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Patient Observations (eObservations) Soft Market Test.

Prior information notice

Services

Directive 2004/18/EC

Section I: Contracting authority

I.1)Name, addresses and contact point(s)

Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust
Derriford Road, Crownhill
For the attention of: Price Richard
PL6 8DH Plymouth
UNITED KINGDOM
Telephone: +44 1752432913
E-mail:

Further information can be obtained from: The above mentioned contact point(s)

I.2)Type of the contracting authority
National or federal agency/office
I.3)Main activity
Health
I.4)Contract award on behalf of other contracting authorities
The contracting authority is purchasing on behalf of other contracting authorities: no

Section II.B: Object of the contract (Supplies or services)

II.1)Title attributed to the contract by the contracting authority:
Patient Observations (eObservations) Soft Market Test.
II.2)Type of contract and place of delivery or of performance
Service category No 7: Computer and related services
Plymouth.

NUTS code UKK4,UKK41

II.3)Information on framework agreement
The notice involves the establishment of a framework agreement: no
II.4)Short description of nature and quantity or value of supplies or services:
Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust (PHNT) wishes to engage with interested suppliers and undertake a soft market test exercise (‘soft market test’) relating to an electronic system for the Adult and Paediatric vital signs monitoring which is currently done manually. The objective of this process is to understand what opportunities exist that improve service delivery, and what sourcing arrangements would offer best value for money and, if so, how to proceed in the most effective way.
The required services within the scope of the soft market testing will be to replace current paper based observations systems with an electronic system across the trust. Specifically the trust is looking for:
- A means to electronically capture vital signs at point of care;
- To improve recognition of patients who are at risk or may have clinically deteriorated;
- Interpretation of clinical findings, so that help can be called for earlier.
This PIN Notice describes the Soft Market Test process; which will be carried out by the completion of a Soft Market Testing Questionnaire for assessment by PHNT. To understand market capability further PHNT may choose to meet with a small sample of suppliers by inviting them to 1:1 interviews in Plymouth. Where confidential information is discussed / provided by suppliers PHNT would be happy to sign a confidentiality agreement.
The Soft Market Test shall:
- enable PHNT to gather information regarding potential improvement and investment opportunities;
- enable PHNT to gather information about the supply market for an Patient Observation system;
- enable PHNT to understand how the system can work with its current systems, particularly its own bed management system using SALUS;
- assist in determining the best approach to the preparation for any improvements and/or sourcing arrangements, including understanding any key concerns;
- assist PHNT with any outline business case for approval by PHNT board.
Interested parties in some or all of the scope described in this PIN notice should register via the Trusts e-tendering portal (heartofengland.bravosolution.co.uk) Bravo Solutions to express an interest in this project and complete the Soft Market Testing Questionnaire by 11.3.2016 at 13:00.
Background.
Plymouth Hospitals is the largest hospital trust in the south west peninsula and is a teaching trust in partnership with the Peninsula Medical School.
Derriford Hospital has approximately 900 beds. We offer a full range of general hospital services to around 450 000 people in Plymouth, North and East Cornwall and South and West Devon. These include emergency and trauma services, maternity services, paediatrics and a full range of diagnostic, medical and surgical sub-specialties.
We offer a range of tertiary specialist services. These are provided to a population of between 700 000 and 2 000 000 depending on the type of care needed:
- Kidney transplant;
- Pancreatic cancer surgery;
- Neurosurgery;
- Cardiothoracic surgery;
- Bone marrow transplant;
- Hepatobiliary surgery;
- Neonatal intensive care and high risk obstetrics;
- Plastic surgery;
- Liver transplant evaluation;
- Stereotactic Radiosurgery.
The trust has developed its own bed management system and is keen to maximise the opportunity to integrate any electronic patient observation system with its future development.
In May 2013, the Trust published its vision and strategy in a document titled ‘At the Heart of Health in the Peninsula’.
The Trust vision is to be led by patients' needs and become one of the country's leading specialist centres delivering excellent care, teaching, training and research. Specifically it aligns with:
- The Trust will constantly improve our services, guided by what our patients tell us, responding quickly to problems and fixing underlying causes.
- Collaborating with partners in the region, The Trust will lead in responding to the changing health and well-being needs of patients, recognised by Commissioners for innovation in new services and models of care.
- Highly engaged, clinically led teams at all levels will be focused on our core purpose of caring better for our patients.
- The Trust will work in collaboration with partners to continually identify, develop and provide the emerging and specialist services which our population requires.
- Through strong relationships with Plymouth University and the South West Peninsula Academic Health Science Network, the Trust will be recognised as an academic hub and a leading centre for innovation and research with an international reputation.
II.5)Common procurement vocabulary (CPV)

48180000, 48517000, 72268000, 48180000, 72212180

II.6)Scheduled date for start of award procedures
II.7)Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The contract is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA): yes
II.8)Additional information:
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)Main financing conditions and payment arrangements and/or reference to the relevant provisions governing them:
III.2)Conditions for participation
III.2.1)Information about reserved contracts

Section VI: Complementary information

VI.1)Information about European Union funds
The contract is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: no
VI.2)Additional information:
PHNT will consider whether further clarification or further soft market testing will be carried out to develop the views of the market more specifically. Failure to be invited for such clarification, or to participate in such further soft market testing, will not affect any potential suppliers‘ ability to participate in any future procurement activity. PHNT is under no obligation to follow up this Soft Market Test in any way or with any interested parties.
PHNT wishes to provide fixed points of contact for this Soft Market Test as set out in this PIN notice and interested parties are requested not to contact any other individual or team at PHNT, or any of its advisors other than in this PIN notice the contact name stated.
PHNT is committed to ensuring fairness, openness and transparency, and to follow EU procurement regulations. This PIN notice is issued solely for the purpose of conducting a soft market testing exercise and does not constitute any commitment by PHNT to undertake any public procurement exercise in the future. Interested parties will not be prejudiced by any response, or failure to respond, to the Soft Market Test and a response to this PIN notice does not guarantee any invitation to participate in any future public procurement process that PHNT may conduct.
This PIN notice does not constitute a call for competition to procure any services for PHNT. PHNT is not liable for any costs, fees or expenses incurred by any party participating in this Soft Market Testing exercise. Any procurement of any services by PHNT will be carried out strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.
The Contracting Authority intends to use an eTendering system in this procurement exercise and reserves the right to use a reverse auction.
VI.3)Information on general regulatory framework
VI.4)Date of dispatch of this notice:
16.2.2016