The Provision of Maternity Services from a Free-standing Midwife-led Unit (FMU) in Salford

NHS Salford Clinical Commissioning Group (Salford CCG) are inviting suitably qualified and experienced Providers to submit tenders for the provision of high quality Maternity Services from a Free-standing Midwife-led Unit (FMU) in Salford. Salford CCG aims to commission midwife-led services that are compliant with national guidance and best practice as outlined in the Service Specification.

The provider will deliver midwife-led services for low risk women throughout the childbirth continuum. The service will contribute to the Salford CCG’s overarching strategic objective to ensure that all children have the best start in life and continue to develop well during their early years.

The service will promote normality and midwifery–led care, working in close partnership with partners across all agencies to deliver seamless, integrated, evidence based and family centred care for families. The key principles of the service provision are:

• Contributes to Salford CCG’s Strategic Objectives
• Social model of care
• Continuity of Midwife-led Care
• Robust Communication Channels
• Safety
• Value for Money
• Patient experience
• Innovation

The service is to be provided from premises that are appropriate for use by women, their family and the staff who are providing care; the main objective is to provide for the safe care of both women and their babies in a comfortable, relaxing environment that facilitates what is a normal physiological process

The Commissioner will need to agree the mobilisation timescales with the new Provider to ensure patient continuity of care and safety. The new Provider will need to be mobilised as the existing Provider ceases to accept new referrals. The expected date for contract commencement is 1st April 2016, running through to 31st March 2019 with an option to extend for an additional two years.

Full details of the Service are described further within the tender pack.

This tender process will be conducted as a one stage Open Procedure. Bidders wishing to express an interest should register their interest on the EU Supply Website to access the documentation. To register on EU Supply please log on to the following website: https://nhssbs.eu-supply.com and look for tender reference number 20480. The ITT will be open from 8th June 2015 and tenders should be completed and submitted by the closing date of 12:00 Hours (noon) on 7th August 2015. For support registering on EU Supply and downloading the ITT Documentation please contact the e-Tendering help desk on 0800 840 2050 or support@eu-supply.com.