Ein cyf / Our ref: 334/15/FOI
Dyddiad / Date: 13th January 2016
You asked us:
Following your response to 265/15/FOI, could you please respond to the following:
1.
How does a Single Tender Waiver work? The response referred to general guidelines
within the NHS, which point out that any tender valued at more than the OJEU
threshold (currently £111,000) should be subject to 5 tenders subject to the existence
of suitable suppliers. The Accelerus contract was for £216,000. The document further
states:
4.2 Single tender action shall only be permitted when a single firm or
contractor or a proprietary item or service of a special character is required
and as set out in law. Single tender action shall only be employed following a
formal submission and with the express written authority of the Chief
Executive, or designated deputy having taken into consideration due regard of
procurement requirements. A detailed record shall be maintained by the Chief
Executive. All single tender action and extension of contracts must be reported
to the Audit Committee.
4.3 The LHB’s competitive tendering/quotation procedures may be waived
where the LHB has legitimate access to a National Framework Agreement / All
Wales contract or Supplies Consortium contract provided that the rules under
such contract or framework agreement are adhered to.
As it’s likely that there are more than one suitable supplier for this particular service,
can you therefore provide all the paperwork, including the Formal Submission,
relating to the discussion (both within BCUHB and any external correspondence with
other health bodies) prior to BCUHB proceeding with the Single Tender Waiver for
Accelerus Health in November 2014. In particular, the minutes of the relevant Audit
Committee that approved such a waiver. Can you also confirm whether or not
Accelerus was part of a National Framework Agreement/All Wales contract or
Supplies Consortium contract at the time of the single tender waiver.
2.
Accelerus Health was not launched until June 19, 2015 http://accelerus.net/accelerushealth-launched/ so I presume the discussions were with the parent body, Accelerus.
Please supply all correspondence with Accelerus re this contract, with redactions in
the event of personal data or commercial confidentiality where necessary.
3.
The FOI response details “expected outcomes” rather than actual outcomes. Given
that the original contract ended in March 2015, what evaluation has BCUHB made of
measurable outcomes in the 6 months since?
In what way has it measurably:
Cyfeiriad Gohebiaeth ar gyfer y Cadeirydd a'r Prif Weithredwr / Correspondence address for Chairman and Chief Executive:
Swyddfa'r Gweithredwyr / Executives’ Office,
Ysbyty Gwynedd, Penrhosgarnedd
Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2PW
Gwefan: www.pbc.cymru.nhs.uk / Web: www.bcu.wales.nhs.uk
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4.
Reduced length of stay across the 3 acute hospital sites?
Improved theatre efficiency across the 3 acute hospital sites?
Improved out-patient clinical efficiency?
Improved productivity in clinical administration for acute hospital sites?
Improved productivity in Estates / Facilities, including all aspects of transport
covering medical records and pathology?
Improved ownership and delivery of Continuing Healthcare Conditions (CHC)?
Improved pharmacy / medicines management, covering drug costs and usage?
Built a coherent programme of improvement within Procurement covering
pricing and efficiency opportunities?
Implemented a Workforce and Organisational Development Strategy to include:
Medical job planning; temporary staff cost management; staff terms and
conditions; staff consultation and communication?
The contract was extended to September 2015. When was that extension approved,
by whom and was the Audit Committee notified? Please supply paperwork regarding
the contract extension.
Our Response:
1. The Health Board has issued three single tender waivers (STWs) in respect of the
contract with Accelerus Health Limited, the details of which are provided in the table
below and copies of the STWs are embedded below:
Single
tender
reference
2103
Period covered
Value
Approved
Audit Committee
17/11/14 – 31/03/15
Chief Executive
July 2015
2161
01/04/15 – 30/06/15
Chief Executive
December 2015
2301
01/07/15 – 31/12/15
£185,000
£60,000
per month
£60,000
per month
Chief Executive
December 2015
The Audit Committee minutes from July 2015 are available on our website and are
therefore exempt under S21 of the Freedom of Information Act – Information
accessible by other means. The Audit Committee for December 2015 took place on
17th December and the minutes are not yet available.
However, for reference, the minutes of previous meetings are available at
http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/861/page/51690
We can confirm that Accelerus were not part of a National Framework Agreement,
however, they were engaged on the basis of their demonstrable track record in
supporting organisations through periods of change, through the delivery of change
management programmes.
2. Accelerus have been working with the Health Board and its operational teams since
November 2014. We regret that providing all records of communication with all
members of Health Board staff by e-mail and letter since November 2014 in relation to
their contracted work with the Health Board would exceed the appropriate costs limit
under section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. This is currently £450. We
have approximately 14,000 electronic mailboxes and we would therefore need to
review each of these to establish whether any emails within the mailboxes fall within
the remit of your request. Unfortunately, we have no access to Accelerus mailboxes.
3. We can confirm that Accelerus Health Limited was incorporated on 30 th April 2014, and
is registered with Companies House (Registered number: 09019326).
Projects are being progressed and although not yet fully completed they are integral to
the long term delivery of savings. Performance, in relation to the delivery of projects, is
reported to the Board via the Integrated Performance Reports. As this information is
routinely published it is exempt from disclosure under Section 21 – Information
Accessible by other means. As this is an absolute exemption under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000, there is no requirement for the Health Board to consider the
public interest test. However, under our duty to advise and assist we have included the
website link to Board papers and the Quality, Safety and Experience Sub-Committee.
http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/861/page/75045
http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/861/page/77168
4. Please refer to our response for question 1 above which has the STWs embedded.