Discharge to Assess Community Beds

Location

Gracefields, South Gloucestershire

Description

NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire ICB ("the Commissioner") sought to commission the block provision of Pathway 3 (P3) Discharge to Assess Community Beds for patients in BNSSG. These beds will be delivered at Gracefiields, South Gloucestershire operated by Cedar Care. BNSSG ICB has implemented a Discharge to Assess model following hospital admission, in collaboration with ICS partners. The vision of the model is to maximise independence, de‑escalate care as early as possible, and prevent de‑compensation. Over time this is expected to increase the number of people managing independently or with appropriate support at home and reduce reliance on bed‑based care in both the short and long term. BNSSG ICB has followed PSR Direct Award Process C for the contract to which this notice relates. The service is VAT‑exempt, and all contract values stated are excluding VAT This procurement has been carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioner.

Total Quantity or Scope

NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire ICB ("the Commissioner") sought to commission the block provision of Pathway 3 (P3) Discharge to Assess Beds for patients requiring intensive, bed‑based rehabilitation following hospital admission. These beds will be delivered at Gracefiields, South Gloucestershire operated by Cedar Care. Pathway 3 supports people who require approximately 28 days of intensive rehabilitation in a community hospital or nursing/residential care home setting and who are expected to require a long‑term care package, most likely in a nursing or residential care home. BNSSG ICB has implemented a Discharge to Assess model in collaboration with ICS partners, incorporating four pathways (0-3) to support timely discharge from hospital and maximise independence. Pathway 3 forms part of this wider system. The Commissioner has followed PSR Direct Award Process C for the award of this contract. The total expected value of the contract for the initial 18-month contract term is £596,955.07 excluding VAT The optional 12-month extension expected value of the contract is £398,707.13 excluding VAT. Therefore, the full expected lifetime contract value (18-month + optional 12-month extension) is £995,662.20 excluding VAT. The contract value stated is exclusive of VAT. The services being procured constitute VAT-exempt welfare services provided by a registered care home The contract period will commence on 1st April 2026. This procurement has been carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners.

Award Detail

Renewal Options

Option to extend for 12 months

Award Criteria

CPV Codes

• 85144100 - Residential nursing care services

Indicators

• Options are available.
• Award on basis of price.

Legal Justification

This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award. The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority by midnight on 25th March 2026. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.

Other Information

The provider has satisfied the existing contract to a sufficient standard according to the detail outlined in the contract: they provided all of the required documentation, information and policies for the existing contract. They have followed the contractual service specification, not deviated from BNSSG ICB Safeguarding requirements, charged the correct local prices as per the contract, issued invoices correctly in accordance with the BNSSG ICB process, complied with Quality reporting requirements. They have complied with/not fallen foul of the applicable NHS Standard Contract (Shorter Form) Service Conditions, including Service Conditions in relation to the following: service standards, co-operation, information requirements, safeguarding, payment terms and quality requirements. They have also complied with/not fallen foul of the applicable shorter Form General Conditions, including those relating to liability & indemnity, assignment & sub-contracting, and Information Governance. The new contracting arrangements are based on a rollover of the previous contracting arrangements/schedules which the provider has already satisfied/complied with to a high standard, and so the provider will highly be likely to be able to satisfy the new contract to a sufficient standard. This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and The Procurement Act 2023 do not apply to this award. The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to decision makers by midnight on 25th March 2026. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR. The Commissioner made the decision of directly awarding the incumbent provider Cedar Care Homes Ltd in accordance with the following five criteria outlined in Regulation (9) of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. • Quality and innovation • Value • Integration, collaboration, and service sustainability • Improving access, reducing health inequalities and facilitating choice • Social value It has been advised that Cedar Care Homes Ltd has the evidenced ability to deliver the activity required to meet service requirements within the required region. A direct award to Cedar Care Homes Ltd under PSR Direct Award C would be appropriate following the Commissioner's evaluation of this provider the statutory requirements of PSR Direct Award C, and the Commissioner's conclusion that all requirements and criteria have been satisfied. No declared conflicts or potential conflicts of interest were identified during the decision-making process. Representations should be sent to scwcsu.cbprocurement@nhs.net.