National Framework for the Provision of Crisis Communications Support PIN

Commercial Procurement Services, hosted by the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, is considering the letting of a National Framework Agreement to cover Crisis Communications Support for UK public sector organisations.

The aim of this PIN Notice, Preliminary Specification and Questionnaire is to understand, from each supplier in the market, the appropriateness of a potential framework agreement. The purpose of this PIN notice is to conduct preliminary market consultation, with a view to preparing a procurement. Suppliers participating in this market consultation are not guaranteed to receive either an invitation to tender (if invitations to tender are issued), or a place on any framework agreement which may be awarded following an invitation to tender.

This PIN notice is NOT a call for competition. There is no guarantee that any procurement exercise will result from this consultation.

Commercial Procurement Services, hosted by the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, is considering the letting of a National Framework Agreement to cover Crisis Communications Support for UK public sector organisations. The potential framework agreement aims to provide a consultancy support service to organisations facing, or potentially facing, situations that may involve reputational risk.

Suppliers would be required to deliver services to public sector organisations across the whole of the UK.

Suppliers would need to posess the ability to plan, train, advise and deliver services to public sector contracting authorities on the below areas:

• Strategic communications expertise • Reputation management • Risk identification and mitigation • Media engagement support and media training • Stakeholder/Internal relations expertise • Public affairs and public relations expertise

Suppliers would need to be able to respond quickly to customers in times of sudden crisis, and/or provide long term support to help mitigate potential risks.

Suppliers would work closely with customers to determine the most suitable approach to deliver an agreed package of support.

Suppliers appointed to the framework must meet and maintain the following minimum standards:

• Employers (Compulsary) Liability Insurance with a minimum cover of £5m • Public (and Products if applicable) Liability Insurance with a minimum cover of £5m • Professional Indemnity Insurance with a minimum cover of £5m • Cyber and Data Risk Insurance • ISO9001 or evidence of equivalent certification or evidence of a Quality management system to a level equivalent to the ISO9001 standard • ISO27001 or evidence of equivalent certification or evidence of an Information System Security management system to a level equivalent to the ISO27001 standard • ISO20700 or equivalent • Cyber Essentials certification

NB. This list is not exhaustive and is subject to change.

For all clarifications, to request the RFI documents, and to submit responses - please email [email protected].

Additional information: For all clarifications, to request the RFI documents, and to submit responses - please email [email protected].