Community Ophthalmology Service

Concepts

• health and social work
• windsor
• service standards
• community ophthalmology service
• hospital services
• service conditions
• ophthalmology
• community
• frimley icb safeguarding requirements
• quality requirements

Location

Windsor

Description

NHS Frimley ICB ("the Commissioner") sought to commission Community Ophthalmology service covering the Frimley ICB geography - diagnosing and, where appropriate, treating specific ophthalmic conditions. It is intended to address conditions which do not require treatment in secondary care but does not include delivery of services which form part of the core GMS Primary Care Contract. The service provision is for patients aged over 16, delivered in an outpatient setting; with expectation of appointments being made available within a maximum of 3 weeks from point of referral. Referrals are taken via a triage service (currently provided by Evolutio) from GPs and optometrists. Referrals are passed by Evolutio to SOPS Healthcare Ltd. The service is aimed at conditions which do not require hospital services. Follow-ups are provided only where required, and there is typically a maximum of 1 follow-up for every first appointment/visit. Frimley ICB has followed PSR Direct Award C for the contract to which this notice relates.

Total Quantity or Scope

The Commissioner is directly awarding a contract to the existing provider SOPS Healthcare Ltd under PSR Direct Award C in accordance with the criteria outlined in Regulation (9) of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. The total value of the contract for the initial one-year contract term is £127,127.00. The full lifetime contract value (one year + optional one year extension) is £255,017.00. The one-year contract period will commence on the 1 October 2024. This procurement has been carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners.

Award Detail

Renewal Options

Option to extend by up to 1 year

Award Criteria

CPV Codes

• 85000000 - Health and social work services

Indicators

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

Legal Justification

This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice, under PSR Direct Award Process C. 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 midnight 27 September 2024. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.

Other Information

Evidence that SOPS Healthcare Ltd have satisfied the existing 23/24 contract to a sufficient standard according to the detail outlined in the contract: they provided all of the required documentation, information and policies for the existing contract. They have followed the contractual service specification, not deviated from Frimley ICB Safeguarding requirements, charged the correct local prices as per the contract, issued invoices correctly in accordance with the Frimley ICB process, complied with Quality reporting requirements, and followed Schedule 6A reporting requirements. They have complied with/not fallen foul of the 23/24 NHS Standard Contract (Shorter Form) Service Conditions, including Service Conditions in relation to the following: service standards, co-operation, information requirements, safeguarding, payment terms and quality requirements. They have also complied with/not fallen foul of the 23/24 Shorter Form General Conditions, including those relating to: liability & indemnity, assignment & sub-contracting, and Information Governance. The new contracting arrangements are based on a rollover of the previous contracting arrangements/schedules which the provider has already satisfied/complied with to a high standard, and so the provider will highly likely to be able to satisfy the new contract to a sufficient standard. 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 decision makers by midnight 27 September 2024. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR. The Commissioner made the decision of directly awarding the incumbent provider SOPS Healthcare Ltd in accordance with the following five criteria outlined in Regulation (9) of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. • Quality and innovation • Value • Integration, collaboration, and service sustainability • Improving access, reducing health inequalities and facilitating choice • Social value It has been advised that SOPS Healthcare Ltd has the evidenced ability to deliver the activity required to meet service requirements within the required region and that can deliver to the tight timescale. A direct award to SOPS Healthcare Ltd under PSR Direct Award C would be appropriate following the Commissioner's evaluation of this provider against the statutory requirements of PSR Direct Award C, and the Commissioner's conclusion that all requirements and criteria have been satisfied. No declared conflicts or potential conflicts of interest were identified during the decision-making process. Representations should be sent to scwcsu.cbprocurement@nhs.net.