DAC 156/22 - DVA - Provision of Professional Medical Advisory Services relating to DVA Licence Applications

This DAC is to provide medical fitness to drive assessment services to the DVA, acting on behalf of the Department for Infrastructure.

As a result of reducing resources and additional work demands, OHS' specialist medical assessment service provider are currently experiencing difficulties in delivering the medical assessment service for driver and taxi licence applications which they carry out for the Driver & Vehicle Agency (an Agency of the Department for Infrastructure).

These are urgent, critical services. The ability to procure these services to support will safeguard the delivery of fitness to drive medical assessments to the DVA.

This DAC is to provide medical fitness to drive assessment services to the DVA, acting on behalf of the Department for Infrastructure.

DVA are required to be satisfied that an applicant for or holder of a driving licence (including taxi driver licence) meets the required medical fitness to drive standards as part of the licensing consideration.

When the DVA receives information that a driver may be suffering from a medical condition that may impact on their ability to drive safely, staff in DVA will carry out an initial assessment on the information available and may be able to determine the application. However, when medical officer assessment is required, cases are referred to the qualified medical officers. Medical Officers may be able to assess the case on the information provided, may determine that further medical information is required or may determine that a specialist medical assessment is required, in which case the driver is referred to the specialist medical assessment service provider. As a result of reducing resources and additional work demands, OHS' medical assessment service are currently experiencing difficulties in delivering the medical assessment service for driver assessments which they carry out for the Driver & Vehicle Agency (an Agency of the Department for Infrastructure).

These are urgent, critical services. The ability to procure these services to support will safeguard the delivery of fitness to drive medical assessments to the DVA. There are capacity and capability issues in this sector, with competing demand for resources in both the private and public sector and the Department must act quickly to secure essential support. This DAC provides support for a period of up to 24 months. During this time DVA will continue to consider options and seek to implement a longer term solution to secure the provision of fitness to drive medical assessments. Services must be covered in the interim to cover statutory responsibilities. These are urgent, critical, citizen facing services. There is no option to do nothing and it is in the public interest to expedite the appointment of a contractor. Additional information: The value at II.1.7 is the maximum value, it is based on the best estimate available at time of publication.