Fit Testing Team for NHS FFP3 Masks

Concepts

• nhs
• fit testing team
• contract administration
• national fit testing team
• checking and testing apparatus
• fit testers
• nhs ffp3 masks
• nhs test staff
• nhs staff
• ffp3 masks

Location

Across NHS Trust locations in England

Description

A National fit testing team to support the NHS test staff to FFP3 masks.

Total Quantity or Scope

Procurement of 320 fit testers to support NHS staff to be fit tested to FFP3 masks.

Award Detail

Award Criteria

CPV Codes

• 79994000 - Contract administration services
• 38500000 - Checking and testing apparatus

Indicators

• Award on basis of price.

Legal Justification

Extreme urgency brought about by events unforeseeable for the contracting authority and in accordance with the strict conditions stated in the directive Explanation: the Covid-19 outbreak is a public health emergency of international concern declared by WHO on 30 January 2020. The WHO Director General characterised Covid-19 as a pandemic on 11 March 2020. The use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is critical in safeguarding the health and lives of the care professionals treating patients with Covid-19. Delays in procuring suitable PPE poses a risk to life of those on the front line and the likelihood of significantly increased death toll. Due to the extreme urgency caused by the sudden uptick in Covid 19 cases, there was a corresponding dramatic increase in demand for FFP3 masks for use within the NHS. The Department for Health and Social Care (‘DHSC’) had to act promptly so a testing team could be in place in time to allow individuals to use non-3M respirators. DHSC awarded a contract on 6 November 2020 (OJEU reference 2020/S 239-592271). A further contract was required in order to satisfy the continued demand for fit testing services. DHSC is satisfied the tests permitting use of the negotiated procedure without prior publication (Regulation 32(2)(c)) were met: (a) as far as is strictly necessary: the contract is strictly necessary to meet the demand to scale up the fit testing requirement to ensure that NHS staff have access to well-fitting masks. (b) there are genuine reasons for the extreme urgency: respirators are a vital piece of PPE. A failure to have a fully operational testing team in place could have a direct impact on the Government’s ability to provide staff with adequate PPE in the quantities required resulting in a risk to public health. (c) the continued pressure on NHS staff required to treat patients with Covid-19 caused by the impact of the second wave of the pandemic being more severe than anticipated and the speed of transmission owing to the variant strain leading to a spike in cases. Therefore, the need for continued support by a pool of fit-testers outside of NHS staff was unforeseeable at the time the original Contract was entered into. (d) It is impossible to comply with the usual timescales in the Public Contract Regulations 2015: there is no other route available. (e) The situation is not attributable to DHSC: DHSC has not done anything to cause or contribute to the need for extreme urgency.