Commissioning Services Framework
The HSJ has some details of the ongoing tender process for the Commissioning Services Framework.
Last June, the DoH published its controversial contract notice in the Official Journal of the European Union, inviting companies to join a list of eligible providers to offer PCTs commissioning and managerial services from 2007.
Companies which hope to be added to the framework include Bupa, UnitedHealth, Tribal Group, Dr Foster, Health Dialog UK, management consultants McKinsey, US healthcare insurance company Humana, and South African healthcare insurer Discovery.
In all there are thought to be more than 100 companies bidding to be added to the framework.
Last week companies bidding to win a place on the FESC list lodged their final bids with the DoH and must now wait until 21 May to learn if they have been successful.
A DoH spokesman confirmed that the bidding process is expected to be completed by the end of May.
The DoH intends to publish a full list of FESC suppliers on 1 June after a 10-day period in which those companies that have lost out under the tendering exercise can lodge an appeal.
The FESC will comprise three lists detailing companies that can provide support to PCTs under the headings ‘micro’, ‘macro’ and ‘end-to-end’, split into four areas. The DoH’s proposed areas are assessment and planning; contracting and procurement; performance management, settlement and review; and patient and public engagement.
‘Micro’ list companies will be able to offer primary care trusts a particular service, such as social marketing, risk assessment, or IT support.
‘Macro’ list companies will be able to provide a wider range of services, providing PCTs with a particular service such as assessment and planning, or the commissioning of mental health services.
‘End-to-end’ companies will be allowed to run the entire commissioning function on behalf of a PCT.
Transparency would be for the DoH to release publicly the details of the tender process as well as any policy guidance / assumptions therein. Policy on matters such as this should be open for discussion.