Market Engagement Notice: Sexual Assault Referral Centre Services for Thames Valley, Kent and Medway, Surrey and Sussex

Tender description

This notice is placed in order to facilitate early engagement with potential providers, and relates only to a pre-procurement market engagement event. Prospective bidders and interested organisations are warmly invited to a pre-procurement market engagement event being held on Friday 2nd February 2018 in Reading. NHS England (South Central) and NHS England (South East) are seeking to re-commission Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) services in the Thames Valley, Kent and Medway, Surrey and Sussex areas. In April 2013, NHS England became responsible for the commissioning of Sexual Assault Referral Centres (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. The annual value of these services is circa £2.6m. This procurement is being carried out by NHS South, Central & West (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners. We would welcome attendance from those organisations or individuals 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, hear more about SARC services in the region and discuss the critical issues, challenges and opportunities that relate to commissioning and provision of this service. Commissioners will also provide an early indication of future commissioning intentions for SARC services in Hampshire & Dorset. At the meeting we will also provide information about the procurement processes, which are being designed to be proportionate, transparent, equitable and effective. There will also be an opportunity for potential lead providers to engage with other providers who may be interested in joining forces or subcontracting. The Commissioners also welcome input from prospective bidders as an opportunity to share best practice and innovation on the day. In order to book a place, please register an expression of interest on the In-Tend e-procurement portal, as well as completing the Event Registration Questionnaire, by 12:00 midday on Tuesday 30th January 2018, stating your organisation along with the names and titles of those wishing to attend.