Health and Disability Assessment Services.
Contract notice
Services
Section I: Contracting authority
I.1)Name, addresses and contact point(s)
Department for Work and Pensions
CD Sourcing, Block B, Level 3, Porterbrook House, 7 Pear Street
For the attention of: Gary Newell
S11 8JF Sheffield
UNITED KINGDOM
Telephone: +44 1142934275
E-mail:
Internet address(es):
General address of the contracting authority: www.dwp.gov.uk
Further information can be obtained from: The above mentioned contact point(s)
Specifications and additional documents (including documents for competitive dialogue and a dynamic purchasing system) can be obtained from: The above mentioned contact point(s)
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent to: The above mentioned contact point(s)
I.2)Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local sub-divisions
I.3)Main activity
Social protection
I.4)Contract award on behalf of other contracting authorities
The contracting authority is purchasing on behalf of other contracting authorities: yes
Section II: Object of the contract
II.1)Description
II.1.1)Title attributed to the contract by the contracting authority:
Health and Disability Assessment Services.
II.1.2)Type of contract and location of works, place of delivery or of performance
Services
Service category No 25: Health and social services
Main site or location of works, place of delivery or of performance: Locations throughout the United Kingdom.
Service category No 25: Health and social services
Main site or location of works, place of delivery or of performance: Locations throughout the United Kingdom.
NUTS code UK
II.1.3)Information about a public contract, a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system (DPS)
The notice involves a public contract
II.1.4)Information on framework agreement
II.1.5)Short description of the contract or purchase(s)
DWP has a current provider in place until 2015. DWP is looking at potentially increasing capacity from 2014 and it is possible suppliers may be invited to bid to provide services on the basis of increasing volumes over an initial period. More information will be provided in the Invitation to Tender (ItT).
DWP administer a range of social security benefits for people unable to work or who need help due to sickness or disability. Health and disability assessments are carried out to support these benefits - for example to support decisions on entitlement to benefit and the level of benefit award. DWP is tendering for this contract to deliver assessments on behalf of the awarding Authority, its Executive Agencies and those Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) sponsored by DWP, and on behalf of other bodies, including but not limited to the Ministry of Defence, Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Services, Her Majesty's Custom and Excise, the Department of Health and Northern Ireland Departments.
Delivery of the assessments may involve, but will not be restricted to:
- the consideration of an individual's circumstances, their health and disability and the impact of these;
- assessing individuals against criteria prescribed by DWP;
- the gathering and consideration of evidence to support the above;
- the completion of an assessment report on the individual's circumstances, including advice to DWP - for example, to support DWP staff in determining claimant entitlement to benefits;
- the referral of assessment reports to DWP;
- follow up liaison with DWP in relation to assessment reports;
- access to relevant health professional expertise as required; and
- auditing of the quality of assessments, reporting to DWP on this and assisting DWP and its contractors in follow-up activity to examine quality.
The primary focus of the contract will relate to assessments delivered in relation to Employment and Support Allowance and Universal Credit. However, assessments may also be required in relation to Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit; the Vaccine Damage Scheme and other social security benefits.
Assessments will need to be delivered at various locations throughout the UK, with an expectation that claimants will not need to travel more than 90 minutes by public transport for an assessment. Some provision will need to be made for home visits. DWP will not be providing estate for delivery of the services and would particularly welcome innovative location / service delivery strategies.
The expectation is that assessments will be completed by health professionals regulated by the General Medical Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council or the Health and Care Professions Council and meeting other criteria related to experience, training and competence prescribed by the Contracting Authority. These criteria may be subject to change over the life of the Contract.
Provision will be required to support assessments for Welsh speaking customers.
IT systems may or may not be required, and may or may not be provided by the Contracting Authority in relation to the services to be provided. The extent to which a Health and Disability Assessment Service provider will need to provide relevant supporting IT is to be determined, however any IT services that form part of the contract delivery will be required to adhere to DWP security standards and be security accredited by DWP.
Contact centre support arrangements may or may not also be required. A specification of requirements will be included in the ItT documentation.
Contracts will be divided into the following Lots:
1. North West England / North East England / Scotland
2. Central England / Wales
3. London / Southern England
Organisations may compete to be included in one, all or any combination of the Lots. Further details will be given in the ItT documents.
Contract duration will be 3 years with the possibility of extending for a further 2 years (extending on an annual basis).
These are part B services and the DWP will not be bound by the Public Contracts Regulations 2006 (as amended); except as such Regulations are applicable to part B services. This notice and any subsequent notices are placed voluntarily.
DWP considers that these contracts may be suitable for economic operators that are small or medium enterprises (SME) to bid or join together with other economic operators to bid to provide the services. For the avoidance of doubt, DWP points out that no weight will be attached to whether or not any economic operator bidding or involved in a bid is a SME in selecting economic operators or in assessing the most economically advantageous tender
DWP administer a range of social security benefits for people unable to work or who need help due to sickness or disability. Health and disability assessments are carried out to support these benefits - for example to support decisions on entitlement to benefit and the level of benefit award. DWP is tendering for this contract to deliver assessments on behalf of the awarding Authority, its Executive Agencies and those Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) sponsored by DWP, and on behalf of other bodies, including but not limited to the Ministry of Defence, Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Services, Her Majesty's Custom and Excise, the Department of Health and Northern Ireland Departments.
Delivery of the assessments may involve, but will not be restricted to:
- the consideration of an individual's circumstances, their health and disability and the impact of these;
- assessing individuals against criteria prescribed by DWP;
- the gathering and consideration of evidence to support the above;
- the completion of an assessment report on the individual's circumstances, including advice to DWP - for example, to support DWP staff in determining claimant entitlement to benefits;
- the referral of assessment reports to DWP;
- follow up liaison with DWP in relation to assessment reports;
- access to relevant health professional expertise as required; and
- auditing of the quality of assessments, reporting to DWP on this and assisting DWP and its contractors in follow-up activity to examine quality.
The primary focus of the contract will relate to assessments delivered in relation to Employment and Support Allowance and Universal Credit. However, assessments may also be required in relation to Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit; the Vaccine Damage Scheme and other social security benefits.
Assessments will need to be delivered at various locations throughout the UK, with an expectation that claimants will not need to travel more than 90 minutes by public transport for an assessment. Some provision will need to be made for home visits. DWP will not be providing estate for delivery of the services and would particularly welcome innovative location / service delivery strategies.
The expectation is that assessments will be completed by health professionals regulated by the General Medical Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council or the Health and Care Professions Council and meeting other criteria related to experience, training and competence prescribed by the Contracting Authority. These criteria may be subject to change over the life of the Contract.
Provision will be required to support assessments for Welsh speaking customers.
IT systems may or may not be required, and may or may not be provided by the Contracting Authority in relation to the services to be provided. The extent to which a Health and Disability Assessment Service provider will need to provide relevant supporting IT is to be determined, however any IT services that form part of the contract delivery will be required to adhere to DWP security standards and be security accredited by DWP.
Contact centre support arrangements may or may not also be required. A specification of requirements will be included in the ItT documentation.
Contracts will be divided into the following Lots:
1. North West England / North East England / Scotland
2. Central England / Wales
3. London / Southern England
Organisations may compete to be included in one, all or any combination of the Lots. Further details will be given in the ItT documents.
Contract duration will be 3 years with the possibility of extending for a further 2 years (extending on an annual basis).
These are part B services and the DWP will not be bound by the Public Contracts Regulations 2006 (as amended); except as such Regulations are applicable to part B services. This notice and any subsequent notices are placed voluntarily.
DWP considers that these contracts may be suitable for economic operators that are small or medium enterprises (SME) to bid or join together with other economic operators to bid to provide the services. For the avoidance of doubt, DWP points out that no weight will be attached to whether or not any economic operator bidding or involved in a bid is a SME in selecting economic operators or in assessing the most economically advantageous tender
DWP will manage the procurement through our e-procurement solution. All interested parties should register by 5.30pm on 20.9.2013 (as set out in this Notice at IV 3.3 and IV 3.4) at for further details.
II.1.6)Common procurement vocabulary (CPV)
85100000, 85140000, 48814000, 85141200, 48180000, 85141000, 85121200, 79512000, 72212180, 85148000, 85121100, 85141220
II.1.7)Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The contract is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA): no
II.1.8)Lots
This contract is divided into lots: yes
Tenders may be submitted for one or more lots
Tenders may be submitted for one or more lots
II.1.9)Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: yes
II.2)Quantity or scope of the contract
II.2.1)Total quantity or scope:
It is anticipated the services will initially be packaged in three geographic lots.
A single provider may be awarded more than one Lot however the awarding authority reserves the right to limit how many Lots are awarded to a single supplier. Full details will be set out in the Invitation to Tender.
The main benefits requiring health and disability assessment may include (but will not be limited to) Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit, Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and the Vaccine Damage Payment.
There are currently over 1 000 healthcare professionals (full time and sessional staff) delivering health and disability assessment services. In 2011/2012 some 2 million referrals were made of which approximately 700,000 involved a face to face medical assessment. These were distributed as follows:
LOT 1 - 898,711
LOT 2 - 535,005
LOT 3 - 748,353
Historical data is provided here for indicative purposes only and should not be relied upon. The Authority gives no guarantee of contract volumes under this procurement
Estimated Individual contract values (excluding VAT) are likely to vary but on historical data we would expect the overall value to be in excess of GBP 100m pa. Overall contract spend in 2011/2012 was in the region of:
Lot 1 (North West England/ North East England/ Scotland) GBP 40m
Lot 2 (Central England/ Wales) GBP 25m
Lot 3 (London/ Southern England) GBP 35m
Historical data is provided for indicative purposes only and should not be relied upon. The Authority gives no guarantee of contract values under this procurement
A single provider may be awarded more than one Lot however the awarding authority reserves the right to limit how many Lots are awarded to a single supplier. Full details will be set out in the Invitation to Tender.
The main benefits requiring health and disability assessment may include (but will not be limited to) Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit, Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and the Vaccine Damage Payment.
There are currently over 1 000 healthcare professionals (full time and sessional staff) delivering health and disability assessment services. In 2011/2012 some 2 million referrals were made of which approximately 700,000 involved a face to face medical assessment. These were distributed as follows:
LOT 1 - 898,711
LOT 2 - 535,005
LOT 3 - 748,353
Historical data is provided here for indicative purposes only and should not be relied upon. The Authority gives no guarantee of contract volumes under this procurement
Estimated Individual contract values (excluding VAT) are likely to vary but on historical data we would expect the overall value to be in excess of GBP 100m pa. Overall contract spend in 2011/2012 was in the region of:
Lot 1 (North West England/ North East England/ Scotland) GBP 40m
Lot 2 (Central England/ Wales) GBP 25m
Lot 3 (London/ Southern England) GBP 35m
Historical data is provided for indicative purposes only and should not be relied upon. The Authority gives no guarantee of contract values under this procurement
II.2.2)Information about options
Options: yes
Description of these options: DWP intends to offer a contract for a minimum of 3 years if there is a satisfactory bidder with the possibility of extending for a further 2 years (extending on an annual basis).
Welfare policy is constantly being reviewed and as a result the service may change during the contract period to reflect changing government policy. DWP will therefore be seeking change control processes to enable such changes to be effected through the contract.
Description of these options: DWP intends to offer a contract for a minimum of 3 years if there is a satisfactory bidder with the possibility of extending for a further 2 years (extending on an annual basis).
Welfare policy is constantly being reviewed and as a result the service may change during the contract period to reflect changing government policy. DWP will therefore be seeking change control processes to enable such changes to be effected through the contract.
II.2.3)Information about renewals
II.3)Duration of the contract or time limit for completion
Duration in months: 36 (from the award of the contract)
Information about lots
Lot No: 1 Lot title: North West England / North East England / Scotland1)Short description
Health and Disability Assessment Services in North West England/North East England/Scotland region more particularly described in Section II.1.5 of this notice and in the Invitation to Tender documents
2)Common procurement vocabulary (CPV)
85100000, 85140000, 48814000, 85141200, 48180000, 85121200, 79512000, 85141000, 72212180, 85148000, 85121100, 85141220
3)Quantity or scope
4)Indication about different date for duration of contract or starting/completion
5)Additional information about lots
The Contracting Authority intends to use an eTendering system in this procurement exercise and reserves the right to use a reverse auction.
Lot No: 2 Lot title: Central England / Wales
1)Short description
Health and Disability Assessment Services in Central England / Wales more particularly described in Section II.1.5 of this notice and in the ItT documents
2)Common procurement vocabulary (CPV)
85100000, 85140000, 48814000, 85141200, 48180000, 85121200, 79512000, 85141000, 72212180, 85148000, 85121100, 85141220
3)Quantity or scope
4)Indication about different date for duration of contract or starting/completion
5)Additional information about lots
The Contracting Authority intends to use an eTendering system in this procurement exercise and reserves the right to use a reverse auction.
Lot No: 3 Lot title: London / Southern England
1)Short description
Health and Disability Assessment Services in London / Southern England more particularly described in Section II.1.5 of this notice and in the ItT documents
2)Common procurement vocabulary (CPV)
85100000, 85140000, 48814000, 85141200, 48180000, 85121200, 79512000, 85141000, 72212180, 85148000, 85121100, 85141220
3)Quantity or scope
4)Indication about different date for duration of contract or starting/completion
5)Additional information about lots
The Contracting Authority intends to use an eTendering system in this procurement exercise and reserves the right to use a reverse auction.
Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information
III.1)Conditions relating to the contract
III.1.1)Deposits and guarantees required:
Parent company guarantees or equivalent, performance bonds or deposits may be required in appropriate circumstances. Further details will be provided in the ItT document documentation.
III.1.2)Main financing conditions and payment arrangements and/or reference to the relevant provisions governing them:
The awarding authority will specify the payment and funding model within the Invitation to Tender documentation. The payment and funding model is expected to contain both volume and qualitative payments and service credits
III.1.3)Legal form to be taken by the group of economic operators to whom the contract is to be awarded:
The awarding authority will contract with a single legal entity.
Groups of economic operators will be required to nominate a lead partner with whom the contracting authority can contract or to form a single lead entity before the contract is awarded.
No special legal form is required but if a contract is awarded to a consortium DWP require the consortium to form a legal entity before entering into, or as a term of, the contract. DWP's specific requirements are to be determined but DWP may require that any contract (s) awarded be entered into by a single legal entity on the part of the successful bidder (s)
Groups of economic operators will be required to nominate a lead partner with whom the contracting authority can contract or to form a single lead entity before the contract is awarded.
No special legal form is required but if a contract is awarded to a consortium DWP require the consortium to form a legal entity before entering into, or as a term of, the contract. DWP's specific requirements are to be determined but DWP may require that any contract (s) awarded be entered into by a single legal entity on the part of the successful bidder (s)
III.1.4)Other particular conditions
The performance of the contract is subject to particular conditions: yes
Description of particular conditions: Under this contract economic operators and their supply chain will be required to actively participate in the achievement of social and/or environmental policy objectives relating to such matters as recruitment, training and sustainability. Accordingly contract performance conditions may relate in particular to social and environmental considerations.
Description of particular conditions: Under this contract economic operators and their supply chain will be required to actively participate in the achievement of social and/or environmental policy objectives relating to such matters as recruitment, training and sustainability. Accordingly contract performance conditions may relate in particular to social and environmental considerations.
III.2)Conditions for participation
III.2.1)Personal situation of economic operators, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met: Any supplier may be disqualified if any of the circumstances listed in Article 45 of the Public Procurement Directive 2004/18/EC (regulation 23 of the UK Public Contracts Regulations 2006) apply to their organisation and suppliers will be asked to complete an appropriate declaration, which will be provided at a later stage.
A questionnaire will be issued to suppliers requesting information regarding their eligibility under Article 29 of the Services Directive 92/50/EC, their economic and financial standing and their eligibility and technical capacity to provide the requirements in accordance with Articles 30 and 34 of Services Directive 92/50/EC.
A questionnaire will be issued to suppliers requesting information regarding their eligibility under Article 29 of the Services Directive 92/50/EC, their economic and financial standing and their eligibility and technical capacity to provide the requirements in accordance with Articles 30 and 34 of Services Directive 92/50/EC.
DWP will manage the procurement through our e-procurement solution. All interested parties should register by 5.30pm 20th September 2013 (as set out in this Notice at IV 3.3 and IV 3.4) at for further details.
III.2.2)Economic and financial ability
Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met: DWP will conduct a financial viability check at the ItT stage to assure DWP that bidders have the financial capacity to deliver the services to the scale proposed. Further information and requirements will be set out in the ItT documentation.
Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required: Further information and requirements will be provided in the ItT documentation.
Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required: Further information and requirements will be provided in the ItT documentation.
III.2.3)Technical capacity
Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met:
The contracting Authority intends to set out, and evaluate, a minimum standard based on past performance. Full details of the requirement will be included in the ItT documentation.
Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required:
Further information and requirements will be provided in the ItT documentation.
The contracting Authority intends to set out, and evaluate, a minimum standard based on past performance. Full details of the requirement will be included in the ItT documentation.
Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required:
Further information and requirements will be provided in the ItT documentation.
III.2.4)Information about reserved contracts
III.3)Conditions specific to services contracts
III.3.1)Information about a particular profession
Execution of the service is reserved to a particular profession: yes
Reference to the relevant law, regulation or administrative provision: Health and disability assessments must be undertaken by qualified healthcare professionals - doctors, nurses (level 1), physiotherapists or occupational therapists - approved on behalf of the Secretary of State by the Department's Chief Medical Adviser. Full details of the criteria will be set out in the ItT documentation
Reference to the relevant law, regulation or administrative provision: Health and disability assessments must be undertaken by qualified healthcare professionals - doctors, nurses (level 1), physiotherapists or occupational therapists - approved on behalf of the Secretary of State by the Department's Chief Medical Adviser. Full details of the criteria will be set out in the ItT documentation
III.3.2)Staff responsible for the execution of the service
Legal persons should indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff responsible for the execution of the service: yes
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1)Type of procedure
IV.1.1)Type of procedure
Open
IV.1.2)Limitations on the number of operators who will be invited to tender or to participate
IV.1.3)Reduction of the number of operators during the negotiation or dialogue
IV.2)Award criteria
IV.2.1)Award criteria
The most economically advantageous tender in terms of the criteria stated in the specifications, in the invitation to tender or to negotiate or in the descriptive document
IV.2.2)Information about electronic auction
An electronic auction will be used: no
IV.3)Administrative information
IV.3.1)File reference number attributed by the contracting authority:
DWP_UI_100909
IV.3.2)Previous publication(s) concerning the same contract
no
IV.3.3)Conditions for obtaining specifications and additional documents or descriptive document
Time limit for receipt of requests for documents or for accessing documents: 20.9.2013 - 17:30
Payable documents: no
Payable documents: no
IV.3.4)Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
20.9.2013 - 17:30
IV.3.5)Date of dispatch of invitations to tender or to participate to selected candidates
IV.3.6)Language(s) in which tenders or requests to participate may be drawn up
English.
IV.3.7)Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 9 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
IV.3.8)Conditions for opening of tenders
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1)Information about recurrence
VI.2)Information about European Union funds
VI.3)Additional information
The awarding authority, Department for Work and Pension (DWP), is acting for and on behalf of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.
Applicants are advised that it is likely that Transfer of Undertaking (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 will apply.
Contracts shall be considered as contracts made in England and governed by English Law.
All procurement documents shall be in English and prices / rates in GBP (£).
Historical data is provided for indicative purposes only and should not be relied upon. The Authority gives no guarantee of contract values or volumes under this procurement
An initial briefing event will be held during September 2013 for all those who have registered an interest. Subsequent events will be held following the issue of the ItT.
The awarding authority reserves the right to accept a tender in full or in part, or not to accept a tender in full or part based on the criteria to be issued in the Invitation to Tender documentation.
Variant bids may be permitted alongside compliant bids. The position on variant submissions will be set out fully in the ItT documentation.
DWP expressly reserves the rights:
(i) to cancel this procurement at any stage;
(ii) to not award any contract as a result of the procurement process commenced by publication of this notice;
(iii) to make whatever changes it may see fit to the content and structure of the tendering competition;
(iv) to award one or more public contracts in relation to part only of the requirements covered by this notice; and in no circumstances will DWP be liable for any costs incurred by bidders.
Applicants are advised that it is likely that Transfer of Undertaking (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 will apply.
Contracts shall be considered as contracts made in England and governed by English Law.
All procurement documents shall be in English and prices / rates in GBP (£).
Historical data is provided for indicative purposes only and should not be relied upon. The Authority gives no guarantee of contract values or volumes under this procurement
An initial briefing event will be held during September 2013 for all those who have registered an interest. Subsequent events will be held following the issue of the ItT.
The awarding authority reserves the right to accept a tender in full or in part, or not to accept a tender in full or part based on the criteria to be issued in the Invitation to Tender documentation.
Variant bids may be permitted alongside compliant bids. The position on variant submissions will be set out fully in the ItT documentation.
DWP expressly reserves the rights:
(i) to cancel this procurement at any stage;
(ii) to not award any contract as a result of the procurement process commenced by publication of this notice;
(iii) to make whatever changes it may see fit to the content and structure of the tendering competition;
(iv) to award one or more public contracts in relation to part only of the requirements covered by this notice; and in no circumstances will DWP be liable for any costs incurred by bidders.
This is a procurement for Part B services and this contract(s) is being advertised in the OJEU voluntarily and DWP will not be bound by the Public Contracts Regulations 2006 (as amended) except as such Regulations are applicable to Part B services. The DWP intends to use a procedure with some similarities to the open procedure described in Regulation 15 for use when procuring Part A services. DWP will manage the procurement through our e-procurement solution. There will not be a separate pre-qualification stage. All interested parties should register by 5.30pm 20.9.2013 (as set out in this Notice at IV 3.3 and IV 3.4) at for further details.
The formal ItT will be issued on or around 30.9.2013 to organisations who have registered in accordance with these instructions.VI.4)Procedures for appeal
VI.4.1)Body responsible for appeal procedures
CD Sourcing
Department for Work and Pensions, Commercial Directorate, Block B Level 3 Porterbrook House, 7 Pear Street
S11 8JF Sheffield
UNITED KINGDOM
E-mail:
Internet address: www.dwp.gov.uk
VI.4.2)Lodging of appeals
VI.4.3)Service from which information about the lodging of appeals may be obtained
VI.5)Date of dispatch of this notice:
4.9.2013
Note! Supplement