Award

Fit Testing Team for NHS FFP3 Masks

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

15 Feb 2021 at 16:42

Summary of the contracting process

The Department of Health and Social Care has concluded a public procurement process for a contract titled "Fit Testing Team for NHS FFP3 Masks," aimed at providing essential fit testing services across NHS Trust locations in England. This procurement falls under the category of services, specifically contract administration services, and was executed under limited procurement method due to extreme urgency stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic. The contract, with a total value of £9 million, was signed on 25 January 2021 and addressed the pressing need for adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) to safeguard health professionals during a critical phase of the health crisis.

This tender presents a significant opportunity for businesses involved in healthcare services, specifically those capable of supplying fit testing services. Companies with expertise in respiratory protection and personal protective equipment would be well-suited to participate in future contracts related to NHS provisions. As the demand for fit testers remains high amid ongoing health challenges, there is potential for growth and expansion for qualified bidders in this space.

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Notice Title

Fit Testing Team for NHS FFP3 Masks

Notice Description

A National fit testing team to support the NHS test staff to FFP3 masks

Lot Information

Lot 1

Procurement of 320 fit testers to support NHS staff to be fit tested to FFP3 masks

Procurement Information

Extreme urgency brought about by events unforeseeable for the contracting authority and in accordance with the strict conditions stated in the directiveExplanation:The Covid-19 outbreak is a public health emergency of international concern declared by WHO on 30 January 2020. The WHO Director General characterised Covid-19 as a pandemic on 11 March 2020. The use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is critical in safeguarding the health and lives of the care professionals treating patients with Covid-19. Delays in procuring suitable PPE poses a risk to life of those on the front line and the likelihood of significantly increased death toll. Due to the extreme urgency caused by the sudden uptick in Covid 19 cases, there was a corresponding dramatic increase in demand for FFP3 masks for use within the NHS. The Department for Health and Social Care ('DHSC') had to act promptly so a testing team could be in place in time to allow individuals to use non-3M respirators. DHSC awarded a contract on 6 November 2020 (OJEU reference 2020/S 239-592271). A further contract was required in order to satisfy the continued demand for fit testing services.DHSC is satisfied the tests permitting use of the negotiated procedure without prior publication (Regulation 32(2)(c)) were met:(a) as far as is strictly necessary: the contract is strictly necessary to meet the demand to scale up the fit testing requirement to ensure that NHS staff have access to well-fitting masks.(b) there are genuine reasons for the extreme urgency: respirators are a vital piece of PPE. A failure to have a fully operational testing team in place could have a direct impact on the Government's ability to provide staff with adequate PPE in the quantities required resulting in a risk to public health.(c) The continued pressure on NHS staff required to treat patients with Covid-19 caused by the impact of the second wave of the pandemic being more severe than anticipated and the speed of transmission owing to the variant strain leading to a spike in cases. Therefore, the need for continued support by a pool of fit-testers outside of NHS staff was unforeseeable at the time the original Contract was entered into.(d) It is impossible to comply with the usual timescales in the Public Contract Regulations 2015: there is no other route available.(e) The situation is not attributable to DHSC: DHSC has not done anything to cause or contribute to the need for extreme urgency.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-02934a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003043-2021
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security


CPV Codes

79994000 - Contract administration services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£9,000,000 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
15 Feb 20215 years ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
25 Jan 20215 years ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE
Contact Name
allan wilton
Contact Email
allan.wilton@dhsc.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1H 0EU
Post Town
South West London
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
TLI32 Westminster

Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

ASHFIELD HEALTHCARE

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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