ASC0291 - Provision of Free Emergency Hormonal Contraception (EHC) in Community Pharmacies for Young Women under 25 Years of Age

An Online Microsoft Teams Tenderers Information Session was held on 14 February 2023 commencing at 10:45 am. Further details regarding how to register for this session was contained within the Invitation to Tender documentation. Throughout the duration of the Framework, the Authority may at its discretion review the Framework and may open the Framework at its own discretion when a service need arises. A service need includes (but is not limited to): a lack of capacity from current providers and therefore there is a need to supplement the framework list of providers beyond the numbers initially appointed to the contract; an increase in the volume of service users requiring the services under the Framework; and to replace (if required) providers who have been removed, suspended from the framework or did not agree to provide the services. Opening the Framework will allow the opportunity for any potential new providers who are not currently appointed to the Framework to apply to the Authority, when the new tender opportunity is advertised, to be so appointed for the remainder of the term of the contract. It is the Authority’s preliminary view that TUPE is unlikely apply in respect of this Contract. The Authority was conducting this procurement under the Light Touch Regime for Social and Other Specific Services, as set out in the Public Contract Regulations 2015 (PCR), at Section 7 (Regulations 74 to 77) and Schedule 3. The procurement process was not conducted under the Public Contract Regulations 2015; however, it was similar to that of an Open procedure. The Process did, unlike an Open Procedure, include the flexibility, as allowed under the Light Touch Regime with various evaluation stages as detailed in the Invitation to Tender documentation.

An Online Microsoft Teams Tenderers Information Session was held on 14 February 2023 commencing at 10:45 am. Further details regarding how to register for this session was contained within the Invitation to Tender documentation. Throughout the duration of the Framework, the Authority may at its discretion review the Framework and may open the Framework at its own discretion when a service need arises. A service need includes (but is not limited to): a lack of capacity from current providers and therefore there is a need to supplement the framework list of providers beyond the numbers initially appointed to the contract; an increase in the volume of service users requiring the services under the Framework; and to replace (if required) providers who have been removed, suspended from the framework or did not agree to provide the services. Opening the Framework will allow the opportunity for any potential new providers who are not currently appointed to the Framework to apply to the Authority, when the new tender opportunity is advertised, to be so appointed for the remainder of the term of the contract. It is the Authority’s preliminary view that TUPE is unlikely apply in respect of this Contract. The Authority was conducting this procurement under the Light Touch Regime for Social and Other Specific Services, as set out in the Public Contract Regulations 2015 (PCR), at Section 7 (Regulations 74 to 77) and Schedule 3. The procurement process was not conducted under the Public Contract Regulations 2015; however, it was similar to that of an Open procedure. The Process did, unlike an Open Procedure, include the flexibility, as allowed under the Light Touch Regime with various evaluation stages as detailed in the Invitation to Tender documentation.

An Online Microsoft Teams Tenderers Information Session was held on 14 February 2023 commencing at 10:45 am. Further details regarding how to register for this session was contained within the Invitation to Tender documentation. Throughout the duration of the Framework, the Authority may at its discretion review the Framework and may open the Framework at its own discretion when a service need arises. A service need includes (but is not limited to): a lack of capacity from current providers and therefore there is a need to supplement the framework list of providers beyond the numbers initially appointed to the contract; an increase in the volume of service users requiring the services under the Framework; and to replace (if required) providers who have been removed, suspended from the framework or did not agree to provide the services. Opening the Framework will allow the opportunity for any potential new providers who are not currently appointed to the Framework to apply to the Authority, when the new tender opportunity is advertised, to be so appointed for the remainder of the term of the contract. It is the Authority’s preliminary view that TUPE is unlikely apply in respect of this Contract. The Authority was conducting this procurement under the Light Touch Regime for Social and Other Specific Services, as set out in the Public Contract Regulations 2015 (PCR), at Section 7 (Regulations 74 to 77) and Schedule 3. The procurement process was not conducted under the Public Contract Regulations 2015; however, it was similar to that of an Open procedure. The Process did, unlike an Open Procedure, include the flexibility, as allowed under the Light Touch Regime with various evaluation stages as detailed in the Invitation to Tender documentation.

An Online Microsoft Teams Tenderers Information Session was held on 14 February 2023 commencing at 10:45 am. Further details regarding how to register for this session was contained within the Invitation to Tender documentation. Throughout the duration of the Framework, the Authority may at its discretion review the Framework and may open the Framework at its own discretion when a service need arises. A service need includes (but is not limited to): a lack of capacity from current providers and therefore there is a need to supplement the framework list of providers beyond the numbers initially appointed to the contract; an increase in the volume of service users requiring the services under the Framework; and to replace (if required) providers who have been removed, suspended from the framework or did not agree to provide the services. Opening the Framework will allow the opportunity for any potential new providers who are not currently appointed to the Framework to apply to the Authority, when the new tender opportunity is advertised, to be so appointed for the remainder of the term of the contract. It is the Authority’s preliminary view that TUPE is unlikely apply in respect of this Contract. The Authority was conducting this procurement under the Light Touch Regime for Social and Other Specific Services, as set out in the Public Contract Regulations 2015 (PCR), at Section 7 (Regulations 74 to 77) and Schedule 3. The procurement process was not conducted under the Public Contract Regulations 2015; however, it was similar to that of an Open procedure. The Process did, unlike an Open Procedure, include the flexibility, as allowed under the Light Touch Regime with various evaluation stages as detailed in the Invitation to Tender documentation.

An Online Microsoft Teams Tenderers Information Session was held on 14 February 2023 commencing at 10:45 am. Further details regarding how to register for this session was contained within the Invitation to Tender documentation. Throughout the duration of the Framework, the Authority may at its discretion review the Framework and may open the Framework at its own discretion when a service need arises. A service need includes (but is not limited to): a lack of capacity from current providers and therefore there is a need to supplement the framework list of providers beyond the numbers initially appointed to the contract; an increase in the volume of service users requiring the services under the Framework; and to replace (if required) providers who have been removed, suspended from the framework or did not agree to provide the services. Opening the Framework will allow the opportunity for any potential new providers who are not currently appointed to the Framework to apply to the Authority, when the new tender opportunity is advertised, to be so appointed for the remainder of the term of the contract. It is the Authority’s preliminary view that TUPE is unlikely apply in respect of this Contract. The Authority was conducting this procurement under the Light Touch Regime for Social and Other Specific Services, as set out in the Public Contract Regulations 2015 (PCR), at Section 7 (Regulations 74 to 77) and Schedule 3. The procurement process was not conducted under the Public Contract Regulations 2015; however, it was similar to that of an Open procedure. The Process did, unlike an Open Procedure, include the flexibility, as allowed under the Light Touch Regime with various evaluation stages as detailed in the Invitation to Tender documentation.