Community hearing aids service for age-related hearing loss - C378303

{
  "buyer": {
    "id": "GB-NHS-QNX",
    "name": "NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board"
  },
  "date": "2025-08-07T14:55:54+01:00",
  "description": "This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) Contract Notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and the Procurement Act (2023) do not apply to this award.",
  "id": "046978-2025",
  "initiationType": "tender",
  "language": "en",
  "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-05017d",
  "parties": [
    {
      "address": {
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "locality": "Lewes",
        "postalCode": "BN7 2FZ",
        "region": "UKJ2",
        "streetAddress": "Sackville House, Brooks Close"
      },
      "contactPoint": {
        "email": "aelliott1@nhs.net",
        "name": "Andrew Elliott",
        "url": "https://atamis-1928.my.site.com/s/Welcome"
      },
      "details": {
        "classifications": [
          {
            "description": "Body governed by public law",
            "id": "BODY_PUBLIC",
            "scheme": "TED_CA_TYPE"
          },
          {
            "description": "Health",
            "id": "07",
            "scheme": "COFOG"
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        ],
        "url": "https://www.sussex.ics.nhs.uk/"
      },
      "id": "GB-NHS-QNX",
      "identifier": {
        "id": "QNX",
        "legalName": "NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board",
        "scheme": "GB-NHS"
      },
      "name": "NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board",
      "roles": [
        "buyer"
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    },
    {
      "address": {
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "locality": "Lewes",
        "postalCode": "BN7 2FZ",
        "streetAddress": "Sackville House, Brooks Close"
      },
      "details": {
        "url": "https://www.sussex.ics.nhs.uk/"
      },
      "id": "GB-FTS-106693",
      "identifier": {
        "legalName": "NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board"
      },
      "name": "NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board",
      "roles": [
        "reviewBody"
      ]
    },
    {
      "address": {
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "locality": "London",
        "postalCode": "SE1 6LH",
        "streetAddress": "Skipton House, 80 London Road"
      },
      "details": {
        "url": "https://www.england.nhs.uk/"
      },
      "id": "GB-FTS-12688",
      "identifier": {
        "legalName": "NHS England"
      },
      "name": "NHS England",
      "roles": [
        "mediationBody"
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    }
  ],
  "tag": [
    "tender"
  ],
  "tender": {
    "awardPeriod": {
      "startDate": "2025-09-02T12:15:00+01:00"
    },
    "bidOpening": {
      "date": "2025-09-02T12:15:00+01:00"
    },
    "classification": {
      "description": "ENT or audiologist services",
      "id": "85121240",
      "scheme": "CPV"
    },
    "description": "NHS Sussex is seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified and experienced providers for the delivery of community-based hearing aid services for adults aged 55 and over. Eligible providers will be accredited to deliver services as part of an AQP multi-provider model. Successful providers will be awarded contracts via Provider Selection Regime Direct Award Process B.\nThe initial contract duration will be 7 years commencing on 1 April 2026, with the option to extend for a further 3 years, offered via an NHS standard contract.\nAims and objectives\nThe overall ambitions of NHS Sussex in commissioning this service are:\n\u2022\tTo strengthen our contribution to prevention and reduce health inequalities\n\u2022\tTo promote patient education, self-management and empowerment;\n\u2022\tTo improve the quality and safety of care and outcomes improvement;\n\u2022\tTo support people to age well - falls prevention, healthy and active ageing, addressing loneliness, isolation and supporting independence and reducing the need for intervention; \n\u2022\tIntegrated working with patients, carers and the local community and voluntary sector.\nThe aims of the service are for people with hearing problems to have: \n\u2022\taccess to high quality, safe and efficient NHS hearing aids services, with short waiting times and high responsiveness to the needs of local communities, free at the point of access;\n\u2022\tchoice as to where and when their treatment is delivered\nThe key objectives of this service are to:\n\u2022\tImprove public health and occupational health through treatment of hearing loss\n\u2022\tProvide equitable access to consistently high-quality care for all patients using the service\n\u2022\tEncourage identification, diagnosis and management of age-related hearing loss through improved patient and professional education, including timely signposting to lip reading classes and assistive technologies and other rehabilitation services\n\u2022\tPromote inclusion and participation of people who have hearing loss\n\u2022\tBe compliant with clinical guidance and good practice\n\u2022\tConform to the recognised quality assurance tool Improving Quality In Physiological Diagnostic Services (IQIPS)\nThe expected outcomes of the service are:\n\u2022\tTimely access to hearing assessment, fitting and follow-up\n\u2022\tHigh proportion of patients continuing to wear hearing aids\n\u2022\tHigh levels of satisfaction from patients accessing the service and health professionals referring into the service\n\u2022\tReduced social isolation and consequent mental ill health\n\u2022\tImproved quality of life for patients, their families/carers and communication partners.\nService Requirements:\nProviders should be able to offer a comprehensive, patient centred service for adults aged 55 and over with suspected or diagnosed hearing loss related with age, encompassing:\n\u2022\tHearing assessment \n\u2022\tHearing aid fitting and calibration to national guidelines \n\u2022\tAfter care: maintenance, repairs, consumables (batteries, tubing), and follow-up reviews\nSteps:\n1.\tInterested providers submit an application demonstrating qualifications, capacity, and compliance with the NHS Sussex accreditation framework.\n2.\tAccredited providers are listed as approved suppliers, eligible to deliver services under the approved service specification.\n3.\tNo minimum activity is guaranteed for accredited providers-each provider\u0027s participation depends on patient choice and referral volume.\nInterested providers will be able to view this opportunity via the live opportunities list on the \u0027Health Family\u0027 e-procurement system, Atamis.\nClick on \u0027View our Live Opportunities\u0027 from the home page, available on the following link:\nhttps://atamis-1928.my.site.com/s/Welcome\nClosing date to respond to the tender will be: Tuesday 2nd September 2025 at 12:00 (Noon).\nIndividual Provider contracts will be zero value and any payments made will be based on activity performed.\nThe annual service value total for all current AQP Providers (23/24 outturn) was approx \u00a36.5m.  So for 7 years + 3 year option = \u00a365,000,000.",
    "documents": [
      {
        "documentType": "economicSelectionCriteria",
        "id": "economic"
      }
    ],
    "hasRecurrence": false,
    "id": "C378303",
    "items": [
      {
        "additionalClassifications": [
          {
            "description": "Hearing aids",
            "id": "33185000",
            "scheme": "CPV"
          }
        ],
        "deliveryAddresses": [
          {
            "region": "UKJ2"
          }
        ],
        "deliveryLocation": {
          "description": "Patients within NHS Sussex ICB geographic footprint."
        },
        "id": "1",
        "relatedLot": "1"
      }
    ],
    "legalBasis": {
      "id": "32014L0024",
      "scheme": "CELEX"
    },
    "lots": [
      {
        "contractPeriod": {
          "durationInDays": 2520
        },
        "description": "NHS Sussex is seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified and experienced providers for the delivery of community-based hearing aid services for adults aged 55 and over. Eligible providers will be accredited to deliver services as part of an AQP multi-provider model. Successful providers will be awarded contracts via Provider Selection Regime Direct Award Process B.\nThe initial contract duration will be 7 years commencing on 1 April 2026, with the option to extend for a further 3 years, offered via an NHS standard contract.\nAims and objectives\nThe overall ambitions of NHS Sussex in commissioning this service are:\n\u2022\tTo strengthen our contribution to prevention and reduce health inequalities\n\u2022\tTo promote patient education, self-management and empowerment;\n\u2022\tTo improve the quality and safety of care and outcomes improvement;\n\u2022\tTo support people to age well - falls prevention, healthy and active ageing, addressing loneliness, isolation and supporting independence and reducing the need for intervention; \n\u2022\tIntegrated working with patients, carers and the local community and voluntary sector.\nThe aims of the service are for people with hearing problems to have: \n\u2022\taccess to high quality, safe and efficient NHS hearing aids services, with short waiting times and high responsiveness to the needs of local communities, free at the point of access;\n\u2022\tchoice as to where and when their treatment is delivered\nThe key objectives of this service are to:\n\u2022\tImprove public health and occupational health through treatment of hearing loss\n\u2022\tProvide equitable access to consistently high-quality care for all patients using the service\n\u2022\tEncourage identification, diagnosis and management of age-related hearing loss through improved patient and professional education, including timely signposting to lip reading classes and assistive technologies and other rehabilitation services\n\u2022\tPromote inclusion and participation of people who have hearing loss\n\u2022\tBe compliant with clinical guidance and good practice\n\u2022\tConform to the recognised quality assurance tool Improving Quality In Physiological Diagnostic Services (IQIPS)\nThe expected outcomes of the service are:\n\u2022\tTimely access to hearing assessment, fitting and follow-up\n\u2022\tHigh proportion of patients continuing to wear hearing aids\n\u2022\tHigh levels of satisfaction from patients accessing the service and health professionals referring into the service\n\u2022\tReduced social isolation and consequent mental ill health\n\u2022\tImproved quality of life for patients, their families/carers and communication partners.\nService Requirements:\nProviders should be able to offer a comprehensive, patient centred service for adults aged 55 and over with suspected or diagnosed hearing loss related with age, encompassing:\n\u2022\tHearing assessment \n\u2022\tHearing aid fitting and calibration to national guidelines \n\u2022\tAfter care: maintenance, repairs, consumables (batteries, tubing), and follow-up reviews\nSteps:\n1.\tInterested providers submit an application demonstrating qualifications, capacity, and compliance with the NHS Sussex accreditation framework.\n2.\tAccredited providers are listed as approved suppliers, eligible to deliver services under the approved service specification.\n3.\tNo minimum activity is guaranteed for accredited providers-each provider\u0027s participation depends on patient choice and referral volume.\nInterested providers will be able to view this opportunity via the live opportunities list on the \u0027Health Family\u0027 e-procurement system, Atamis.\nClick on \u0027View our Live Opportunities\u0027 from the home page, available on the following link:\nhttps://atamis-1928.my.site.com/s/Welcome\nClosing date to respond to the tender will be: Tuesday 2nd September 2025 at 12:00 (Noon).\nIndividual Provider contracts will be zero value and any payments made will be based on activity performed.\nThe annual service value total for all current AQP Providers (23/24 outturn) was approx \u00a36.5m.  So for 7 years + 3 year option = \u00a365,000,000.",
        "hasOptions": true,
        "hasRenewal": false,
        "id": "1",
        "options": {
          "description": "This contract has a 7 year (84 month) initial term. The Commissioner at its sole discretion can extend this contract for up to an additional period of up to 3 years (36 additional months)."
        },
        "status": "active",
        "submissionTerms": {
          "variantPolicy": "notAllowed"
        }
      }
    ],
    "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
    "procurementMethod": "open",
    "procurementMethodDetails": "Open procedure",
    "selectionCriteria": {
      "criteria": [
        {
          "appliesTo": [
            "supplier"
          ],
          "description": "Conform to the recognised quality assurance tool Improving Quality In Physiological Diagnostic Services (IQIPS). IQIPs accreditation must be achieved (or demonstrate willingness to achieve accreditation within 18 months of contract award).",
          "type": "suitability"
        }
      ]
    },
    "status": "active",
    "submissionMethod": [
      "written"
    ],
    "submissionTerms": {
      "languages": [
        "en"
      ]
    },
    "tenderPeriod": {
      "endDate": "2025-09-02T12:00:00+01:00"
    },
    "title": "Community hearing aids service for age-related hearing loss - C378303"
  }
}