NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent procures services from a range of providers. Contracts vary from small one-off purchases to large works or service contracts.
When procuring services we follow particular regulations to ensure fair opportunity, competition and value for money.
The regulations mean we cannot favour providers simply because they are already in contract with us, a NHS organisation, located in our area, or employing local people.
The current contract opportunities are summarised below. For more information visit the Supply2Health website via the links.
Any Qualified Provider
Any Qualified Provider (AQP) is a way of commissioning a service so that patients can choose from a range of providers all of whom have been accredited as meeting NHS quality standards and price.
National AQP programme
The PCT is participating in the national Any Qualified Provider (AQP) programme for three services
The aim is to have these services available for patients by September 2012.
The accreditation process for these services will be conducted through the national health service portal Supply2Health.
For more information about this programme and how to participate in it, please visit the AQP Resource Centre.
The PCT has made a number of documents available below to assist providers in the national accreditation process.
Documents to be added shortly.
Local AQP services
When the PCT has a requirement to commission local services using AQP, we will advertise it on Supply2Health. We have given further details of Supply2Health below together with basic guides on how to register and how to use its automatic alert by email facility.
The PCT’s local accreditation process for AQP is very similar to the national process, and will require potential providers to complete a structured questionnaire to give evidence of their capability and capacity under a number of assessment criteria, including clinical governance, workforce management, infrastructure management, and information management. When successfully completed, we will engage accredited providers using a DH standard contract, under which payment is based on a cost per case, but with no guaranteed level of activity.
When we conduct the PCT’s local accreditation process, we will use an electronic tendering portal known as Bravo. Providers may wish to consider registering on Bravo in preparation. We have given further details of Bravo below together with basic guides on how to register, express an interest, how to create, amend and submit a response.
Supply2Health
We advertise opportunities for providing healthcare services on the Department of Health web site Supply2Health (S2H).
You can search all the opportunities on S2H and even ask S2H to alert you when new opportunities are advertised. We advise potential providers to monitor S2H regularly. You can download our guidance on how to register, how to search, and how to set up alerts.
Transparency
In accordance with the government agenda for greater transparency, we will publish details of tenders we issue and the contracts we award.
We will publish documents on the national government web site Contracts Finder.
Publication of contracts will include the specification, terms and conditions, and associated schedules.
Suppliers and those organisations looking to bid for contracts with the PCT should be aware that if they are awarded a new contract, the resulting contract between the supplier and the PCT will be published.
In some circumstances, limited redactions will be made to some contracts before they are published in order to comply with existing law and for the protection of national security.
Meet the market events
None currently.
Current opportunities
Completed procurements
Bravo eSourcing portal
To ensure we operate in a fair and controlled manner, the PCT conducts procurements using a web-based system – sometimes referred to as an eSourcing portal.
Registration and use of the eSourcing portal system is free of charge and places providers under no obligation to participate. It takes approximately 10 minutes to complete registration.
Once registered, providers will be able to view the procurements being conducted, and may use the system to express their interest in any procurement. Providers who express an interest will be notified automatically of events throughout the procurement process. Providers can use the system to access the pre-qualification documents and other material for procurements in which they have expressed an interest.
You can download our guidance on how to register, express an interest, how to create, amend and submit a response, raising a clarification and downloading attachments.
To register go to https://commercialsolutions.bravosolution.co.uk and follow the instructions.
Competition dispute resolution process
NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent operates its procurements in a fair and transparent way in accordance with the Principles and Rules of Co-operation and Competition (PRCC) published by the Department of Health.
If you are a provider who believes that we have breached those principles or rules, you may register your complaint with our Competition Dispute Resolution Procedure (CDRP). The procedure includes the criteria for acceptance of a complaint and how it will be processed.
In order for us to process your complaint efficiently and effectively please
complete the form to provide all the relevant information and return to Andy Glenister.
For assistance with the process, please contact the person identified below.
Andy Glenister Head of Procurement
NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent, Templar House, Tannery Lane, Ashford, TN23 1PL
Tel: 01233 618165
Fax: 01233 618 193
Email: andy.glenister@eastcoastkent.nhs.uk
Procurement Policy
The procurement policy is intended to update the PCT’s formal arrangements so that they reflect current best practice. It will also help to inform any changes required to the PCT’s Standing Financial Instructions and Orders so that the PCT’s rules remain sound.
