NHS England South West - Market Engagement - Diabetic Eye Screening Programmes for Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Gloucestershire and Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire (BNSSG)

Tender description

This notice is placed as a Prior Information Notice (PIN) to facilitate engagement with potential providers and relates only to pre-procurement market engagement. NHS England South West (The Commissioner) seeks to re-commission five Diabetic Eye Screening Programmes (DESP) to deliver screening to the eligible populations in the below geographies: - Cornwall and Isles of Scilly - Devon - Somerset - Gloucestershire - Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) Consideration is being given to procuring separate contracts, subject to the outcome of market and stakeholder engagement. The Commissioner invites expressions of interest from suitably qualified and experienced providers to provide the services in line with strict national standards and guidelines. The contracts are due to commence on 1st April 2024. The contract values have not been finalised. However, the current annual contract values for 2022/2023, based upon achieving the minimum acceptable 75% uptake, are provided below for indicative purposes: • Cornwall and Isles of Scilly £1,028,930 • Devon £2,214,103 • Somerset £1,036,922 • Gloucestershire £1,092,286 • BNSSG £1,420,622 These values are subject to change depending on the financial mechanism adopted for these contracts and due to the finance and business rules in the NHS Operating Framework. The contract values could also reduce during the contract term owing to the anticipated national changes to screening frequency for low risk individuals. If you are interested in this opportunity, please register on the e-procurement system, Atamis (details at the end of this notice), and submit a completed provider market engagement questionnaire by 12 noon 27th April 2023. This exercise is being managed by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioner(s). Lot 1: This notice is placed as a Prior Information Notice (PIN) to facilitate engagement with potential providers and relates only to pre-procurement market engagement. NHS England South West (The Commissioner) seeks to re-commission five Diabetic Eye Screening Programmes (DESP) to deliver screening to the eligible populations in the below geographies: - Cornwall and Isles of Scilly - Devon - Somerset - Gloucestershire - Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) Consideration is being given to procuring separate contracts, subject to the outcome of market and stakeholder engagement. The eligible population includes patients over the age of 12 diagnosed with diabetes and registered with, or eligible to be registered with a GP, as well as individuals within prisons, secure units and the armed forces. The aim of the DESP is to reduce the risk of sight loss amongst people with diabetes by the prompt identification and effective treatment, if necessary, of sight threatening diabetic retinopathy. This will be achieved by delivering an evidence-based service that: • Identifies the eligible population and ensures effective delivery with maximum coverage • Is safe, effective, high quality, externally and independently monitored, and quality assured • Leads to earlier detection, appropriate referral, effective treatment and improved outcomes • Is delivered and supported by suitably trained, competent and qualified clinical and non-clinical staff who, where relevant, participate in recognised ongoing continuing medical education (CME), continuous professional development (CPD) and quality assurance (QA) schemes • Has audit embedded in the service • Works effectively with other stakeholders to ensure the care pathway is smooth and efficient. There are three key elements of service delivery, namely: • Call/recall for all people with diabetes invited for routine digital screening - this is currently undertaken on an annual basis, but screening intervals are likely to extend to two years for people at low risk during the contract term in line with national guidance • Digital surveillance where individuals need more frequent screening • Slit lamp bio-microscopy (SLB) for those individuals where normal photography is inappropriate (e.g. those having cataracts). Further information on the DESP is available at; https://www.gov.uk/topic/population-screening-programmes/diabetic-eye The contracts are due to commence on 1st April 2024. The contract values have not been finalised. However, the current annual contract values for 2022/2023, based upon achieving the minimum acceptable 75% uptake, are provided below for indicative purposes: • Cornwall and Isles of Scilly £1,028,930 • Devon £2,214,103 • Somerset £1,036,922 • Gloucestershire £1,092,286 • BNSSG £1,420,622 These values are subject to change depending on the financial mechanism adopted for these contracts and due to the finance and business rules in the NHS Operating Framework. The contract values could also reduce during the contract term owing to the anticipated national changes to screening frequency for low risk individuals. The Commissioner seeks responses to a market engagement questionnaire, the aim of which is to determine the level of provider interest in this opportunity and obtain feedback from the market to help inform re-commissioning. This may be followed by a pre-procurement market briefing event, though arrangements are being confirmed. Details of any event undertaken, including confirmed date/s, will be provided to those who express an interest. If you are interested in this opportunity, please register on the e-procurement system, Atamis (details at the end of this notice), and submit a completed provider market engagement questionnaire by 12 noon 27th April 2023. The Services will be commissioned using the national service specification for DESP Services. The 2023/2024 national service specification, including Schedules 4 and 6 is available within the Atamis system. Some local tailoring is likely to be made to these documents and published as part of the final procurement documentation. This exercise is being managed by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioner(s). Additional information: The services are healthcare services falling within Schedule 3 to the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 ("the Regulations") which are not subject to the full regime of the Regulations, but are instead governed by the "Light Touch Regime" contained within Chapter 3, Section 7 of the Regulations (Regulations 74 to 77).