Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Liverpool Road
Chester
CH2 1UL
UK
E-mail: info@coch-cps.co.uk
NUTS: UK
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.coch.nhs.uk/
I.2) Joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
www.nhssourcing.co.uk
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
www.nhssourcing.co.uk
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent to the abovementioned address
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.1.1) Title
National Framework Agreement for the Provision of Autism and ADHD Assessment Services
Reference number: F/097/AAAS/24/AB
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85000000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust wishes to establish a Framework Agreement under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 (and as amended) (the PSR) for use by all Relevant Authorities (and any future successors to these organisations).
“Relevant authority” is defined in section 12ZB(7) of the National Health Service Act 2006. It means a combined authority, an integrated care board, a local authority in England, NHS England, an NHS foundation trust or an NHS trust established under section 25 of that Act.
For the avoidance of doubt, any successor bodies of any of the above entities shall be entitled to place Orders and shall be deemed Relevant Authorities for the purposes of this Framework Agreement.
Demand for autism and ADHD assessment and diagnosis services has increased significantly in recent years, with waiting lists in some areas now years long. In order to address this backlog, many NHS organisations are outsourcing portions of this service to increase capacity, either on a short- or long-term basis. This Framework Agreement will provide a quick and compliant route to contract for these services.
The overall aim of the Framework Agreement is to provide an assessment and diagnosis service for autism, ADHD and/or combined autism and ADHD for both adult and paediatric patients. For patients on the ADHD or combined pathway this may also include medication prescribing, titration and review.
The term of the framework agreement will be 4 years.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
15 000 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
85121200
85121270
85121291
85141000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
This framework agreement will be formed of one Lot. Suppliers will be awarded to one of more of the below Services within that Lot:
Adult Autism Spectrum Assessment and Diagnosis
Children and Young People Autism Spectrum Assessment and Diagnosis
Adult ADHD Assessment and Diagnosis
Children and Young People ADHD Assessment and Diagnosis
Adult Combined Autism Spectrum and ADHD Assessment and Diagnosis
Children and Young People Combined Autism Spectrum and ADHD Assessment and Diagnosis
ADHD Medication Prescribing, Titration and Review for Adults
ADHD Medication Prescribing, Titration and Review for Children and Young People
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
15 000 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 48
This contract is subject to renewal: No
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
Yes
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
The Framework will be re-opened to new applicants annually, approximately 90 days before the anniversary of the Framework Commencement Date. Previously appointed Suppliers will NOT be obliged to re-apply on an annual basis, UNLESS they wish to bid for additional services to which they were not previously awarded.
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information
III.1) Conditions for participation
III.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
List and brief description of conditions:
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
III.1.2) Economic and financial standing
List and brief description of selection criteria:
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
III.1.3) Technical and professional ability
List and brief description of selection criteria:
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
III.2) Conditions related to the contract
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
IV.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement with several operators.
IV.1.6) Information about electronic auction
An electronic auction will be used
Additional information about electronic auction:
Electronic auctions may be used in further competitions.
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
07/02/2025
Local time: 14:00
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
IV.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 3 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date:
10/02/2025
Local time: 14:00
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
No
VI.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
VI.3) Additional information
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) Contract 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 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award.
Supplier instructions how to express interest and bid:
1) Browse to the esourcing portal https://www.nhssourcing.co.uk and click on view current opportunities;
2) Register your organisation on the eSourcing portal (this is only required once);
3) Accept the portal terms and conditions and click 'continue', enter your organisation and user details; note the username you chose and click 'Save' when complete; you will shortly receive an e-mail with your unique password (please keep this secure);
4) Login to the portal with the username/password;
5) Click the 'PQQs/ITTs Open To All Suppliers' link. (These are pre-qualification questionnaires or invitations to tender open to any registered supplier);
6) Select the title of the ITT;
7) Click the 'Express Interest' button at the top of the page. This will move the PQQ/ITT into your 'My PQQs/My ITTs' page. (This is a secure area reserved for your projects only). You can now access any attachments by clicking 'Buyer Attachments' in the 'PQQ/ITT Details' box;
8) Review the ITT documents;
9) Responding to the ITT. Click 'My Response' under 'PQQ/ITT Details', you can choose to 'Create Response' or to 'Decline to Respond' (please give a reason if declining). You can now use the messages function to communicate with the buyer and seek any clarification. Note the deadline for completion, then follow the on-screen instructions to complete the ITT.
There may be a mixture of online and offline actions for you to perform (there is detailed online help available). You must then submit your reply using the 'Submit Response' button at the top of the page. If you require any further assistance please consult the online help, or contact the eTendering help desk.
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Chester
UK
E-mail: info@coch-cps.co.uk
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
08/01/2025