Question
1. our doctors that work here are partner or associate doctors of the company they would not be classed as subcontractors, correct? -

--Answers--
Question 1 – Whether or not the Doctors are sub-contractors is very much a legal question. If they have an employment contract with your organisation or are recorded as employees paid on salary, they are employees, not sub-contractors. However, if they have an arrangement with your organisation (such as visiting privileges) and you get them to do procedures that you are contracted to supply then I suggest they probably are sub-contractors. But this is for you to determine, not us. We suggest you refer to the Fair Work Ombudsman for guidance on the types of employment arrangements.

Questions - -
1. When it says evidence of RANZCO - it means the doctors RANZCO evidence?
2. The expected number or volume of the various procedures that are anticipated to be outsourced under this tender.
3. Whether intravitreal injections are included as part of the required service scope.
----Answers-----
Question 1 – Correct the Doctors evidence of RANZCO
Question 2 - Approximately 908 in total (combined) procedures per annum.
Question 3 – Not included

Question:
1 Subcontractors – VMOs Could you please clarify the expectations regarding subcontractor disclosure in relation to Visiting Medical Officers (VMOs)? As VMOs are technically subcontractors under the proposed arrangement, is it expected that we list all individual VMOs who intend to participate in the delivery of services under this contract? Additionally, should we seek prior approval from DDHHS each time a new surgeon or locum joins the practice and participates in the contracted work?


2 KPI – Patient Satisfaction We are seeking clarification regarding the KPI that requires a minimum patient satisfaction level of 80%, based on feedback provided to DDHHS. Could you please advise:

• How DDHHS intends to collect patient feedback (e.g. via phone calls, surveys, written forms)?

• Whether feedback will be collected from all patients or a sample cohort?

• If there is a standardised format or tool DDHHS will use?

• Whether the Toowoomba Surgicentre is expected to support or facilitate this process?


3 Referral Clause Reference The Contract states that procedures must only be provided 'as set out in a referral under clause 1(a) of this Agreement.' We note that clause 1(a) is not explicitly numbered or titled within the document. However, we understand this to refer to the initial patient referral process described in Annexure A – Specifications, under the section titled 'Referral of Patients', which outlines DDHHS’s responsibility to provide a proportion of patients from the outpatient waiting list. Could DDHHS please confirm that this interpretation is correct, and that references to 'clause 1(a)' should be understood as referring to the Referral of Patients section in Annexure A?


4 Terminology Consistency The included Agreement uses the terms 'Contract' and 'Agreement' interchangeably, however only 'Contract' is defined. We suggest that all references to 'Agreement' be changed to 'Contract' for consistency and accuracy. Could DDHHS confirm whether this change would be acceptable?


5 RANZCO membership Cura Day Hospitals Group intends to submit an Offer for the DDHHS129150 tender. I note that one of the requirements for submission is RANZCO membership. As RANZCO membership is issued to individual surgeons rather than hospital operators, this condition would effectively exclude all hospital operators from participating in the tender process. Conversely, if individual surgeons with RANZCO membership were to apply for the tender, they would need to subcontract the work to hospital operators who hold operating licences.

Our ophthalmologists do hold RANZCO membership; however, this does not appear to satisfy the requirement as stated. Could you please clarify whether it is sufficient for the surgeons involved in delivering services under the tender to hold RANZCO membership?

Answered on 27/Oct/2025 07:52 AM:


1 - Subcontractors – VMOs

Answer -

VMOs who are known and intended to be involved in the provision of services by a tenderer should be disclosed as part of the tender documents. Additional service providers or changes in service providers will otherwise be dealt with through contractual provisions applying to any awarded Tenderer.

2. - KPI – Patient Satisfaction

Answer -

DDHHS will collect this information directly. It will be collected at the discretion of DDHHS (including in what form DDHS considers is appropriate from time to time). DDHS may request the service provider to provide assistance in accordance with the terms of the finally awarded contract.

3. - Referral Clause Reference

Answer -

There appears to be a referencing error in this clause. We apologise for the confusion. For the purpose of submitting a Tender, please amend clause 5.8 of Annexure A to read:

“5.8 The Service Provider must not provide Procedures to Patients under this Agreement except in accordance with this clause 5 and otherwise in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.”

4. - Terminology Consistency

Answer -

DDHHS agrees that “Contract” is the more appropriate term and confirms that, for the purpose of submitting the Tender, the term “Agreement” should be read as “Contract”.

5. - RANZCO membership

Answer -

It is a mandatory requirement that any proposed treating Ophthalmologist must hold, and continue to hold, RANZCO membership at the time-of-service delivery. Consideration of other persons with RANZCO membership that are proposed to be involved in providing the services may also be relevant to Capability. For further information regarding RANZCO membership see https://ranzco.edu/home/ophthalmologists/membership-and-cpd/