24. The framework will build on from the online consultation programme, which was originally introduced under the GP Forward View and which has been expanded under NHS England's Dynamic Purchasing system and through Digital Care Services GPIT Futures Framework. Alignment of the new framework within Digital Care Services Catalogue will support NHS England's ambition to have a sole procurement route for primary care. To support the development of the new framework, the Digital Care Services Catalogue Authority have developed new capabilities and standards to more accurately reflect the functionality Online and Video Consultation solutions. Solutions will be required to meet these Standards and Capabilities as set out in the Digital Care Services Catalogue Agreement. Commissioners may also utilise the framework to purchase additional clinical capacity through an online consultation solution. In addition to primary care, other health and social care organisations that purchase services via this framework may include, but are not limited to, Secondary Care Providers, Community Pharmacies, Urgent Care providers, Ambulance Trusts, Optometry and Dentistry providers. A Request for Information is expected to be published in early October 2020 which will include a request for information. NHS England is seeking views from potential suppliers on the following areas: • Capability and standards model • Onboarding and transition Approach • The set of documents that define the framework agreement, call off agreement and associated schedules This new framework will operate under the existing Digital Care Services Catalogue and will replace elements of the existing Dynamic Purchasing System (OJEU contract notice reference 2017/S 197-404914 and GP IT Futures Framework (OJEU contract notice reference 2019/S 097-235142) as the preferred framework vehicle for customers to purchase the in-scope services. It is expected that purchasing under the framework can be via direct award, on catalogue competition, or off catalogue competition depending on the value of the contract. The framework will provide commissioners with the opportunity to align their video and online consultation systems with other services procured via the Digital Care Services Catalogue. The estimated total value for this framework is based on a maximum framework term of 48 months. The framework may be established with up to two lots.

Additional information: As set out above, this notice is only intended to inform the market of a prospective contract opportunity.

Potential providers will not be prejudiced by any response to this PIN, or failure to respond.

This PIN does not formally signify the beginning of a procurement and does not constitute a commitment by the Contracting Authority to undertake any procurement exercise. If the Contracting Authority decides to formally commence the procurement for the DFOCVC framework, a separate contract notice will be issued in the OJEU.

Any resulting procurement will be managed electronically via the Contracting Authority's e-sourcing suite and details on how to register on the portal will be provided. The Contracting Authority intends to issue a Request for Information and potential providers are encouraged to register on the Contracting Authority's e-sourcing portal in order to receive this Request for Information and other updates relating to this potential procurement. Access and registration to the e-sourcing portal can be made via the following link https://in-tendhost.co.uk/scwcsu/aspx/Home

It is intended that the NHS South Central and West Commissioning Support Unit Procurement Hub will run any resulting procurement on behalf of the Contracting Authority.