Health and social work services

Tender description

Due to expiry of the current contract, NHS England and NHS Improvement South West (The Commissioner) seeks expressions of interest from providers who have the capability and capacity to deliver the Breast Screening Programme for the population of North and East Devon, from October 2021. The contract term is currently being determined, but will be a minimum of 4 years. Please note that the contract value given in this notice is an indicative annual value at this point. As such, only organisations with appropriate experience, capability, and resources (including access to equipment), as well as the ability to mobilise and run the full service from October 2021, should respond to this notice. Please note, that TUPE is expected to apply to this contract. To register your expression of interest, please register on the e-procurement portal, In-Tend, and submit a completed market engagement questionnaire. Due to expiry of the current contract, NHS England and NHS Improvement South West (The Commissioner) seeks Expressions of Interest (EOI) from providers who have the capability and capacity to deliver the Breast Screening Programme for the population North and East Devon from October 2021. The contract term is currently being determined, but will be a minimum of 4 years. Please note that the contract value given in this notice is an indicative annual value at this point. The aim of the NHS Breast Screening Programme is to reduce mortality from breast cancer, by diagnosing cancer at an early stage when treatment is more successful. This will be achieved by delivering evidence-based, population-based screening programmes in line with strict national guidance and standards, that: • identify the eligible population and ensure efficient delivery with optimal coverage; • are safe, effective, of a high quality, externally and independently monitored, and quality assured; • lead to earlier detection, appropriate referral, and improved outcomes; • are delivered and supported by suitably trained, competent and qualified clinical and non-clinical staff who, where relevant, participate in recognised ongoing continuing medical education (CME), continuous professional development (CPD) and external quality assurance (EQA) schemes; • have audit and service evaluation embedded in the service; • maximise screening sensitivity and specificity by detecting early stage cancers with the least possible radiation dose; • minimise the biopsy and referral of women who do not have breast disease to reduce the adverse impact (physical/psychological/clinical) of unnecessary investigations; • have a seamless pathway at the interface between screening and diagnosis and a treatment pathway that ensures women are referred promptly and safely to treatment services. Changes to the national programme are anticipated during the term of this contract, thus providers will be expected to work with commissioners to implement required changes and adjust service delivery in a safe and timely manner. Further information regarding the national Breast Screening programme and standards of delivery can be found at https://www.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/population-screening-programmes-breast Publication of this notice does not commit NHS England to a future procurement. NHS England will not be liable for costs incurred by any interested party in participating in this exercise. Providers who wish to take part will need to register on the e-procurement system, In-Tend, and submit a completed market engagement questionnaire (to the placeholder provided) by 12.00 noon on 9 September 2020. The opportunity and questionnaire can be accessed via the 'current tenders' list on In-Tend, available via the following link: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/scwcsu/aspx/Home On registration, please include at least two contacts to allow for access to the system in times of absence. This exercise is being carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit on behalf of the Commissioners. 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 are instead governed by the ‘Light Touch Regime’ contained within Chapter 3, Section 7 of the Regulations (Regulations 74 to 77).