Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
NHS Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group
Wynford House, Lufton Way, Lufton, Somerset
Yeovil
BA22 8HR
UK
Contact person: Angela Mortley
Telephone: +44 1963381968
E-mail: angelamortley@nhs.net
NUTS: UKK2
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://www.somersetccg.nhs.uk/
Address of the buyer profile: http://www.somersetccg.nhs.uk/
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
Booking Service and Provision of Voluntary Car and Taxis to Support “Medical Need” Non-Emergency Car Transport Services (NEPTS) as well as Limited Support for “Social Need” Healthcare Travel Costs Sch
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85000000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
The current Transporting Somerset service has been provided through Somerset County Council (SCC) since 2009 and any new provider would be expected to replicate the scope of services that are already in place.
Transporting Somerset is commissioned by Somerset CCG and run by Somerset County Council. It provides a Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service (NEPTS) using a range of volunteer drivers and taxis as a cost effective alternative to ambulances. The service is judged by service users to be good.
The service is complex in that it supports both the health and social care sectors and thereby delivers efficiencies through joined up working. It also operates on a zero profit, cost recovery basis, using a fleet of volunteer drivers and for other journeys use of taxis that are deployed through a combination of a dynamic purchasing system and regular market price testing. The service delivers value for money.
The Commissioner needs to renew the offer with Somerset County Council o
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
3 000 000.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKK2
Main site or place of performance:
Somerset and Dorset.
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
A new provider would be expected to provide an NHS funded transport to those Service Users meeting the Medical Eligibility Criteria as set down by the Department of Health, including vulnerable people by reason of mental health or learning disability and children (and their Escorts) accessing healthcare provision and at the discretion of the NHS commissioner Service Users who, as a result of their condition, are expected to attend secondary care type services on a “frequent’ basis”.
Service Users who qualify as “medical need” are unable to make alternative, safe arrangements for travel. Some Service Users are treated some distance away from their homes (including large numbers out of county) and it is important that they are picked up quickly and transported efficiently to their destination.
Currently the service sits alongside SCC’s own social need transport support. SCC staff provide a day time booking service for patients who are registered with a Somerset GP. With the exception of short notice bookings, which may be handled by Trust booking staff, the majority of bookings will originate through the Patient Transport Advice Centre (PTAC). Service Users, or their carers, are expected to contact the PTAC direct to make the necessary transport arrangements. Transport is provided 24/7 and 7-days of week.
SCC holds responsibility for managing and coordinating the volunteer drivers, for providing appropriate training and ensuring governance arrangements are robust and maintained and that equitable access for all patients across the County is a key priority. In addition, it is expected to regularly test the market and procure the services of independent sector transport providers (taxi services), ensuring best value for the public purse. This contract covers the whole of Somerset and with the exception of oncology car transport, provides all car services for all NEPTS eligible patients.
The car services covered under the service specification form part of an overall package of NEPTS. They are for patients who are able to mobilise into a car themselves (with limited support), including some patients who use wheelchairs.
Services will look very different in the near future as a result of changes brought about through Somerset’s Fit for My Future health and care strategic review. Somerset is expecting to see more community transport providers emerge to support local journeys, which will have an impact on activity levels for Transporting Somerset. Somerset will also move towards the creation of an integrated care system and the development of neighbourhood teams.
The service is complex in that it supports both the health and social care sectors and thereby delivers efficiencies through joined up working. It also operates on a zero profit, cost recovery basis, using a fleet of volunteer drivers and for other journeys use of taxis that are deployed through a combination of a dynamic purchasing system and regular market price testing. The service delivers value for money.
The Commissioner would now like to renew the offer with Somerset County Council on the grounds it is the only capable provider of delivering at scale, 24/7 and within the limited budget available.
The added market uncertainty created through strategic change also makes it difficult to judge how journey volumes and destinations will change over the short to medium term. This is the reason why the proposed contract is relatively short in length – 2 years. The value of the service awarded under this notice is indicative only at 1 500 000 GBP on an annual basis.
This approach would ensure continuity of service, good and efficient use of public funds and release significant benefits to patients. The service awarded under this notice is let at an indicative value of 3 000 000 GBP over 2 years.
As a result of all of the material factors noted above, the Negotiated procedure without prior publication has been followed and justified under regulation 32(2)(b)(ii
II.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion: Regulation 32(2)(b)(ii)
/ Weighting: 50
Cost criterion: Regulation 32(2)(b)(ii)
/ Weighting: 50
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
II.2.14) Additional information
The services are healthcare services falling within Schedule 3 to the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (“the Regulations”) which are not subject to the full regime of the Regulations, but is instead governed by the “Light Touch Regime” contained within Chapter 3, Section 7 of the Regulations (Regulations 74 to 77).
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition
Justification for selected award procedure:
The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason: absence of competition for technical reasons
Explanation
The Service has been provided by Somerset County Council since 2009 to a high standard and staff and functions are fully integrated with the Council’s social need provision. The service is delivered at zero profit. It delivers as scale using multi-providers and provides 24/7 cover 7 days a week both in and outside of the County for anybody who is eligible according the NEPTS guidance.
The added market uncertainty created through strategic change also makes it difficult to judge how journey volumes and destinations will change over the short to medium term. This is the reason why the proposed contract is relatively short in length – 2 years. The value of the service awarded under this notice is 1 500 000 GBP on an annual basis.
This approach would ensure continuity of service, good and efficient use of public funds and release significant benefits to patients.
The currently contracted service expires in April 2019. In making this further award, the Commissioners are extending the current arrangements to until 31.3.2021 with the current provider, Somerset County Council, who has been identified as the only capable provider of delivering the short term requirement. The value of the service awarded under this notice is indicative only at 3 000 000 GBP over 2 years.
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
No
Section V: Award of contract
Contract No: SCCG Transport In Somerset
Title: Booking Service and Provision of Voluntary Car and Taxis to Support “Medical Need” Non-Emergency Car Transport Services (NEPTS) as well as Limited Support for “Social Need” Healthcare Travel Costs Sch
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
18/03/2019
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
Somerset County Council
County Hall, Somerset
Taunton
TA1 4DY
UK
NUTS: UKK2
Internet address(es)
URL: http://www.somerset.gov.uk/
The contractor is an SME:
No
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:
: 3 000 000.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
The contract is likely to be subcontracted
Value or proportion likely to be subcontracted to third parties
Proportion: 35 %
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
The award decision has been determined as Somerset County Council is the only provider identified that is capable of supplying the services required for the commissioner within the imposed timeframe. A Negotiated procedure without prior publication has been followed and justified under regulation 32(2)(b)(ii) „competition is absent for technical reasons” has been applied where no reasonable alternative or substitute exists.
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
NHS Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group
Wynford House, Lufton Way, Lufton, Somerset
Yeovil
BA22 8HR
UK
Telephone: +44 1935381968
E-mail: angelamortley@nhs.net
Internet address(es)
URL: http://www.somersetccg.nhs.uk/
VI.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
NHS Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group
Wynford House, Lufton Way, Lufton, Somerset
Yeovil
BA22 8HR
UK
Telephone: +44 1935381968
E-mail: angelamortley@nhs.net
Internet address(es)
URL: http://www.somersetccg.nhs.uk/
VI.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:
As described in VI.3), deadline for lodging of appeals should be in accordance with Regulation 87 and Regulation 91 of the 2015 Regulations.
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
18/03/2019