Expressions of Interest/Market Engagement for the Provision of Additional Breast Screening Services within the NHSE Midlands region

The National Health Service is working to mitigate the increased waiting times recently experienced by patients as a result of the COVID pandemic. As part of these efforts, NHS Arden & Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support Unit on behalf of NHS England (referred to as the Commissioners) are inviting Expressions of Interest from suitably qualified providers capable of providing additional Breast screening capacity throughout the Midlands region.

The aim of this Prior Information Notice is to; 1. Allow visibility of the potential opportunity, and gauge market interest. 2. To use provider expertise to inform commissioner understanding of the potential ways to provide additional existing capacity, and the associated risks, 3. To inform any future procurement approach; 5. Allow potential bidders the opportunity to apply for a place at a Market Engagement Event and a 1:1 session with the commissioners (max 3 people per organisation).

The aim of the NHS BSP 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 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 recognized 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 referral and biopsy 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.

The screening process is divided into the following stages: • identification • invitation • inform • test • diagnose • giving results • treatment/intervention • monitor outcomes.

Attached within the 'Documents' area of EU Supply is a copy of the Draft Service Specification which will provide additional detail of the service.

There will be an opportunity for organisations to attend a virtual Market Engagement Event, to be scheduled between 11am and 2pm, on Wednesday 17th February 2021 and have a 1:1 session with the Commissioners which will be organised with organisations once the PIN has closed. Further details will be shared with all organisations that register an interest.

Additional information: Organisations wishing to express an interest and/or attend the Market Engagement Event and 1:1 sessions (maximum of 3 people per organisation), need to register on the EU Supply Portal and complete a short questionnaire. The EU supply link is https://uk.eu-supply.com/login.asp?B=UK. The questionnaire and specification can be found by searching (Tender/Quote) 43023 - Expressions of Interest/Market Engagement for the Provision of Additional Breast Screening Services within the NHSE Midlands region. The closing date for registering an interest and completing the questionnaire is 2pm on Monday 15th February.

This is purely an engagement exercise; any subsequent procurement will be advertised separately and all organisations wanting to participate will need to respond to the procurement advertisement as and when published. The responses received during the market assessment exercise will not be taken into account in any future evaluation process as part of the formal procurement process.