NHS England & NHS Improvement - Early Engagement - Sexual Assault Referral Centres in the South East

This notice is placed as a Prior Information Notice in order to facilitate early engagement with potential providers, and relates only to a pre-procurement market engagement.

NHS England and NHS Improvement South East (NHSE/I) and the Offices of the Police and Crime Commissioners and Police Forces as co-commissioners, seeks Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from providers who have the capability and capacity to deliver Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) provision. Commissioners are determining the scope of the delivery model(s) in respect of both adults and paediatric provision and wish to seek views from providers to inform delivery options.

The areas covered within the re-commissioning exercise, and current provision is outlined below:

• Kent (one all age SARC in Maidstone, with a separate contract for paediatricians)
• Surrey (one all age SARC in Cobham, with a separate contract for paediatricians)
• Sussex (one adult SARC in Crawley and one paediatric SARC in Brighton, two separate contracts)
• Hampshire (one all age SARC in Cosham, with separate contracts for paediatricians)

There is considerable variation in service provision across the SARCs, not only with regards to the age and needs of service users but also to activity, service specifications and referral pathways.

This recommissioning exercise will include core SARC provision, namely, the facilities, SARC management, crisis workers and staffing to undertake forensic medical examinations (forensic physicians, nurses).

Commissioners are giving consideration as to whether or not paediatric provision will be in or out of scope of this recommissioning exercise. In addition, consideration is being given to different options in respect of lotting; provider feedback will help inform both of these aspects.

Independent Sexual Violence Advisors and therapeutic services will be out of scope.

The re-commissioning exercise will aim to increase equity of access and ensure a consistent and high standard of quality care to victims of sexual assault in line with the Strategic Direction for Sexual Assault and Abuse Services (2018).

The contract term is likely to be 7 years (with no extension options) with a service commencement date in 2022 (date to be confirmed).

The procurement is likely to commence in Spring 2021 and will be undertaken by South Central and West Commissioning Support Unit on behalf of the commissioner.

To register an expression of interest, please complete the Market Engagement Questionnaire, available within In-Tend as a downloadable Word document and upload to the placeholder provided. EOIs must be received by 12pm on Monday 11th January 2021.

EOIs received will be used to help commissioners finalise their commissioning and contracting approach for these services.

Commissioners may also wish to meet with those providers who express an interest, in order to discuss intentions and obtain further feedback. Further information will be provided at a later date as appropriate.

Additional information: At this time, NHSE/I would like to determine the level of provider interest from those who have the capability and experience to deliver SARC services as outlined above.

Interested providers will be able to view this opportunity via the 'current tenders' list on the e-procurement system, In-Tend, available on the following link: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/scwcsu/aspx/Home

If you are not already registered on the system you will need to do so before you can fully access the opportunity. On registration, please include at least two contacts to allow for access to the system in times of absence.

This notice is an information gathering exercise rather than a call for competition in its own right, and therefore publication or response does not commit NHSE/I 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. Interested parties should note that a response to this notice does not guarantee an automatic invitation to any subsequent formal procurement, which the commissioners will consider in due course.

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).