Voluntary ex ante transparency notice
Directive 2014/24/EU
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership (NWSSP) - Procurement Services
Procurement Services, Cardiff and Vale University Local Health Board, Woodlands House, 2nd Floor, Maes-Y-Coed Road,
Cardiff
CF14 4HH
UK
Contact person: Emma Lane
Telephone: +44 02921501375
E-mail: emma.lane@wales.nhs.uk
NUTS: UK
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://www.procurement.wales.nhs.uk
Address of the buyer profile: http://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA0221
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
Support and Implementation Collaboration of Stepped Care 2.0 Methodology
Reference number: CAV-VEA (24-25) 144
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85100000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
The NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership, hosted by Velindre NHS Trust are acting on behalf of NHS Wales Executive who are hosted by Public Health Wales.
The newly formed National Strategic Programme for Mental Health within NHS Wales Executive and has committed to developing a consistent approach to co-production across all its areas of work. Co-production in healthcare is a transformative approach that involves people using services, caregivers, and healthcare professionals working together to design, deliver and evaluate health services. The National Strategic Programme for Mental Health have a requirement for the procurement of expert capacity and support to assist the organisation in working with the mental health system in Wales to transform community mental health services.
Community Mental Health Services in Wales play a vital role in providing accessible mental health care and support to people living with mental health conditions. These services are critical in promoting mental well-being, providing early intervention, providing treatment and support, and reducing the need for inpatient services. However, several strategic challenges are affecting the effectiveness, accessibility, and sustainability of Community Mental Health Services in Wales.
Addressing these challenges requires the transformation of community services to create a more robust, person centred, accessible, and sustainable mental health service system that can meet the needs of all individuals across Wales in a timely manner as identified as one of the key Visions for Wales outlined in the draft Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy (2025-2035).
The NHS Executive aim to address these issues through a three-year transformation programme, implementing Stepped Care 2.0 as a framework for mental health system redesign.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
1 000 000.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
85100000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKL
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The National Strategic Programme for Mental Health's requirement is to access expert guidance and support to steer the transformation process in Wales, bringing in learning from successful implementation in other nations, and building on the learning developed by primary care clusters in relation to the Primary Care Model for Wales. The transformation process will follow the phased approach successfully utilised in other nations guided by Stepped Care Solutions.
The National Strategic Programme for Mental Health is looking to award a contract for phase 1 of this project with a view that additional phases may need to be invoked as and when funding is approved.
Phase 1 will include the following;
- Building an implementation structure
- Building an understanding of SC2.0
- Assessing readiness and planning strategies
- Developing co-production plans
- Developing communication and engagement plans
- SC2.0 core component current state analysis
- Developing a Wales implementation plan based on the knowledge gained
Additional phases 2 to 4 if required will be scoped as follows;
Phase 2 will prepare the Welsh Mental Health system and associated Primary Care services for implementation. NHS Executive will require expert support and consultation to work alongside the Wales implementation team to develop an implementation process for a co-created system of care, and resources to support the implementation which align with the Welsh context. This will include (but not limited to) identifying service resource, planning and facilitating training and developing improvement and evaluation plans. An anticipated timescale of 6 months is envisaged.
Phase 3 will provide expert consultation advice and support for the implementation team and local leaders will be required to commence implementation with early adopters. Options include commencing on a smaller scale in a number of early adopting Health Boards, or with one component of the model on a national basis. This could mean (but not limited to) adding a new service, implementing specific aspects of the change, or targeting one part of the system or organisation. An anticipated timescale of 12 months is envisaged.
Phase 4 support will be required for national and local implementation teams for ongoing Implementation and Improvement. At this stage, implementation of the model within early adopter will be in progress. When data indicates things are going well, implementation will be expanded to the rest of the Health Boards. Learning from the early adopter sites will be shared and applied. This may require cycling back to Phase 1 to begin the planning process given the local place-based context of each additional Health Board area. Within the early adopter site locations, fidelity to the agreed model, and sustainability will be monitored, while a focus is maintained on the need for continuous adjustments based on organisational and population changes. Ensuring ongoing operational and leadership support is in place will enable Health Boards to continue implementation, and to independently ensure sustainability of the changes underway. An anticipated timescale of 9 to 12 months is envisaged.
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
Whilst the requirement is to access expert guidance and support for the steer of the first phase in the transformation process, the value outlined in the notice allows options beyond this stage.
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
Requirements for the additional phases may need to be negotiated and adjusted according to available funding and NHS Executive requirements, therefore, the intention is to utilise this notice as a call off as and when phases are approved.
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Negotiated procedure without prior publication
Justification for selected award procedure:
The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason: protection of exclusive rights, including intellectual property rights
Explanation:
The National Strategic Programme for Mental Health under the NHS Wales Executive intend to contract to Stepped Care Solutions to provide the required support and capacity to develop an implementation plan for Wales. Stepped Care Solutions is a mission-driven not-for-profit organisation, and the creators of Stepped Care 2.0.
Stepped Care 2.0 an innovative and transformative model that leverages collaborative efforts and technology to transform mental health and substance use health systems for better access and outcomes.
All rights, title, and interest in Stepped Care 2.0, SC2.0 is the exclusive property of Stepped Care Solutions. This includes “know-how”, copyright, trademarks, or trade names associated with Stepped Care 2.0, SC2.0.
Stepped Care Solutions will assist the National Strategic Programme for Mental Health to reframe, rethink, and redesign the delivery of mental health care services using an approach which will involve all stakeholders in decision making. They offer a flexible and collaborative approach to implementing the SC2.0 model and will work closely with NHS Executive, Health Boards and Trusts to leverage existing NHS Wales and partner organisations strengths, and community knowledge and assets. The organisation demonstrates a track record of prioritising evidence-informed practices and implementation science to ensure successful outcomes.
On this basis and under Regulation 32b(iii) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, the Health Board intends to award a contract for phase 1 of these services up to the 31st March 2025 with the potential option for invoking additional phases outlined in this notice if and when required.
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
Section V: Award of contract/concession
Contract No: CAV-VEA (24-25) 134
V.2 Award of contract/concession
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract/concession
02/01/2025
V.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
SC2.0 Stepped Care Solutions Inc.
2 Pinware Crescent
Mount Pearl
A1N 2M3
CA
NUTS: CA
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.4) Information on value of the concession and main financing terms (excluding VAT)
Total value of the concession/lot:
1 000 000.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
The estimated contract value for Phase 1 is circa 75,000.00GBP. The value in this notice is to allow for further phases to be invoked if and when funding is available and objectives from each prior phase are delivered.
(WA Ref:146987)
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
High Court
London
UK
Internet address(es)
URL: http://www.procurement.wales.nhs.uk
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
02/01/2025