Award

National Air Ambulance Service for The Scottish Ambulance Service

SCOTTISH AMBULANCE SERVICE

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

09 Aug 2024 at 09:46

Tender

16 Dec 2022 at 16:47

Summary of the contracting process

The Scottish Ambulance Service has initiated a procurement process under the title "National Air Ambulance Service for The Scottish Ambulance Service," falling under the air-rescue services industry category. This selective procurement, employing a competitive dialogue method, aims to secure an air ambulance service covering all of Scotland, including its islands. Key dates include the conclusion of the tender period on 19 January 2023 and the planned invitation date for the second stage on 14 February 2023. The procurement stage is currently listed as active, and it aims to engage with up to six candidates from a range of compliant submissions. The service is crucial for providing emergency medical transport in a challenging environment characterised by varied terrain and severe weather conditions. The main procurement category is services, and the contract location is specified as Scotland - National Service. The overall contract, including renewals, could extend up to ten years.

This procurement represents a significant opportunity for businesses involved in air rescue services, aircraft maintenance, and aviation logistics to expand their operations. Companies equipped with a Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) capability and the necessary certification from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) will find this tender particularly suitable. Additionally, the contract necessitates facilities such as aircraft hangars, maintenance support, engineering services, and adequate base facilities for clinical staff, creating further business potential for infrastructure providers. The procurement's emphasis on innovation, sustainability, and high-quality patient care aligns with the strategic goals of firms looking to contribute to public service efficiency and resilience. Large-scale providers like Gama Aviation (UK) Ltd demonstrate the level of capability expected from successful bidders, highlighting the competitive nature of this tender.

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Notice Title

National Air Ambulance Service for The Scottish Ambulance Service

Notice Description

The procurement of a national air ambulance service for the Scottish Ambulance Service.

Lot Information

Lot 1

The Scottish Ambulance Service ("the Service") provides a national air ambulance service to all of Scotland and its islands. This is the only wholly publicly funded air ambulance service in the United Kingdom and provides an invaluable resource to the public of Scotland. Scotland presents a challenging environment for air ambulance operators. Factors to be considered include: - Varied terrain. - Potentially severe weather conditions. - Longer hours of darkness in winter. - Limited and varying airport capabilities and hours of operation. - Future island transport provisions including ferries and airport developments or changes. - Recognition of the Government targets on sustainability and carbon neutral. - National planning of specialist services for example thrombectomy and major trauma. The aims of the procurement are to deliver an innovative, sustainable, resilient and value for money air ambulance service that can respond to changes in service delivery requirements whilst maintaining a high quality care and experience for the patients and public of Scotland. The future contract is expected to encompass the following elements including but not limited to: 1.The aircraft fleet must be capable of reaching all of Scotland's population. The rotary aircraft must have 24/7 Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) capability and all aircraft must act as a suitable transport platform for the personnel and equipment associated with our adult, paediatric and neonatal critical care transport and retrieval teams (ScotSTAR). 2. Provision of aircraft hangarage in order to ensure 24/7 availability of aircraft during inclement weather. 3. Provision of maintenance & backup. All planned and reactive maintenance must be carried out in Scotland. Backup aircraft to be provided to the same specification as core aircraft. 4. Provision of 24/7 engineering support. 5. Provision of adequate base facilities for clinical staff. e.g., provision of Ops Room space, lockers and parking facilities etc., In addition, meeting room/training room and overnight accommodation (where necessary) for on-call clinical staff. 6. Provision of air crew member training (e.g., Technical Crew Member training for HEMS). 7.Provision of compliant radio communications system. The aircraft must be capable of compliance with the current Airwave communications system (if this is still in operation at contract commencement), and also compliance with the future Emergency Services Network (ESN) system 8. Provision of on-going monitoring of service provision by way of regular contract monitoring meetings. 9. The Service will provide the clinical staffing. The aircraft, flight crew (pilots), estate & facilities and engineering support will be provided by the successful contractor(s) on a managed service basis. 10. The successful contractor(s) shall support a variety of air ambulance missions; ranging from hospital discharges through to pre-hospital helicopter emergency calls and critical care transfers.

Renewal: optional three year extension (7+3)

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-03922f
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/025179-2024
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive dialogue
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

35 - Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)


CPV Codes

34700000 - Aircraft and spacecraft

34710000 - Helicopters, aeroplanes, spacecraft and other powered aircraft

34711110 - Fixed-wing aircrafts

34711300 - Piloted aircraft

34711400 - Special-purpose aircraft

35112000 - Rescue and emergency equipment

35612500 - Search and rescue helicopters

35613000 - Unmanned aerial vehicles

60424110 - Hire of fixed-wing aircraft with crew

60424120 - Hire of helicopters with crew

60440000 - Aerial and related services

60443000 - Air-rescue services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£241,953,313 £100M-£1B

Notice Dates

Publication Date
9 Aug 20241 years ago
Submission Deadline
19 Jan 2023Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
25 Jul 20241 years ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Contract is for 7 years with a possible 3 years extension.

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
SCOTTISH AMBULANCE SERVICE
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
danielle.welsh@nhs.scot
Contact Phone
+44 01313140090

Buyer Location

Locality
EDINBURGH
Postcode
EH12 9EB
Post Town
Edinburgh
Country
Scotland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM1 East Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM13 City of Edinburgh
Delivery Location
TLM Scotland

Local Authority
City of Edinburgh
Electoral Ward
Drum Brae/Gyle
Westminster Constituency
Edinburgh South West

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

GAMA AVIATION (UK

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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