985_15 Occupational Health Services

ESPO is seeking to establish a national framework for the provision of a comprehensive range of occupational health services that allow employers to meet their statutory duties for the health, safety and welfare of their employees in their working environment. The key aim of the framework will be to promote cost savings and create efficiencies by providing these organisations access to pre-approved suppliers whom they may appoint using a simple and streamlined procurement process.

To enable SMEs and local providers to bid, the framework will be divided into the following lots, based upon geographical regions within the UK:

• Lot 1 North East
• Lot 2 North West
• Lot 3 Yorkshire and Humber
• Lot 4 East Midlands
• Lot 5 West Midlands
• Lot 6 East of England
• Lot 7 London
• Lot 8 South East
• Lot 9 South West
• Lot 10 Scotland
• Lot 11 Wales
• Lot 12 Northern Ireland

The number of suppliers offered a place on the framework will depend in part upon the number and nature of bids received, but the objective will be to ensure that the framework offers a choice of up to six suppliers within each lot. Tenderers are invited to bid for one, some or all of the geographical lots above as they wish.

Whilst initially for use by local authorities served by ESPO (see www.espo.org for further details), being a Central Purchasing Body as defined by the EU Combined Procurement Directive 2004/18/EC, the framework agreement will also be open for use by the following classifications of user throughout all administrative regions of the UK: Local Authority Councils; Educational Establishments (including Academies); Central Government Departments and their Agencies; Police, Fire & Rescue and Coastguard Emergency Services; NHS and HSC Bodies, including Ambulance Services; Registered Charities; Registered Social Landlords; Full details of the classification of end user establishments and geographical areas is available on: http:http://www.espo.org/About-us-%281%29/FAQs/Legal (see OJEU framework permissible users)

Please note that although an e-Auction will not be used in establishing this framework, an e-Auction process may be used to award subsequent call off contracts following the reopening of competition among the parties to the framework agreement.