NHS England South East - Sexual Assault Referral Centre Services

This notice is placed as a Prior Information Notice (PIN) to inform the market of NHS England South East's, (the Commissioner's), intention to recommission Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) Services, in 2023. The Commissioner would like to understand the level of provider interest in delivering these services.

NHS England South East (NHSE SE), the Offices of the Police & Crime Commissioner (OPCCs) and Police Forces within the South East are seeking providers who have the capability and capacity to deliver SARC provision for both adults (18 years and over) and children (under 18 years).

The areas covered (and likely Lots), within the recommissioning exercise include: • Kent • Surrey • Sussex • Hampshire (including the Isle of Wight) • Thames Valley (excluding Milton Keynes)

The services within scope, include core SARC provision, primarily, SARC management, the provision of medical and forensic examinations - both acute and non-acute cases, crisis support and onward referral services for people who have experienced sexual assault. It should be noted that non-acute (historic) cases do not necessarily need to be undertaken at the (accredited) SARC site. There is considerable variation in service provision across the SARCs, not only with regard to the age and needs of service users, but also in relation to activity, service specification, and referral pathways.

The recommissioning exercise will aim to increase equity of access and ensure a consistent and high standard of quality care to victims of sexual assault. The service will be delivered in line with current national standards, guidance and best practice, and at the same time meet the local needs of each Force area.

The Provider will ensure that the service is delivered in an age-appropriate way for children and adults; all staff must meet the skills and competences commensurate with the role they are performing. The service should consider Safeguarding, Health and Forensic requirements in line with current and relevant guidelines.

It is likely that Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) services and therapeutic provision including counselling and talking therapies, will be out of scope. However, the SARC provider/s will work closely with these services and ensure service users are referred to onward provision as necessary. The contract term for all lots, is likely to commence on 1st April 2024 and will be fixed for a duration of 7 years.

TUPE is likely to apply to all lots.

Please express an interest via Atamis using the following link and submit the attached market engagement questionnaire by 3rd February 2023, using the correspondence function in Atamis, http://health.atamis.co.uk/

Following questionnaire submissions, to encourage networking, and with consent, all contact details of prime/lead providers and sub-contractors who complete the market engagement questionnaire will be shared via the procurement portal.

Additional information: At this time, NHSE SE would like to determine the level of provider interest, through obtaining feedback from the market to help inform the recommissioning and procurement of these services.

Interested providers will be able to view this opportunity via the live opportunities list on the 'Health Family' e-procurement system, Atamis. Click on 'View our Live Opportunities' from the home page, available on the following link: https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome.

Once you have found the opportunity (via the search function, using the title or reference number), to gain full access to the relevant information and market engagement questionnaire, you will need to click on 'Register interest' - this will take you to the log-in page.

If you are not already registered on the system, you will need to do so before gaining full access to the documentation and to be able to submit your expression of interest / market engagement questionnaire via the correspondence function within Atamis.

Whilst the current intention is to publish the opportunity in March/April of this year, this notice is an information gathering exercise, rather than a call for competition in its own right. Therefore publication or response does not commit NHSE South East or respondents to a future procurement, nor provide any process exemptions or preferential treatment to any parties expressing an interest. Commissioners are looking to establish what interest there might be in providing such a service from suitably qualified, capable and competent organisations.

NHSE South East 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).

This exercise is being undertaken by South Central and West Commissioning Support Unit on behalf of the Commissioner.