BNSSG ICB Community Optometry Project

Concepts

• bristol
• health services
• bnssg icb community optometry project
• community optometry practices
• community optometry
• bnssg icb intend
• bnssg icb
• this community optometry pilot programme
• icb
• bnssg

Location

BNSSG ICB Locality

Description

Following a Most Suitable Provider process, BNSSG ICB intend to award this Community Optometry pilot programme to Primary Eyecare Services (PES). This pilot programme is intended to test the viability of a digital platform enabling the transfer of full volumetric Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) images and accompanying referral documents from Community Optometry practices to Hospital Eye Services (HES) to facilitate clinical decision making and appropriate care. The pilot will operate within a strict financial limit of £78,000 and the duration of the pilot shall be 12 months or when 2000 patients have been processed, whichever is the sooner. If the pathway proves effective then it is the ICB's hope that it justifies the full procurement of a substantive, long-term agreement for these services, subject to funding being made available and following a full procurement process. If the pathway proves ineffective for the system and its residents, it will not be commissioned.

Total Quantity or Scope

This notice is an Intention to Award a contract under the Most Suitable Provider process. … The pilot will operate within a strict financial limit of £78,000 and the duration shall be 12 months or when 2000 patients have been processed, whichever is the sooner.

Award Detail

Renewal Options

The Commissioner may extend the duration of this agreement by up to 12 months. This may be necessary for the Commissioner to complete a full Evaluation Report of the pilot programme and (subject to positive results and funding being made available) to carry out a full and compliant procurement process for any future substantive service.

Award Criteria

CPV Codes

• 85100000 - Health services
• 85121281 - Ophthalmologist services

Indicators

• Options are available.
• Award on basis of price.

Legal Justification

This is an Intention to Award notice, following a Most Suitable Provider process, compliant with PSR 2023 regulations. Please refer to PIN Ref: 2024/S 000-015379 for the relevant "Intended Approach Notice" which called for Expressions of Interest for this process.

Other Information

This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) Intention to Award notice as part of a Most Suitable Provider process. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award. Contracting Authority: BNSSG ICB Community Optometry Project Conflicts of Interest: No conflicts of interest were found amongst the working project group and decision makers of this award. Key Criteria: The successful provider has been assessed against the key criteria highlighted in our Prior Information Notice dated 14th May 2024 (ref: 2024/S 000-015379). Because of the nature of this pilot and the timescales within which the ICB must mobilise we have sought a provider who fits the following key criteria, alongside the specified requirements as outlined in the PIN notice: • An existing, substantial and capable install base within the BNSSG ICB footprint. In this instance there are 44 practices that are using and are trained on the Opera platform that Primary Eyecare Services provide. • The ability and functionality in place to go-live with the pilot activity by the end of June 2024, without the necessity for a mobilisation/implementation phase. Any substantive contract opportunity off the back of this pilot activity will be advertised as a formal contract notice. It is the ICB's intention to share all findings, lessons learnt and evaluations from this pilot with all prospective bidders in the event of an open process, to ensure transparency and a fair and equal platform for bidders. This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award. The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority by 18th June 2024. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR. Written representations should be sent to jamie.mackay1@nhs.net.