AQP Audiology Services for South Warwickshire CCG

AQP for Audiology Adult Hearing Service for Age-Related Hearing Loss (non-complex) for NHS South Warwickshire Clinical Commissioning Group (SWCCG). NHS Arden & GEM CSU is conducting this procurement exercise on behalf of NHS South Warwickshire Clinical Commissioning Group (SWCCG) to seek suitably qualified and experienced providers to deliver the Any Qualified Provider (AQP) for Adult Hearing Service for Age-Related Hearing Loss (non-complex).

The Adult Hearing AQP Service is aimed at adults aged 55 years old and over experiencing difficulties with their hearing and communication where a GP considers they may benefit from hearing assessment and care, including the option of trying hearing aids to reduce these difficulties. The aim is to provide a comprehensive community-based, patient-centred, adult hearing service for age-related hearing loss in line with national guidance and local requirements.

The purpose of the AQP for Adult Hearing Service is to ensure: • Equitable access to high and consistent quality care for all patients using the service • A safe hearing service for patients that conforms to a recognised quality assurance tool e.g. the Improving Quality in Physiological Diagnostic Services Self-Assessment and Improvement Tool (IQIPS-SAIT). The service must also recognise published clinical guidelines/good practice.

It is the intention of the Commissioners to enter into a 3 year contract with an option to extend for a further 1 year with qualified providers, commencing on the 1st April 2017. This service will be commissioned via an AQP process, therefore there will be no guaranteed volumes of activity for those providers that qualify to deliver the service.

Payment is based on activity only as identified within the schedule of rates (please refer to the ITT documentation for details). Patient choice will apply at point of referral to qualified providers.

In securing services from Providers under the AQP process, SWCCG requires assurance of competence, quality and safety standards. Any provider will be eligible to join the qualified provider list subject to demonstrating the required competency against specified criteria.

The proposed tariff for this service is included in the AQP documents as Document 3: Schedule 3 - Payment. If qualified, your organisation will be required to accept the terms and conditions and be compliant with the NHS Standard Contract 2017/18 and any subsequent revisions thereof.

Additional information: The ITT will be live on the 18th January 2017 on the NHS Arden GEM CSU e-tendering procurement portal (Bravo). All submissions will be evaluated using the scoring criteria which is contained within the ITT Instructions - Document 1.

Clarifications may be asked during the procurement process, the deadline for ITT clarification questions is by 5pm on 10th February 2017. All correspondence relating to this procurement throughout all stages of the process must be managed through the NHS Arden & GEM CSU Bravo e-tendering procurement portal only.

Providers wishing to apply to deliver this service need to log onto https://ardengemcsu.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html. The deadline for receipt of applications is 5pm 17th February 2017.