Contract award notice

Results of the procurement procedure

Section I: Contracting entity

I.1) Name and addresses

I.4) Type of the contracting authority

Body governed by public law

I.5) Main activity

Health

Section II: Object

II.1) Scope of the procurement

II.2) Description

Section IV: Procedure

IV.1) Description

Section V: Award of contract

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

V.2 Award of contract

V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

01/04/2025

V.2.2) Information about tenders

Number of tenders received: 1

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor

V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)

Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot:

Total value of the contract/lot: Lowest offer: 4 759 009.72  GBP / Highest offer: 4 759 009.72  GBP

V.2.5) Information about subcontracting

Section VI: Complementary information

VI.3) Additional information

This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the New Procurement Act 2023 do not apply to this award. The standstill period begins on the day after the publication of this notice. Provider representatives must be made to the relevant authority by Friday 2nd May 2025 (Midnight). This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.<br/><br/>Any written representations should be sent to both of below email address's stated below:<br/>Charlene.clark1@nhs.net<br/>Bailie.curtis@nhs.net<br/><br/>Decision Makers -<br/>Darrell Barber<br/>Simon Pattison<br/>Phill Cave<br/><br/>No Conflict of Interest were disclosed.<br/><br/>Quality & Innovation – <br/>Kneesworth, operated by Priory holds a CQC overall rating of ‘Good’, with most assessed domains rated ‘Good’ in its most recent inspection. <br/>Through the recent Quality visit conducted by us, the provider demonstrates a strong commitment to delivering quality, person-centred care through a collaborative and well-structured multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach. The staff board, including “get to know me” information, helps personalise care and enhances the patient experience and creates a better environment and sense of informed and engaged with their patients. Clear, visible posters throughout the ward, such as those for patient rights, safeguarding, and complaints procedures, reinforce the provider’s focus on patient safety and empowerment.<br/>The provider has a primary nurse system, where nurses update care plans and risk assessments during ward rounds, ensuring continuity of care. Service users also have autonomy, with keys to their bedrooms.<br/>The provider has effective systems in place for care coordination and MDT meetings held. They work to align their service delivery with ours and have access to an MDT—including OT, Psychology, and other specialists to enhance patient care.<br/>The provider satisfies the criteria and requirements to a sufficient standard. This is demonstrated through the recent quality visit conducted in January 2025 and through information shared at contract review meetings. These processes offer assurance of the provider’s commitment to continuous improvement, learning from lessons learned, and a proactive approach to enhancing service quality and care delivery.<br/><br/>Value – <br/>The provider makes 15 beds available as a block, helping to meet the demand for mental health (MH) beds in Hertfordshire.<br/>By operating under a block contract rather than spot purchasing, the provider delivers better value for money while maintaining the same quality standards. Additionally, by offering MH beds within Hertfordshire and through an established clinical pathway, the provider supports the Trust and wider NHS in reducing inappropriate bed placements.<br/>Value is delivered and achieved through block contracts, as opposed to spot purchases, which typically cost more than the rates secured through block contracting.<br/>The provider has the appropriate level of insurance for the services provided<br/>The provider satisfies the criteria and requirements to a sufficient standard. This is demonstrated through the provider commitment to block contract and value for money, whilst supporting the wider NHS aim of reducing inappropriate beds placements.<br/><br/>Integration, collaboration and service sustainability – <br/>The provider has demonstrated its ability to collaborate, as evidenced by contract review meetings. Additionally, the provider has effectively integrated into the wider clinical pathway for mental health (MH) beds, and providing available beds when required.<br/>By contributing to system-wide MH bed availability, the provider has supported the commissioning trust in reducing pressure on Acute and Emergency Department (ED) services while ensuring patients receive appropriate care in the right setting.<br/>The provider has maintained a longstanding partnership with the commissioning organisation for a few years, consistently delivering MH beds and ensuring service continuity, contributing to the long-term sustainability of MH bed availability in Hertfordshire. <br/>The provider evident through the contract review meetings shares examples of it approaches to involve and engage with patients and staff, through sessions, weekend events (Christmas Activities etc.), this commitment demonstrates the providers commitment to sustainability of quality available provision. <br/>In addition, the provider demonstrates their collaboration with HPFT demonstrating partnership working with our inpatient services, crisis and community services through planned admissions, facilitating and access to ward rounds and safe discharge planning. They also have representation in daily bed meetings. Their clinical team works closely with ours to review bed capacity and patient needs on a weekly basis.<br/>The provider satisfies the criteria and requirements to a sufficient standard, demonstrated through its commitment to MH bed availability, active collaboration. By sustaining a reliable MH bed provision within Hertfordshire, the provider supports system-wide stability, enhances patient access to care, whilst supporting reduced pressure on Acute and Emergency Department (ED)<br/><br/>Improving access, reducing health inequalities and facilitating choice – <br/>The provider has maintained a longstanding partnership with the commissioning organisation for a few years, consistently delivering MH beds and ensuring service continuity. This contributes to the long-term sustainability of MH bed availability in Hertfordshire.<br/>Additionally, the provider has the capability of providing beds for working age adults and PICU. <br/>The provider’s provision of additional beds ensures timely access to the appropriate level of care, enabling patients to receive the right support at the right time while reducing disparities in service access.<br/>There are no barriers to admission, ensuring that anyone in need of a mental health bed can access one without restriction. This approach guarantees equitable access to care, ensuring that all patients receive the support they require when they need it.<br/>The service is based in Kneesworth, right on the border of Hertfordshire, just outside the town of Royston. This is an area of the county without any HPFT beds and so adds to the range of options available for placements. <br/>The provider satisfies the criteria and requirements to a sufficient standard, this demonstrated through the availability of beds supporting timely access to MH beds for patients and the geographical area around Royston in the north of Hertfordshire.<br/><br/>Social Value - <br/>Priory Group demonstrates commitment to social value, focusing on both local and environmental impacts. The provider contributes to the local economy by recruiting staff from within the community and offering a wide range of mental health services. <br/>In terms of environmental sustainability, Priory has set clear carbon reduction targets. The near-term goal is to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 25% by 2025, with an annual reduction of at least 4% through to 2030. For the long-term target, Priory is committed to reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 90% and Scope 3 emissions by 90% by 2050, compared to a baseline year of 2021. These efforts underscore the provider’s dedication to reducing its environmental impact and contributing to wider societal benefits.<br/>The provider satisfies the criteria and requirements to a sufficient standard. The provider demonstrates their commitment to the local community by operating within the area and recruiting locally, thus contributing to the local economy and improving access to care. Their proactive approach to environmental sustainability, through their carbon reduction plan, highlights their commitment.<br/><br/>The provider was assessed against the basic selection criteria using available information from CQC website and recent most inspection outcome, Contract Review Meeting reporting and Quality Visit Report conducted by us. This evaluation ensured a well-informed assessment of the provider against the selected criteria.

VI.4) Procedures for review

VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice

22/04/2025