--- title: "NHS England South West - Plasma Exchange Service (PLEX) in Devon & Cornwall" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-03b4a7" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-03b4a7" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03b4a7.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03b4a7.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "NHS ENGLAND" published: "2023-03-21" --- # NHS England South West - Plasma Exchange Service (PLEX) in Devon & Cornwall Buyer: NHS ENGLAND Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-03b4a7 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-03b4a7) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03b4a7.json) ## Summary The NHS England South West is inviting expressions of interest for the procurement of Plasma Exchange (PLEX) services in Devon & Cornwall. This opportunity is part of a Prior Information Notice (PIN) and providers must submit their expressions of interest by 12th April 2023 at 12:00pm. The tender aims to establish a substantive plasma exchange service in the area to support key services, particularly in neurology and haematology. This procurement process managed by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) seeks providers with the capability and capacity to deliver PLEX services. The service will complement existing provisions in the South West region, aiming for more equitable access. Businesses offering healthcare services in the CPV classification, specifically health services, are well-suited to compete for this opportunity. ## Notice This notice is published as a Prior Information Notice as a call for competition for expressions of interest. The Commissioner may then choose to proceed directly to a procurement process with parties who have responded to the notice and there shall be no further notice published if so. NHS England South West (NHSE SW) seeks Expressions of Interest (EOI) from providers who have the capability and capacity to deliver Plasma Exchange (PLEX) services in Devon and Cornwall. Plasma exchange is currently delivered in Devon and Cornwall on an ad-hoc basis. There is no existing substantive plasma exchange service within the area, so the provider would be expected to develop and mobilise all aspects of the service in collaboration with commissioners and key stakeholders. The service will complement the existing provision available in the rest of the South West region, ensuring more equitable access. This service supports the delivery of key services, particularly, but not limited to, neurology and haematology. This process is being managed by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioner(s). ### Lot Information Lot 1 NHS England South West (NHSE SW) seeks Expressions of Interest (EOI) from providers who have the capability and capacity to deliver Plasma Exchange (PLEX) services in Devon and Cornwall. Plasma exchange is currently delivered in Devon and Cornwall on an ad-hoc basis. There is no existing substantive plasma exchange service within the area, so the provider would be expected to develop and mobilise all aspects of the service in collaboration with commissioners and key stakeholders. The service will complement the existing provision available in the rest of the South West region, ensuring more equitable access. This service supports the delivery of key services, particularly, but not limited to, neurology and haematology. Summary of Proposed Service The service should use and maintain the Spectra Optia(r) Apherisis System (using a peripheral line) to deliver PLEX as a preferred treatment of some neurological and blood disorders, and to support patients who would otherwise access Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) supplies. IVIG has finite supplies, with providers often having to rationalise their own allocation. The Peninsula PLEX service is expected to facilitate both elective and non-elective access. The commissioner's preferred model of delivery is a roving service, as it is believed that this will be the most cost-effective option for delivering a service 24 hours per day, 7 days per week across the geographic area. This approach would need to be complemented by a fixed base for staff, to deliver inpatient activity, with road links to the hospital sites in the area. As part of a fixed base, a 3 or 4 chair site would need to be established, with administrative space, storeroom and a patient waiting area. However, other models of delivery would be considered. Where patients require time-critical treatment, this must be delivered in line with NICE guidance. The Peninsula Trusts are Royal Devon University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (FT), University Hospital Plymouth NHS FT, Torbay and South Devon NHS FT, and Royal Cornwall NHS FT. The service will need to develop effective working relationships with each hospital to: * Ensure that plasma exchange can be delivered in partnership with expert clinicians in each Trust who oversee care of the patient and prescribing of plasma exchange products and fluids * Work with each Trust to identify the best way to deliver plasma exchange to inpatients - e.g. transporting the equipment and staffing to the patient's bedside * Work with each Trust to identify the best way to deliver plasma exchange to outpatients - e.g. delivering treatment within a mobile unit for patients distant from the fixed site and/or via chairs at a fixed site The service will also need to develop links with regional and national specialist centres, e.g. University Hospital Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust as lead regional centre for Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura. Population Needs The Peninsula Sub-Regional Immunoglobulin Advisory Panel (SRIAP) is undertaking a retrospective review to understand cases that would have utilised the PLEX service had it been available. Some patients also receive treatment outside of the Peninsula, e.g. Bristol and Southampton. Service Development It is anticipated that the use of Plasma Exchange will continue to increase, even as immunoglobulin supplies fluctuate. The Spectra Optia(r) Apherisis System also facilitates expansion of provision to other services, for example treatment for patients with sickle cell disease, where NHS England hold the commissioning responsibility. There are also studies that suggest that PLEX may be useful in the treatment of some cancers. NHS England reserves the right to incorporate this activity into this contract in the future if it deems it appropriate to do so. Mobilisation As this will be a new service, the provider will need to develop implementation plans, recruit and train staff, purchase equipment and develop Trust relationships. A pre-agreed list of conditions to be treated within the service must be developed with all key stakeholders. It is anticipated that the mobilisation period will be approximately 6 months, although this will be confirmed during the process. Contract duration and financial envelope are unknown at this stage. Additional information: The services are healthcare services falling within Schedule 3 to the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 ("the Regulations") which are not subject to the full regime of the Regulations, but are instead governed by the "Light Touch Regime" contained within Chapter 3, Section 7 of the Regulations (Regulations 74 to 77). ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/008132-2023 | | Notice type | Planning Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning, Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 21 Mar 2023 | | Submission deadline | 12 Apr 2023 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Active | | Lots status | Active | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | NHS ENGLAND | | Locality | BRISTOL | | Post town | Bristol | | Postcode | BS1 3NX | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) | | ITL 2 | TLK5 West of England | | ITL 3 | TLK51 Bristol, City of | | Local authority | Bristol, City of | | Electoral ward | Central | | Westminster constituency | Bristol Central | | Delivery location | TLK3 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, TLK4 Devon | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 85 - Health and social work services ### Codes - 85100000 - Health services ## Release History - 21 Mar 2023 at 11:30 - Planning - Planning Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/008132-2023 ## Notice URLs - https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome - https://www.england.nhs.uk/ ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-03b4a7. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03b4a7.json.