Published date: 11 April 2023

Awarded contract - This means that the contract has been awarded to a supplier.


Closing: 1 February 2023, 12pm

Contract summary

Industry

  • Transport services (excl. Waste transport) - 60000000

Location of contract

North West

Value of contract

£49,914,935

Procurement reference

CF-1484200D0O000000rwimUAA

Published date

11 April 2023

Closing date

1 February 2023

Closing time

12pm

Contract start date

1 April 2023

Contract end date

31 March 2024

Contract type

Service contract

Procedure type

Negotiated procedure without prior publication (above threshold)

The opportunity was not advertised, because for example only one supplier is capable of delivering the requirement, or due to extreme urgency brought about by unforeseen events.

This procedure can be used for procurements above the relevant contract value threshold.

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

No

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

No


Description

NHS Midlands and Lancashire Commissioning Support Unit (CSU) are publishing on behalf of NHS Lancashire & South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB), NHS Greater Manchester ICB, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICB and NHS North East and North Cumbria ICB who have awarded contracts for the provision of Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services (NEPTS) to cover Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cumbria delivering:
- Planned Patient Transport - for routine outpatient appointments
- Unplanned Patient Transport - for discharges / short notice bookings, and
- Enhanced Priority Service Transport - for time critical transport for patients attending for haemodialysis or oncology treatments.

This contract award notice is for the direct award of contracts with the existing provider, North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) for a period of 12 months from 1st April 2023 to the 31st March 2024.
The current NEPTS contracts were originally procured by competitive tender. There was then a delay in the recommissioning of these services due to the COVID-19 pandemic however work is now underway to develop a North West strategic approach to patient transport being commissioned by the newly formed ICBs that will meet both local and national requirements. To allow the timescales to complete this work and reprocure the service an extension of 12 months is required with the existing provider.

A review of the North West specifications is required to ensure it meets the evolving needs of the ICBs. In addition the National Review of NEPTS produced its final report on patient eligibility criteria in May 2022. This has broadened the criteria under which patients are able to access NHS funded transport and has required additional work on the specifications. The National Review has produced, and continues to produce, additional guidance to be adopted which will impact the North West specifications.

The rationale for the 12 month extension with the existing provider is that it will maintain the continuity of service until such time as a new service can be commissioned that will meet local requirements and incorporate any new national requirements. The extension is only a temporary arrangement to allow the appropriate timescales to re-procure the service (which have previously been delayed due to the pandemic and therefore events that were unforeseeable to the commissioners).

The commissioners intend to engage with the provider market to support the development of the new North West specifications and a provider engagement event will be advertised via a PIN.


More information

Additional text

Transport services 60000000


Award information

Awarded date

1 February 2023

Contract start date

1 April 2023

Contract end date

31 March 2024

Total value of contract

£49,914,935

This contract was awarded to 1 supplier.

North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust

Address

399 Chorley New Rd, Bolton, BL1 5DD

Reference

None

Supplier is SME?

No


About the buyer

Contact name

Rachel Roocroft MLCSU

Address

Lancashire Business Park
Leyland
PR26 6TR
GB

Email

mlcsu.tendersnorth@nhs.net