Non-Emergency Patient Transport NHS/SOEPS/22.860 VEAT

This is a VEAT notice for the award of an additional contract of 24 months to the incumbent provider for the period 01/04/23 to 31/03/25. Patient transport journeys are booked for patients being moved to and from NHS funded treatment at a range of sites across Sussex including acute hospitals and local venues providing community-based care. The service is responsible for safely and effectively transporting eligible patients between their nominated place of residence, to, from and between NHS-funded healthcare facilities in a timely manner, so that they can receive the health care for which they are booked. The aftermath of the Covid19 pandemic and ongoing escalation of system pressures on all healthcare resources has brought about a number of new and significant risks that could not have been foreseen and which have further delayed the commissioners' detailed preparation and engagement for a full procurement for the non- emergency patient transport services in Sussex, under Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and The Public Procurement (Amendment etc.)(EU Exit) Regulations 2020. This has given rise to an urgent need to secure a safe continued provision of the service via a new contract to mitigate these risks and maximise opportunities for the procurement process to deliver a high quality, patient-centred and responsive Non- Emergency Patient Transport Service (NEPTS), which provides value for money, is resilient, environmentally efficient and innovative in the use of information technology to communicate with service users. Accordingly, the contracting authority considers that the aftermath of the Covid19 pandemic and ongoing escalation of system pressures on all healthcare resources presents a state of urgency that is duly substantiated & been brought about by circumstances which a diligent contracting authority could not have foreseen & award an additional contract of 24 months to the incumbent provider. The new contract will be a continuation of existing service provision, under current terms and conditions, to transport patients who meet the eligibility criteria to and from their place of residence and Sussex NHS-funded health care facilities. This responsibility of the service will therefore continue to include: • providing a single point of access and full booking service for patients & Health Care Professionals; • equitable and consistent application of the eligibility criteria to all patients and carers; • signposting patients who are not eligible for PTS to alternative transport arrangements; • effective determination of mobility need or needs; • allocation of journeys across the sub-contracted transport providers through an equitable, open and transparent process; • effective communication & collaboration with system wide stakeholders; • coordination and management of all patient journeys; • timely reporting to commissioners. NHS Sussex ICB is the successor entity since 1/7/22 to: West Sussex CCG, East Sussex CCG & Brighton and Hove CCG.

Additional information: Negotiated without a prior call for competition Extreme urgency brought about by events unforeseeable for the contracting authority. Explanation: NHS Sussex ICB is committed to providing a high quality, patient-centred and responsive Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service (NEPTS), which provides value for money, is resilient, environmentally efficient and innovative in the use of information technology to communicate with service users. The COVID-19 pandemic brought about a number of new and significant challenges and risks that could not be foreseen, and have impacted upon the planned timetable for tendering the NEPTS. Following this, NHS Sussex ICB conducted a single joint market engagement with Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Frimley, Berkshire West, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire ICBs during Q3/Q4 2022. The market engagement process and subsequent feedback received from the market resulted in the surfacing of a number of new and ongoing risks to the Commissioner, principally: • The ongoing delay in the publication of the NEPTS National Review Further national recommendations and guidance for the future of NEPTS is expected during 2023 which is necessary to inform and shape our future services. • Post-COVID and ongoing system pressures Post-COVID and the ongoing system pressures have substantially changed the NEPTS conveyance model. It remains unclear when or whether it will be possible to return to a precovid 'normal' state or what to expect the 'new normal' to look like, from an operational delivery perspective. • Mobilisation Based on supply chain position for vehicle chassis and bodywork requirements, the majority of feedback requested mobilisation periods of between 9 and 12 months. The Commissioners are keen to ensure Providers have the best chance to bid for contracts and therefore the intention is to allow up to 12 months for the mobilisation period. The existing contract expires on 31/3/23 and following negotiations an agreement was reached to direct award a 2 year contract with Commissioners to South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (the incumbent supplier) for a contract running from 01/04/2023. This will allow NHS Sussex to undertake a full and proper procurement exercise to mitigate the risks that have been exposed. By awarding an additional contract of 2 years to the incumbent supplier NHS Sussex will have sufficient time required to incorporate the revised national documentation and guidance into the new service specification to benefit all eligible patients. Additionally this will allow NHS Sussex fully incorporate lessons learnt from the Covid-19 pandemic and long term changes to patient behaviours, activity and overall needs.

The future tender process for the new NHS Sussex ICB Non-Emergency Patient Transport service is expected to commence in May 23 with contract award during March 24 and then mobilisation prior to contract commencement on 01/04/25.

For review procedures please see the attached FTS VEAT.