Procurement for the Provision of MSK Primary Care MSK Physiotherapy Services to Berkshire West Clinical Commissioning Group

Berkshire West Clinical Commissioning Group (BW CCG) is seeking to commission a Primary Care Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Service through an AQP framework. The aim of the service is to provide physiotherapy assessment, treatment, advice and education for our patients with acquired musculoskeletal conditions in a primary care or community setting.

GPs will refer urgent and non-priority patients to the MSK primary care physiotherapy service following a period of conservative management (medication, advice, literature leaflets available on DXS). 'Red Flag' symptoms will be referred urgently to secondary care by GPs.

As an AQP, patients will be able to choose from any of the accredited providers on the framework at the point of referral and set rates will apply. As such there is no guaranteed activity under the contract from becoming an approved provider.

Skilled and experienced physiotherapists will provide a timely intervention comprising an initial assessment (to include assessment of the appropriateness of referral), signposting, advice and where appropriate diagnosis, exercise prescription and treatment. Providers will be expected to develop and sustain productive working relationships with other professionals involved in the pathway.

The provider needs to work in an integrated and collaborative way with other health and social care providers and professionals. Providers will be paid according to activity.

Providers will not be paid for cancelled appointments and DNAs. The contract will be for an initial period of three years with the option to extend for two further years (at BW CCG's discretion).

Providers will need to confirm acceptance of the NHS standard contract and above pricing as part of the application process. The CCG may open additional application windows during this period and providers who have previously been unsuccessful will be able to re-apply.

Further information regarding this process - including a copy of the Invitation to Tender - can be found on our e-procurement portal: (In-tend - https://in-tendhost.co.uk/scwcsu/aspx/Home) under the relevant project. Please note that this service is a healthcare service within the meaning and scope of the National Health Service (Procurement, Patient Choice and Competition) (No.2) Regulations 2013 and as such is governed by these regulations and the "light touch" regime under the UK Public Contracts Regulations 2015.

The CCG will not be bound by any regulations beyond those which explicitly apply to procurements for such services and any references to processes or procedures (e.g. "the open procedure") should not be taken to mean the CCG intends to be held to any beyond those stated above. For the full description please refer to the attached Word document.