Opportunity to provide a Community GPwER Ophthalmology Service covering the Southampton City Locality of NHS Hampshire, Southampton and Isle of Wight CCG (HSI)

Description

Hampshire, Southampton and Isle of Wight CCG are publishing this call for competition, for a Community GPwER Ophthalmology service for the Southampton City Locality only for a period of two years. A two year contract is required in the Southampton City Locality to allow the HSIOW CCG to undertake a review of the community ophthalmology model and services. The Southampton City Locality currently has a Community Ophthalmology service model, which was commissioned by the previous Southampton City Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). In April 2021, the Southampton City CCG merged with five other local CCGs to become part of a single Hampshire, Southampton and Isle of Wight CCG (HSIOW CCG). In July 2022, the HSIOW CCG will in turn be dissolved with its functions transferring into a new HSIOW Integrated Care System (ICS). The integration of CCGs and establishment of the ICS provides an opportunity to establish a service improvement approach across a wider geography, in order to deliver improved outcomes, experience and efficiency. As such, this has the potential to change the landscape and alter requirements, as does the lessons being learned from the Covid-19 pandemic, which has resulted in different ways of working and patient/clinical behaviours. In respect of the Ophthalmology service specifically, our intention is to undertake a thorough review of the current service model and provision, encompassing service redesign and reconfiguration options, and population insights, as well as looking to the market for innovations in Ophthalmology services. This review will inform longer term commissioning strategies and potential tender opportunities for Community Ophthalmology. As a result, the Authority intends to award a two-year contract for Community GPwER Ophthalmology Service in Southampton The service will; • Deliver a comprehensive Community GPwER Ophthalmology Service which provides appropriate and timely diagnosis and treatment of patients with a range of eye conditions which can be managed in a community setting • Ensure sustainable collaboration and integration with secondary care services to provide a seamless pathway of care for the patient and support for primary care • Manage demand on acute Ophthalmology services at University Hospitals Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, ensuring only those requiring secondary care interventions are referred on Continually improve quality and patient experience with reduced waiting times. This notice is an opportunity to express an interest in the delivery of the interim contact, however if no expressions of interest are received from alternative providers, the CCG intends to extend the contract with its incumbent providers to ensure service continuity whilst the service review is undertaken, under the Regulation 32 exemption from procurement if no expressions of interest are received. It is anticipated that the legal landscape governing procurement of NHS contracts is due to change in 2022. The CCG reserves the right to amend of abandon the procurement process in response to ay legislative changes that may occur. Please note the contract value covers the total contract period of 24 months. This new 24 month contract will be subject to TUPE of existing staff from the incumbent provider. To access the full specification for the service, please log on to the In-tend portal, ref no F15205. Lot 1: The Community GPwER Ophthalmology Service will provide high quality appropriate and prompt clinical care for a wide range of ophthalmology conditions in a community based setting. The commissioned service will be expected to offer initial assessment, diagnosis relevant treatment together with appropriate follow up care regime for ophthalmology patients being treated by the service. Service provision will be for patients aged 18 years and over who are registered with a Southampton City GP. A small amount of activity (£20k) relates to South West Hampshire patients; however most of the South West Hampshire ophthalmology activity is covered under another service specification and contract. The provider will be responsible for the supply, safe installation, on-going maintenance and replacement as necessary of all suitable and relevant equipment and software required to provide the service. The service provider will be responsible for ensuring there is appropriately qualified staff necessary to deliver a fully accredited service, compliant with all appropriate national standards and regulations, including business continuity. Equipment requirements include IOP testing, visual fields, retinal/fundal photography, and OCT measurement. The provider will co-ordinate and manage the population need for Ophthalmology services, reducing dependence on referrals into secondary care; activity levels to be contained within agreed plans. They will develop strong local clinical relationships with both Primary and Secondary Care clinicians and work collaboratively to deliver and ensure patients receive an integrated, seamless pathway of care. The provider will be responsible for ensuring there are appropriately qualified staff necessary to deliver a fully accredited service, compliant with all appropriate national standards and regulations. Full detail available within the Service Specification which can be accessed via the in-tend portal under project ref F15205 as per additional information section Please note the contract value covers the total contract period of 24 months. The CCG does not expect this service to be VAT chargeable, therefore, the individual bidder will be responsible for any VAT incurred and will need to ensure they can cover all appropriate costs within the pricing options shown. To access the full specification for the service, please log on to the In-tend portal, ref no F15205. The Evaluation model will be based on the principle of Most Economic Advantageous Tender (MEAT) with a Quality/Commercial weighting split, with the higher weighting and focus on quality. The Quality Evaluation model will cover areas such as Service delivery model, workforce, clinical and governance quality, safeguarding, IG, Equality and Diversity, mobilisation planning and assurance for service delivery as well as detail on TUPE process and transfer of staff which will be applicable to this service. In order to express an interest in this opportunity please complete and formally submit the EOI form found on In-tend under project F15205 - Community GPwER Ophthalmology Service in Southampton and submit by 12:00 noon on the 14th March 2022. Additional information: In order to express an interest in this opportunity please complete and formally submit the EOI form found on In-tend under project F15205 - Community GPwER Ophthalmology Service in Southampton and submit by 12:00 noon on the 14th March 2022. Instructions for Registering on the SoEPS Commissioning Support In-tend e-Tendering Portal 1. Browse to the SoEPS Commissioning Support portal https://in-tendhost.co.uk/soepscommissioning 2. Click the "Register" link on the left-hand side of the page. 3. Enter your correct business and user details. 4. Note the email address and password chosen and Click "Register My Company" when complete. 5. Login to the portal with the username/password. 6. You will be prompted to change your password on first login. 7. Hover your mouse over the "Tenders" button on the main toolbar and choose the relevant option: • "My Tenders" shows a list of the opportunities in which you have already expressed an interest or to which you have been invited • "Awarded" shows a list of tenders awarded on the system (where these are were open to all) • "Current" shows a list of all the advertised opportunities on the system (i.e. open to all) in • which you are able to express an interest • "Forthcoming" shows a list of pipeline projects (including those in which providers can still express an interest - i.e. deadlines not yet reached) 8. Click on the "View Details" button for relevant opportunity to access the content, clicking "Express an Interest" where required to do so. 9. Click the relevant procurement as required then click the "Opt-In" at the bottom of the page to start building your submission to the procurement stage. This will move the project over to your "My Tenders" page. (This is a secure area reserved for your projects only). 10. Note the deadline for completion and follow the on screen instructions to complete the EOI, accessing any attached documents as required. 11. Any questions on specific opportunities should be directed through the portal messaging facility.