P0486 - Delivery of the Birmingham Community Equipment Loan Service

Tender description

The Council wishes to establish a Contract for the Delivery of a Birmingham Community Equipment Loan Service (BCELS). Equipment can play a key role in enabling citizens to live independently at home by providing assistance with everyday tasks, thereby helping to reduce unnecessary admissions to hospital and care homes; and preventing delayed discharge from hospital. Equipment can play a key role in enabling citizens to live independently at home by providing assistance with everyday tasks, thereby helping to reduce unnecessary admissions to hospital and care homes; and preventing delayed discharge from hospital. The type of equipment provided can range from simple mobility aids, such as crutches and walking frames, to more complex items such as profiling beds and hoists. Items are provided to citizens free of charge, on loan or single issue, in line with agreed criteria. The Birmingham Community Equipment Loan Service is available to citizens of all ages who meet the criteria for the service however the majority of those in receipt of equipment in 2017/18 were aged 65+ (70%). 131,282 citizens have been registered with this service. 32,142 orders for equipment were placed in 2017/18, which equates to 105,832 pieces of standard equipment delivered to citizens. On average, citizens received 3 pieces of equipment in one order. New pieces of Special equipment ordered and delivered in 2017/2018 was 1,457 with a further 1,082 pieces of equipment recycled and used from existing stock. Tenders are sought from organisations that have experience of sourcing, delivering, maintaining and recycling equipment for citizens referred for a service by approved Equipment Prescribers. The referrals will be for both standard and special equipment. Special Equipment is defined as any item, not on the Core Equipment list, which must be specially purchased for a citizen. The Service Provider will support an equitable and accessible community equipment loan service to citizens of Birmingham who meet the agreed criteria, based on good practice and meeting national and local standards and performance indicators. The service must be able to accommodate fluctuations in demand based on the number of referrals received from Equipment Prescribers. There are existing outsourced services in place so TUPE requirements may apply. Contract This contract is due to commence on the 1st April 2019 and run for an initial period of 3 years with the provision to extend for up to an additional 2 years subject to requirements and satisfactory performance. BCC will be using its e-tendering system (In-tend) for the administration of this procurement process and providers must register with the system to be able to express an interest. The web address is https://in-tendhost.co.uk/birminghamcc Registration and use of In-tend is free. All correspondence for this procurement process must be via the In-tend c...