Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board
Charter House Parkway
Welwyn Garden City
AL8 6JL
UK
Telephone: +44 1442284135
E-mail: mark.fordham1@nhs.net
NUTS: UKH23
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.hertsandwestessex.icb.nhs.uk/
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.hertsandwestessex.icb.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
Community Ophthalmology Service / Minor Eye Conditions Service (MECS)
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85100000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
This is a Voluntary Ex-Ante Transparency Notice and as such provides notification of the intention of the Authority to enter into a contract for the Community Ophthalmology Service / Minor Eye Conditions Service (MECS) to be provided to the population of West Essex (and Essex wide) by the incumbent provider, Primary Eyecare Services Limited.<br/><br/>The new contract is intended to begin on 1st April 2024 and end on 31st March 2026 with the option to extend for a further 12 months. The value of the new contract is £1,086,480 (excl. VAT). Please note that these are expected values and may be amended post contract finalisation with the provider.<br/><br/>The service has been in place since 1st April 2021 and has a total cumulative value of approximately £920,455 (excluding the value of this new contract).
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
1 086 480.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKH23
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
This is a Voluntary Ex-Ante Transparency Notice and as such provides notification of the intention of the Authority to enter into a contract for the Community Ophthalmology Service / Minor Eye Conditions Service (MECS) to be provided to the population of West Essex (and Essex wide) by the incumbent provider, Primary Eyecare Services Limited.<br/><br/>The new contract is intended to begin on 1st April 2024 and end on 31st March 2026 with the option to extend for a further 12 months. The value of the new contract is £1,086,480 (excl. VAT). Please note that these are expected values and may be amended post contract finalisation with the provider.<br/><br/>The service has been in place since 1st April 2021 and has a total cumulative value of approximately £920,455 (excluding the value of this new contract).<br/><br/>Primary Eyecare Services Limited provide the following Community Ophthalmology Service / Minor Eye Conditions Service (MECS) pathways of care for West Essex Place patients:<br/><br/>• Advice and guidance to health care professionals with regard to the MEC service<br/>• Telephone and face-to-face triage to ensure patients are suitable for the MEC service and to assess urgency of treatment required<br/>• Patient advice and education<br/>• Full diagnostic service and management of results<br/>• Appropriate treatment for the diagnosed clinical condition<br/>• One stop shop approach where appropriate<br/>• Timely onward referrals when clinically necessary<br/>• Make appropriate recommendations for medication in line with the agreed formulary<br/>• Planned discharge with guidance for continuing self-care<br/>• Follow up where clinically necessary
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
Option to extend for a further year from 1st April 2026 to 31st March 2027
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
In line with best practice, the Authority will observe a voluntary 10-day standstill period prior to concluding the proposed contract with Primary Eyecare Services Limited.
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:
New works/services, constituting a repetition of existing works/services and ordered in accordance with the strict conditions stated in the Directive
Explanation
Rationale to explain why the proposed contracting arrangements can only be delivered by the existing provider:<br/><br/>• The supplier/provider for the MECS is being sought from is Primary EyeCare Services, they are the non-profit organisation of the Essex LOC (Local Ophthalmology Community)<br/>• The model is an optometrist-led model delivered by the local optometrists through sub-contractual arrangements with Primary EyeCare Services<br/>• PES are the only provider who can deliver this as it’s a coordinating role through which no other provider has those existing arrangements in place with the local optometrists<br/>• An alternative provider could not deliver the service as the local optometrists are unlikely to engage with an alternative provider given their relationship with PES<br/>• Without a provider to deliver that coordinating role with those existing arrangements, the optometrist-led model could not be delivered<br/>• An alternative model for the service is not being considered as it has achieved significant benefits as demonstrated by the outcomes achieved
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
No
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
01/04/2024
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
PRIMARY EYECARE SERVICES LIMITED
06722353
Waulk Mill [2.3] 51 Bengal Street, Manchester, England
Manchester
M4 6LN
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:
: 1 086 480.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
High Court of Justice for England and Wales
The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
23/04/2024