Framework Agreement to provide Fertility Services for NHS Bedfordshire, Luton & Milton Keynes ICB

NHS Bedfordshire, Luton & Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board (ICB) invited suitably qualified and experienced providers to express interest in delivering Fertility Services, by responding to the opportunity as required and described in the published tender documentation. NHS Arden and Greater East Midlands CSU (AGCSU) acted as an agent for and on behalf of the Commissioner and supported the procurement process. The service was a Schedule 3 Service and was procured under the Light Touch Regime (LTR) of the Public Contract Regulations 2015. The purpose of the procurement was to set up a multi-provider Framework Agreement. The Commissioner was seeking to set up a framework agreement with 3 providers. The selection of these providers was based on the 3 highest scoring providers in response to the Invitation to Tender (ITT) process. The commissioner reserved the right to open future windows at their discretion if further capacity or choice is required. The purpose of the Specialist Fertility Services is to provide a range of appropriate assisted conception services for couples who meet the eligibility criteria. The service aims to treat subfertility. The objective of treatment for subfertility is to achieve a successful pregnancy quickly and safely with the least intervention required and the delivery of a healthy child. As a result of this procurement exercise an agreement was to be established with the successful Bidder(s) for a period of 3 years with the Commissioner having the option to extend the contract for up to a further 2 years. The previous contract(s) for the Services will end on 31st March 2023 and as a result the successful provider was expected to be fully operational, providing services from 01st April 2023. Based on the current contracts it was anticipated that the service provision resultant of the procurement would have an annual expenditure of £1,200,000.00 per annum. However, all providers awarded to the framework agreement were to have zero value contracts; no activity or spend is guaranteed as activity is driven by patient choice. The Commissioner has made a decision to abandon the current process as permitted within Document 1 – ITT Process Overview document (under section 26.1.i). The justification for this is that the Commissioner has taken the decision to amend some of the requirements and stipulations within the procurement for the provision of Fertility Services. In order to maintain a fair and transparent process, the Commissioner is withdrawing this process and intend to go back to out to market with a new service offer including revised documentation.