NHS E South (South Central) - Market Engagement 1:1 Notice : Sexual Assault Referral Centre Services for Thames Valley, Kent and Medway, Surrey and Sussex

NHS England (South Central & South East) are seeking to re-commission Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) services in the Thames Valley, Kent & Medway, Surrey & Sussex areas.

This notice is placed in order to facilitate early engagement with potential providers, and relates only to pre-procurement market engagement 1:1 meetings in Oxford. These meetings follow a market engagement event which took place on 2nd February 2018, and was advertised on this portal in December 2017/January 2018, With the 1:1 events open to potential bidders whether they did or did not attend that event.

Due to the later timescales for the Kent, Surrey and Sussex procurement(s) the Commissioner is planning to hold 1:1s in Spring 2018, If you are interested in this area and would like to be added to a mailing list for future information please indicate so on the online questionnaire.

In April 2013, NHS England became responsible for the commissioning of SARCs. A SARC provides services to victims of rape or sexual assault regardless of whether the victim reports the offence to the police or not. SARCs provide immediate medical care and support for victims of sexual violence, with onward referral to other health and social care services. SARCs can see both recent victims and victims whose experiences were in the past, and can offer victims the opportunity to assist in a police investigation of their crime, including undergoing a forensic medical examination. NHS England clinical specifications for these SARC services will be underpinned by NHS England Service Specification No. 30 Sexual Assault Referral Centres (2016).

The route to market for the various service elements and geographies is still being determined but, as a guide the procurement(s) are anticipated to commence from Spring 2018, with phased contract commencement anticipated in the period from 1st April 2019 to 1st June 2020.

This procurement is being carried out by NHS South, Central & West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners.

We welcome attendance from those organisations who may be interested in bidding for these services, either in their own right or as a subcontractor. It will be an opportunity to meet with the Commissioners on a 1:1 basis and discuss the critical issues, challenges and opportunities that relate to commissioning and provision of this service.

In order to book a 1:1 for the Thames Valley area, please register an expression of interest on the In-Tend e-procurement portal AND complete the Questionnaire, by 12:00 midday on Wednesday 14th February 2018. Providers will be asked to rank their preferences from three potential meeting dates, 19th February, 22nd February and 1st March 2018. NHS England will endeavour to cater to requests; however the final date and time allocated will be at their sole discretion (one meeting per provider).

Additional information: The meetings are scheduled to take place in Oxford. Venue details and further information will be provided on receipt of booking details and once dates/times have been confirmed.

In order to book a 1:1, you will need to 'express an interest' and register on the In-Tend portal, and then complete all the details in the Questionnaire.

This notice is part of an information gathering exercise rather than a call for competition in its own right, and therefore publication or response does not commit NHS England or respondents to a future procurement, nor provide any process exemptions or preferential treatment to any parties expressing an interest. NHS England will not be liable for costs incurred by any interested party in participating in this exercise

The services are healthcare services falling within Schedule 3 to the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 ("the Regulations") which are not subject to the full regime of the Regulations, but is instead governed by the "Light Touch Regime" contained within Chapter 3, Section 7 of the Regulations (Regulations 74 to 77)

The tendering process will be conducted in accordance with the requirements and flexibilities provided by Articles 74 to 76 of the Directive, and Regulations 74 to 76 of the Regulations. The Authority will run a transparent tender process, treating all Bidders equally. For the avoidance of doubt, the Authority will not be bound by the Regulations or the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union or any other regulations or legislation except for the specific parts or circumstances that apply to the procurement of these Services

Neither the inclusion of a Bidder selection stage, nor the use of any language or terms found in the Directive or Regulations, nor the description of the procedure voluntarily adopted by the Authority ("Open", "Restricted", "Competitive Procedure with Negotiation", "Competitive Dialogue" or any other description), nor any other indication, shall be taken to mean that the Authority intends to hold itself bound by the Directive or Regulations, save by the provisions applicable to services coming within the scope of Annex XIV of the Directive / Schedule 3 of the Regulations.