Prior Information Notice — Invitation to attend a WebEx Market Engagement Event and a notice for the upcoming opportunity to provide the Open Fetal Surgery to treat fetuses with open spina bifida service.
Description of the procurement opportunity:
NHS England Specialised Commissioning (The Commissioner) is planning to commission organisations to provide the Open Fetal Surgery to treat fetuses with open spina bifida service for the population of England in the United Kingdom which will be known as Fetal Surgery Centres (FSCs).
This notice is to advise prospective providers of the Commissioner’s intention, and opportunities to engage and participate in a dedicated WebEx Market Engagement Event.
NHS England (National) Specialised Commissioning (Highly Specialised Services) will be the contracting and commissioning authority for this service.
The service will provide expert multidisciplinary assessment, counselling, open surgery and post-surgical care to women carrying a fetus which is suspected of having open spina bifida following the 19-week anomaly ultrasound scan which has been undertaken by the local or regional unit. Prior to surgery taking place, the case of each woman carrying a fetus diagnosed with open spina bifida will be discussed at a surgical multidisciplinary discussion which is jointly held between the appointed FSCs.
Aim of service:
The aim of the Open Fetal Surgery to treat fetuses with open spina bifida service is to reduce the morbidity associated with open spina bifida by providing prenatal corrective surgery to appropriately selected women who meet the inclusion criteria.
Objectives of service:
The objectives of the procurement for this service are to:
— fully implement the service provision as described in the adopted service specification,
— ensure that appointed FSC have the capacity and capability to provide the service to the required quality and outcomes,
— provide appropriate access in the UK for women to receive assessment and, where indicated, surgery.
Link to service specification:
The service specification can be found at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/commissioning/publication/open-fetal-surgery-to-treat-fetuses-with-open-spina-bifida/
The future opportunity will be advertised and procured on the basis of the current NHS Standard Contract. The service is expected to commence on 1.9.2019. The procurement will be in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (the “Regulations”), Schedule 3 — Social and Other Specific Services.