Children's Integrated Therapy and Equipment Services - C292959

NOTIFICATION OF INTENTION TO AWARD: NHS Sussex ICB is intending to award a contract to an existing provider following Direct Award Process C of the UK Health Care Services (PSR) Regulations 2023 for Children's Integrated Therapy (Occupational Therapy, Physio Therapy and Speech & Language Therapy) and Equipment Service (CITES) across Sussex. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award.

The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. C292959) at: https://healthfamily.force.com/s/Welcome by midnight (23:59) on 31/07/24.

This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR. This direct award is for a maximum period of 84 months (60 months + 24 months option to extend) The service value is £5,196,000 per annum.

CITES is a combined single service that provides children's therapy and equipment and includes all professional therapies, speech and language, occupational therapy and physiotherapy. It works seamlessly with other key providers including Education, Paediatrics, CAMHS, and Children's Social Care.

The service will be fully integrated with all stages of the neurodevelopmental and neuro-disability pathways. Its success will be in contributing to timely and streamlined assessment and management to improve children's outcomes.

Removing inefficiencies and duplication, promoting equality of access according to need, improving quality standards and increasing value for money are all values of the service. The Children's Integrated Therapy and Equipment Service's overarching aim is that all children and young people known to the service achieve their best possible developmental potential and physical and emotional health and well-being both in childhood and through transition into adulthood.

The Children's Integrated Therapy and Equipment Service will provide equipment on loan to disabled children and young people living in East Sussex enabling them to do tasks they would otherwise be unable to do, to enable access to education, or to provide support to a Carer to enable ongoing care in their home. The Children's Integrated Therapy and Equipment Service will work closely with health providers and the wider Local Authority to deliver services in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death (NCEPOD), and other relevant national guidance. The service is a significant provider alongside other services for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and is required to contribute to the way of working outlined in the SEND Reforms of the Children and Families Act 2014.