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There was submitted a report by the Chief Executive of Scotland Excel recommending a new Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for digital telecare goods, which the Chief Executive has elected to establish in terms of Scotland Excel’s contract standing orders. The report also sought that delegated authority be awarded to the Chief Executive to appoint new entrants to the DPS during its lifetime, as detailed in the report.
The report intimated that this DPS would focus on the provision of digital telecare products that assisted the person and monitored the person’s environment. Scotland Excel supported the Scottish Government’s Technical Enabled Care (TEC) programme which focussed on citizen facing digital solutions where ‘outcomes for individuals in home or community settings are improved through the application of technology as an integral part of quality, cost effective care and support to look after more people at home’. It was noted that all local authorities and associate members would be able to purchase through this agreement.
The DPS had been divided into three lots, as detailed in table 1 of the report, and had been advertised at an estimated value of £12 million over its ten-year life span. Appendix 1 to the report detailed those applicants requesting to be granted access to the DPS at its establishment. Of the 17 applicants received, 11 applicants had fully satisfied the requirements of selection and Appendix 2 to the report provided a summary of recommended participants.
A key outcome of the DPS route to market was a facility to allow new entrants throughout the lifetime of the arrangement and thereby not lock-out new providers who met the regulatory requirements. Following commencement of the DPS, a second contract notice would be issued inviting new entrants to complete the qualification process. This invitation would remain open throughout the lifetime of the DPS.
The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 required that applicants putting themselves forward to be granted access to the DPS must, ordinarily, be informed of their success or failure within a maximum of 10 days following completion and submission of qualification documents. In order to remain compliant with the statutory requirement, the report sought that the Chief Executive of Scotland Excel be granted the appropriate delegated authority to approve such decisions and that the Executive Sub-committee be updated on the status of available service providers on an annual basis via incorporation into the annual procurement report.
DECIDED:
(a) That delegated authority be granted to the Chief Executive, or the Head of Strategic Procurement in the Chief Executive’s absence, to approve the evaluation outcome of initial respondents and any new entrants that completed the qualification process for entry to the DPS during its lifetime, ensuring compliance with the applicable procurement rules including the statutory period for evaluation and notification of outcome;
(b) That the Executive Sub-committee be updated on the status of available service providers on an annual basis through incorporation into the annual procurement report; and
(c) That the applicants, detailed in Appendix 2 to the report, be admitted to the DPS.