Finding providers to deliver opioid substitution treatment services (National Institute for Health Development)

The bidder may be excluded if it or a person authorised to represent, manage or control it has a final conviction within the past five years, or is still subject to an exclusion period, for participation in a criminal organisation, corruption, fraud, terrorist offences, money laundering or terrorist financing, or the use of child labour or other forms of human trafficking. The bidder may provide evidence of measures taken to restore its reliability where the rules allow this. Exclusion may also apply for unpaid taxes or social security contributions in the bidder’s country of establishment or in Estonia. The notice sets the threshold at EUR 0; Estonian tax authorities do not issue a tax-debt certificate for debt below EUR 100 (excluding interest not established by an administrative act) or where payment has been deferred. Foreign bidders are subject to the rules of their country of establishment. A mandatory ground applies to convictions for enabling a foreign national to work in Estonia without legal grounds or in breach of applicable employment conditions, including payment below the statutory wage rate. A bidder may also be excluded if awarding the contract would breach an international or Estonian government sanction, or if it is barred from participating under a bidder-location restriction set out in the tender documents. The bidder must provide information on authorised persons not identifiable from the commercial register and confirm that the contract will not involve prohibited Russian-linked subcontractors or suppliers for more than 10% of its value.

A bidder may submit a tender for up to five lots. Conditional tenders are not permitted, and submission confirms acceptance of the tender-document requirements. Joint bidders must appoint an authorised representative and provide authorisation. The tender must identify persons authorised to represent, make decisions for, or control the bidder who are not visible in the commercial register, or confirm that there are none. Any information claimed as a trade secret must be justified; the tender price and figures used for evaluation cannot be designated as trade secrets. The tender price must follow the required structure and include the 2027–2028 budget and volume plan. Annual amounts must be stated in euros, excluding VAT, to two decimal places; the total entered in the procurement register is the sum of the two annual budgets. The price must not exceed the maximum estimated value for the relevant lot. The submitted budget amounts remain fixed for the entire contract period, including any extension. The notice text provided does not state the maximum values. The service must comply with the clinical protocol for opioid substitution treatment and Estonian law. Each service team must include a nurse, psychologist, social worker and psychiatrist. The nurse and psychiatrist must be registered in the health-care information system. The psychologist must hold at least a level 7 qualification as a clinical psychologist or counselling psychologist, or an equivalent qualification recognised in Estonia. The social worker must hold a level 6 or 7 qualification, or an equivalent qualification recognised in Estonia. The tender must provide the specialists’ names, roles and qualification details. For foreign-issued professional certificates, a copy must be submitted; the bidder must provide further information or evidence if requested. Other health-care professionals must be properly registered and meet applicable occupational standards. Where equivalent competence is claimed instead of a professional certificate, supporting documents must be provided, such as education or training records, an employer’s confirmation, a CV or a description of relevant work experience. By the time the contract is signed, the bidder must hold a Health Board licence to provide specialised medical care, or equivalent authorisation, and the mandatory patient liability insurance for health-care providers. Suitable premises must be available from the service start date and allow psychologists and social workers to provide services while protecting patient privacy. The tender must give the team details and the planned service times and location, including opening hours and address. If services under lots 3 or 5 are not provided every day of the week, continuity of treatment must be ensured on weekends and public holidays, including arrangements for administering or supplying medication. The bidder must submit a service organisation and management plan addressing continuity and access, patient appointments and medication arrangements, team roles and cover, patient-centred care, and cooperation with relevant partners. A risk analysis and emergency response plan must also be submitted, covering at least staffing, medication arrangements, service continuity, patient safety, data protection, security, premises, technical failures and stigmatising service arrangements. These plans form the basis for evaluating tenders; the text provided does not specify the detailed evaluation methodology. Equivalent solutions may be proposed for referenced standards and specifications, with an explanation and supporting evidence where necessary.