GP Services Purchasing System (PDPS) for APMS contracts: GP Services and GP Caretaking Services

NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSEI) is seeking to launch a new online purchasing system (technically known as a ‘Pseudo’ dynamic purchasing system or PDPS) where pre-approved GP providers can apply to join a list of pre-approved providers. Those providers approved to join the system can then be invited by local commissioners to bid to provide APMS services when local needs arise.

The PDPS is a 4-year procurement exercise managed through a new eProcurement platform and will see:

— GP providers appointed to an electronically managed list of approved providers,

— GP providers can apply and be added to this list at any time during the 4-year period, unlike a traditional procurement framework,

— once approved onto the PDPS, GP providers can be invited via the ePlatform to respond to requests for APMS services from local commissioners. These local ‘call-offs’ will be matched to the bespoke needs of local commissioners.

Substantive APMS Contracts

This lot will be used to support local commissioners deliver on their procurement plans for replacing existing or securing additional GP services and covers the core list-based services expected from all GP practices in England. The emphasis here is on meeting planned needs that are typically subject to full commissioning and procurement processes. APMS contracts will reflect the bespoke needs of each local commissioner.

This lot will be further split into 7 sub-lots:

Sub-Lot 1.1: North East and Yorkshire;

Sub-Lot 1.2: North West;

Sub-Lot 1.3: London;

Sub-Lot 1.4: Midlands;

Sub-Lot 1.5: East of England;

Sub-Lot 1.6: South East;

Sub-Lot 1.7: South West.

GP Caretaker Services (APMS)

Lot 2: GP Caretaker contracts

These are generally urgent step-in cover arrangements, approved by primary care joint and commissioning committees on a case by case basis, to ensure a safe and sustainable GP service continues for patients when a GP serves notice on their contract, the contract terminates suddenly or the practice closes unexpectedly. It is the case that the need for a caretaker to be secured is either urgent, from a matter of a few days to up to 3/6 months, where more notice is provided by the GP contractor. The cover arrangements usually last no longer than a year to allow longer term plans for meeting the ongoing general practice needs of patients to be developed, considered by commissioning committees and implemented.

APMS contracts will reflect the bespoke needs of each local commissioner.

This lot will be further split into 7 sub-lots:

Sub-Lot 2.1: North East and Yorkshire;

Sub-Lot 2.2: North West;

Sub-Lot 2.3: London;

Sub-Lot 2.4: Midlands;

Sub-Lot 2.5: East of England;

Sub-Lot 2.6: South East;

Sub-Lot 2.7: South West.

Please note this will be a pseudo dynamic purchasing system (PDPS), a dynamic purchasing system under the ‘Light Touch Regime’ (LTR) as the services in the scope of this procurement fall within Schedule 3 to the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (‘the Regulations’) which are not subject to the full regime of the regulations, but is instead governed by the LTR contained within Chapter 3, Section 7 of the Regulations(Regulations 74 to 77).

To ensure the PDPS can be managed efficiently while also being sensitive to local commissioner (and provider) needs it will broken down in to lots

Lot 1: substantive APMS contracts

Lot 2: GP caretaker contracts

The PDPS will be further broken down into geographical sub-lots (7 sub-lots in line with the 7 NHSEI regional areas). GP Providers can apply to be an approved APMS and/or caretaker provider in 1 or more of the stated lots and sub-lots.

Application on to the approved provider list does not commit providers to providing APMS services, nor does it guarantee a provider will be awarded a contract through the PDPS, but it does mean providers will be able to bid when local needs arise.

Applications to join the PDPS will be managed in consecutive ‘Rounds’. These Rounds have specific start and end dates by which applications must be submitted. If a provider misses the deadline to submit an application for a particular Round, they can submit their application for evaluation as part of the next Round.

The deadline for applications for the first Round is 12.00 (noon) on 14.2.2020.

The second Round will run from 14.2.2020 to 13.3.20. Further Rounds are scheduled to follow.

It is anticipated that the system will be in place ready to undertake call-off procurements by April 2020.

Please refer to the online document set available at the EU Supply eTendering portal (link above) for further details.

The services in the scope of this procurement fall within Schedule 3 to the Public Contracts Regulations 2015(‘the Regulations’) which are not subject to the full regime of the Regulations, but is instead governed by the ‘Light Touch Regime’ (LTR) contained within Chapter 3, Section 7 of the Regulations (Regulations 74 to 77). Accordingly, although the authority may voluntarily adopt certain provisions in the Regulations neither the employment of any particular terminology nor any other indication shall be taken to mean that the authority intends to hold itself bound by any of the Regulations save those applicable to Regulation 74.