Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services for Bedfordshire, Luton and Hertfordshire

Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services (NEPTS) for NHS Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group, NHS Luton Clinical Commissioning Group, NHS Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group, and NHS East and North Hertfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group.

A procurement process was initiated by Luton and Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Groups on 1 September 2017 (OJEU reference 2017/S 167-343841). A separate procurement process was initiated by Hertfordshire Clinical Commissioning Groups on 18 September 2017 (OJEU reference 2017/S 179-366553).

Both contracts resulting from the procurement were due to 'go live' on 1st April 2018.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the incumbent provider Private Ambulance Service (PAS) has gone into administration, and is no longer trading, therefore there was a significant risk that there would be no provision of non-emergency patient transport services across Bedfordshire, Luton and Hertfordshire jeopardising the health and well-being of patients (to a potentially fatal degree). Therefore this contract had to be placed urgently.

The contract duration will be for an initial 2 years, starting on 13th October 2017, with the option to extend by a further year. Maximum contract duration will be 3 years.

Given the nature of business modelling involved and the associated resource implications for the potential provider it is necessary for the contingency contract to be for a minimum 24 months, in order for this to be a financially viable proposition. Otherwise the costs of a short-term contract would be prohibitive and would potentially negatively impact on the wider health care system.

Based on a 2-year + 1 year extension, the new indicative procurement timelines (high level) would be as follows:

* Indicative timeline based on a 2 year term (contract term 13th October 2017 to 12th October 2019):

- Pre-procurement activities (incl. market engagement) from August to October 2018

- Formal Procurement Process (2 stage, 'Restricted' procedure) from November 2018 to March 2019

- Mobilisation Period from April to October 2019.

* Indicative timeline based on a 2 year term + 1 year extension (contract term 13th October 2017 to 12th October 2020):

- Pre-procurement activities (incl. market engagement) from August to October 2019

- Formal Procurement Process (2 stage, 'Restricted' procedure) from November 2019 to March 2020

- Mobilisation Period from April to October 2020.