Procurement portal

Welcome to the NHS Norfolk Procurement Portal

As a commissioner of local healthcare services, NHS Norfolk has a responsibility to ensure that we make decisions and commission services that meet the needs of our population. Services also have to be affordable within the limits of the available resources, with an emphasis on the quality of outcome, rather than the quality of provision.

In this section, we have outlined the process that NHS Norfolk goes through when commissioning local healthcare services. We have also included information about previous and future events as well as related information and documents. If you do not find the information you need or need to discuss things in more detail, please contact:

Adrian Grant
Head of Procurement and Market Engagement
Tel: 01502 719516
Email: adriangrant@nhs.net

As a commissioner of local healthcare services, NHS Norfolk has a responsibility to make sure that we make decisions and commission services that meet the needs of our population. We need to be ‘Bold and Ambitious’ when commissioning health services to ensure that we maximise the health gain and patient benefits from the money we spend.

When procuring (buying) health services, we will work closely with suppliers to achieve:

High quality healthcare.
New ways of delivering healthcare.
High productivity that meets our budgets and frees up resources for reinvestment.
Preventative healthcare solutions that enable timely healthcare interventions for patients.

Bold and Ambitious Market Making Event

In September 2009, we launched our ‘Bold and Ambitious’ Five Year Strategic Plan to key supplier partners. Following the event, we established a Supplier Forum which enables us to share key commercial messages and opportunities with Forum Members.
For more details please go to the Commercial Opportunities and Events section.

Partnerships

NHS Norfolk encourages partnerships to bid for healthcare services. One of the aims of hosting provider forums and supplier events is to ensure that there are opportunities for suppliers to build networks.

How do we develop and approve service specifications?

Developing service specifications

NHS Norfolk have established programme commissioning boards in the following seven areas:

When developing a service specification, the relevant programme commissioning board is responsible for developing and producing a detailed description, outlining exactly what service/care they want provided to their patients. Part of the design process is to engage with suppliers before a specification is finalised so they can contribute their expertise at the right time.

We will often organise events where suppliers are invited to work with us on draft specifications and suppliers can discuss the outcomes that are required. This ensures that there are clear expectations about what is important on both sides, before the formalities begin.

We also manage potential conflicts of interest by ensuring that only the PCT decides on the final version of the specification, usually through the Commercial Panel review process. This ensures that suppliers who have contributed, are not excluded from any formal tendering processes.

How is the service provider decided and contract awarded?

Assessment of tenders

A multi-professional panel will assess tenders by applying a scoring system based on agreed criteria, then moderate the assessment, taking care to justify the reason behind the scores given.

Once a recommendation is made about the preferred provider, this will be taken to either the Commercial Panel or the Board for approval, depending on the size of the contract.

QIPP in Norfolk – Our three major workstreams

Chief Executives and leaders from the health system in Norfolk have decided on the three main areas we shall be focussing on to deliver changes to the health system that benefit patients and make our resources stretch further. They are set out in the table below.

Ian Ayres, Director of Strategy and Innovation commented: “We are extremely excited about our plans. They are built on partnership working at every level – between Commissioner and Provider, Clinicians and Managers.

“At the heart of these proposals are improving patient care and making our NHS more cost effective. I have no doubt that when they are in place they will stand as a testament to what we at NHS Norfolk believe in and stand for.”

Over the coming weeks, many of us will be required to support these efforts as an essential part of the NHS Norfolk forward strategy.

NHS East of England wants our initial draft by the end of September.

New Link to Additional Procurement Portal developed by Mills & Reeve LLP

We are pleased to introduce you to a new, additional resource that is supplementary to our portal. This link will take you to an online resource for everyone involved in purchasing goods and services on behalf of public bodies in England and Wales. The site explains the implications of the EU procurement rules that apply to public sector purchasing, and the selection processes that must be followed, including the implications of the recent changes to the Regulations brought by the EU Remedies Directive.

The Procurement Portal is brought to you by Mills & Reeve LLP, a leading UK law firm providing procurement legal advice to purchasers and suppliers.

Norfolk County Council Suppliers Website

We are working much closer in partnership with our colleagues in Norfolk County Council. Here is a link to the Norfolk County Council Suppliers Website