Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
NHS Digital
7 & 8 Wellington Place
Leeds
LS1 4AP
UK
E-mail: NHSDcontractmanagement@nhs.net
NUTS: UKE42
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.digital.nhs.uk/
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.digital.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
Provision of Services for Clinical Assurance
Reference number: C102370
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85100000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
NHS Digital (NHSD) writes clinical content to support the Patient Pathways and 111 Online services. It is critical that this content is up to date and reflective of the most up to date treatment advice.<br/><br/>This contract establishes the formal assurance of clinical information and content and with it, the provision of specialist development expertise across a broader spectrum of conditions and relevant subject matter experts. Initially focussed on NHS Pathways and NHS 111 Online, the assurance will include a review of new content (‘prospective content’), but also a review (over a 5-year period) of current and legacy content (‘retrospective content’).
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
2 000 000.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Direct award (Reg 32) - negotiated procedure without prior publication
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price
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
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 procurement falls outside the scope of application of the Directive
Explanation
This case for this STA replies on Regulation 32 and specifically 32(b) which provides: <br/><br/>(b) where the works, supplies or services can be supplied only by a particular economic operator for any of the following reasons: <br/><br/>(i) the aim of the procurement is the creation or acquisition of a unique work of art or artistic performance, <br/><br/>(ii) competition is absent for technical reasons, <br/><br/>(iii) the protection of exclusive rights, including intellectual property rights, <br/><br/>but only, in the case of paragraphs (ii) and (iii), where no reasonable alternative or substitute exists and the absence of competition is not the result of an artificial narrowing down of the parameters of the procurement; <br/><br/>In line with the (i) and (ii) above, outlined below is the rationale as to why the proposed supplier is uniquely positioned to provide the service, and how AoMRC is positioned against these: <br/><br/> <br/>AoMRC Unique Position: <br/><br/>AoMRC are uniquely positioned to engage with a broad range of medical and non-medical colleges and offer ultimate integrity to clinical assurance processes <br/><br/>AoMRC are the only organisation which has overall oversight for the various colleges of clinical staff which will be needed to input into the digital content. Although other organisations may be able to provide a discreet element of the services, they will not have the ability to ensure cross organisation collaboration to ensure that all the relevant clinical expertise is considered when updating our online content <br/><br/>With the Academy’s overarching role, they are the preferred partner in providing enhanced independent and neutral assurance for NHS Pathways and 111 Online clinical content, based on their standing and role in the wider clinical community. <br/><br/>With a membership of 24 organisations, and as referred to above, there are no other organisations that could offer the breadth, consistency and formality of service, hence the Programme advocating a Single Tender Award <br/><br/> <br/><br/>Alternatives: <br/><br/>No other organisation sits across or has access to all of the other medical colleges and faculties that AoMRC does. AoMRC can provide access to colleges and faculties such as those below (https://www.aomrc.org.uk/about-us/academy-members/): <br/><br/>Royal College of Physicians <br/><br/>Royal College of Emergency Medicine <br/><br/>Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine <br/><br/>Royal College of Paediatrics & Child Health <br/><br/>RCGP can provide access to clinicians as it does today, but this is to a narrower range of SMEs and does not meet the requirement of a broader range of expertise as per the above <br/><br/>Contracting for clinician time would have to be on a college-to-college basis and such activity is likely to be prohibitive across c.24 organisations. Overarching body to college is an existing relationship through the membership arrangement <br/><br/>Whilst the administrative task of arranging meetings and chairing them could be undertaken by A N Other party, any commercial or other organisation would not have the links to colleges or, indeed, the authority to engage with colleges
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
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
08/09/2022
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
Academy of Medical Royal Colleges
10 Dallington Street
London
ECV1 0DB
UK
NUTS: 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:
Lowest offer:
2 000 000.00
GBP
/ Highest offer:
2 000 000.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
High Court (Technology and Construction Court)
Rolls Building, Fetter Lane
London
EC4A 1NL
UK
Internet address(es)
URL: https://www.gov.uk/courts-tribunals/technology-and-construction-court
VI.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
NHS Digital
7 & 8 Wellington Place
Leeds
LS1 4AP
UK
Internet address(es)
URL: https://www.digital.nhs.uk/
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
07/10/2022