Tender Summary

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

Buying Organisation

NHS England

Contract Value

£74,393,213

Tender Description

NHSE South West (The Commissioner) seeks to re-commission five Diabetic Eye Screening Programmes (DESP) to deliver screening to the eligible populations of Cornwall and Isles of Scilly (Lot 1), Devon (Lot 2), Somerset (Lot 3), Gloucestershire (Lot 4), and Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) (Lot 5).
The eligible population includes patients over the age of 12 diagnosed with diabetes and registered with, or eligible to be registered with, a GP in the lot area, 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 3 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 2 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).
Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) does not form part of this Contract at this time, though this position may change over the life of the contract in line with national guidance.
The Services will be commissioned using the national service specification for DESP Services, localised where appropriate.
The Contract term will be 6 years, with an option to extend for a further 3 years at the sole discretion of the Commissioner. The Contracts are due to commence on 1st April 2024.
The 9 year estimated contract values, based on predicted activity levels, are:
Lot 1 = 9,588,607
Lot 2 = 24,522,731
Lot 3 = 13,581,836
Lot 4 = 11,231,506
Lot 5 = 15,468,533
The Contract will operate on a hybrid basis with a fixed "block" element based upon the actual activity for routine screening in 2021/2022 plus a variable element for digital surveillance and SLB and a further variable element to incentivise uptake to 85%. Variable elements will be paid according to activity undertaken.
The Commissioner's ambition through the financial model is to encourage uptake of DESP to achieve or exceed the national achievable target of 85% uptake in routine screening (DE1).
National changes to screening frequency for low risk individuals are expected to be implemented during the contract term which will have an impact on activity. The subsequent impact on contract values will be agreed between the Provider and the Commissioner via contract variation.
This procurement is being carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners.
Interested providers will be able to view the opportunity and access the tender documentation via the 'Live Opportunities' list on the e-procurement system, Atamis, available on the following link: https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome

Tender categories (products & services required)

Health and social work services (CPV 85000000)

Region

South West (UKK)

Buyer Information