NHS England South East - Liaison and Diversion and Reconnect Services

NHS England (NHSE) South East, ("the Commissioner") are seeking Provider(s) who have the capability and capacity to deliver non-custodial services, specifically Liaison & Diversion and RECONNECT services, across the South East of England NHSE region.

The non-custodial programmes focus on appropriate diversion, support, and recovery of those entering the criminal justice system (Liaison & Diversion) through to and on release from a secure setting (RECONNECT). The non-custodial programmes provide a continuous pathway of support for individuals, ensuring communication and information sharing across the non-custodial programme interfaces and thereby supporting the individual's access to treatment and support across the pathway.

The services will aim to improve health and criminal justice outcomes for children, young people and adults who come into contact with the youth and criminal justice systems.

The procurement is split across five geographic lots, with the following corresponding maximum annual lot values: • Lot 1 - Thames Valley - £4.22m • Lot 2 - Hampshire and Isle of Wight - £3.39m • Lot 3 - Kent - £3.07m • Lot 4 - Surrey - £1.67m • Lot 5 - Sussex - £2.31m

The contract duration will be for seven years, with services due to commence on 1st April 2024.

The total maximum combined lot value over the life of the seven-year contract is £102.6m.

Liaison and Diversion (L&D) services aim to provide early intervention for vulnerable individuals (both young people and adults) as they come to the attention of the criminal justice system. L&D services provide a prompt response to concerns raised by the police, probation service, youth offending teams or court staff, and provide critical information to decision-makers in the justice system, in real time, when it comes to charging and sentencing these vulnerable people. L&D also acts as a point of referral and assertive follow up for these service users, to ensure they can access, and are supported to attend, further help.

RECONNECT is a care after custody service that seeks to improve the continuity of care of individuals with an identified health need leaving prison or an Immigration Removal Centre (IRC).  This involves working with them before they leave to support their transition to community-based services, thereby safeguarding health gains made whilst in prison or an IRC.

RECONNECT services aim to improve the wellbeing of people leaving prison or IRCs, reduce inequalities, address health-related drivers of offending behaviours and/or absconding. Whilst not a service which provides clinical interventions, the RECONNECT service offers liaison, advocacy, signposting, and support to those leaving prison or IRCs to support engagement in community- based health and support services.

TUPE implications are likely to apply to all areas; workforce information is available upon request during the tender period.

Additional information: This procurement is being carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioner.

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 bid documentation (including questionnaires), 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 be able to submit a bid.

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).

The tendering process will be conducted in accordance with the requirements and flexibilities provided by Articles 74 to 76 of the Directive, and Regulations 74 to 76 of the Regulations. The Authority will run a transparent tender process, treating all Bidders equally. For the avoidance of doubt, the Authority will not be bound by the Regulations or the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union or any other regulations or legislation except for the specific parts or circumstances that apply to the procurement of these Services.

Neither the inclusion of a Bidder selection stage, nor the use of any language or terms found in the Directive or Regulations, nor the description of the procedure voluntarily adopted by the Authority ("Open", "Restricted", "Competitive Procedure with Negotiation", "Competitive Dialogue" or any other description), nor any other indication, shall be taken to mean that the Authority intends to hold itself bound by the Directive or Regulations, save by the provisions applicable to services coming within the scope of Annex XIV of the Directive / Schedule 3 of the Regulations.

Bidders will be notified of a contract award decision and the Contracting Authority intends to voluntarily observe the 10-day standstill period in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 ('Regulations'). Details of the dates of the standstill period will be outlined in the Contract award notification letter. The Regulations provide that aggrieved parties are to take action in the High Court (England and Wales).