--- title: "Hepatitis C in prisons: improving awareness, detection and treatment amongst Gypsy, Romany and Traveller (GRT) offenders" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-03d08c9f-38dc-451b-ba8c-93bdc364cfbb" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-03d08c9f-38dc-451b-ba8c-93bdc364cfbb" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-03d08c9f-38dc-451b-ba8c-93bdc364cfbb.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-03d08c9f-38dc-451b-ba8c-93bdc364cfbb.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE COMMISSIONING BOARD (KNOWN AS NHS ENGLAND )" published: "2021-07-01" --- # Hepatitis C in prisons: improving awareness, detection and treatment amongst Gypsy, Romany and Traveller (GRT) offenders Buyer: NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE COMMISSIONING BOARD (KNOWN AS NHS ENGLAND ) Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-b5fd17-03d08c9f-38dc-451b-ba8c-93bdc364cfbb [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-03d08c9f-38dc-451b-ba8c-93bdc364cfbb) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-03d08c9f-38dc-451b-ba8c-93bdc364cfbb.json) ## Summary The National Health Service Commissioning Board (NHS England) is currently in the planning stage of a tender entitled "Hepatitis C in prisons: improving awareness, detection and treatment amongst Gypsy, Romany and Traveller (GRT) offenders." This initiative targets research and development services, particularly within the prison sector, and aims to support around 90,000 individuals in England affected by the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). Interested organisations must submit their expressions of interest by 9th July 2021. The tender is focused on enhancing health services for GRT offenders, who often face barriers in accessing necessary medical support while incarcerated. This procurement presents significant opportunities for businesses, particularly those specialising in health communication, community engagement, and research services, to contribute to improved healthcare outcomes for underserved populations. Companies with expertise in developing targeted educational materials, conducting health research, or training peer mentors within correctional settings will find themselves well-suited to participate. Additionally, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) are encouraged to get involved, as their unique insights and experiences can foster effective solutions for the GRT communities impacted by this initiative. ## Notice NHS England are seeking Expressions of Interest from Suppliers capable of meeting the below requirement as part of development of the procurement strategy. Further information on how to register an interest along with the submission requirements, is contained in the attachment to this Notice. There are around 90,000 people within England with the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). Some populations are of higher risk of HCV, including people who were born in endemic countries, people who inject drugs, and those who are in custody. Members of the GRT communities are overrepresented in the prison system, and sometimes even not likely to identify themselves as GRT within the prisons. These populations can therefore be difficult to access, and it is hard to know what their needs are to ensure they are able to access the testing and treatment they might require. There is some research to indicate that NHS England and NHS Improvement must better meet the health and social care needs of GRT offenders as they are potentially at a higher risk of HCV and are less likely to engage with some health services. However, more research is needed to understand the barriers GRT populations face in prison accessing HCV testing and treatment. This notice asks for an organisation to design and test Hepatitis C materials - specifically targeted at GRT populations - with GRT individuals. This should be done through at least 20 semi-structured interviews with current offenders who are GRT within English prisons. There should also be the development of GRT peer mentors to increase the understanding of GRT communities, which in turn will increase testing and treatment numbers amongst these communities. There should be at least 8 peer mentors trained for this. The peers must have high levels of knowledge and understanding of HCV, and must be currently in prison and from the GRT community, and have lived experience of HCV testing/treatment. There should also be the creation of a bespoke video resource which will show a member(s) of the GRT community being tested for HCV for dissemination amongst GRT communities. Alongside this should be a communications and engagement campaign targeted at GRT populations around HCV, which will increase testing and treatment numbers. This should all be conducted with lived experience input at the centre. Research must be conducted within English prisons, and so working with Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) research arm will be central. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/3963e04b-4e9f-407b-a2b2-b5193bdb53fa | | Notice type | Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Not specified | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 1 Jul 2021 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 9 Jul 2021 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £33,000 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planning | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE COMMISSIONING BOARD (KNOWN AS NHS ENGLAND ) | | Locality | LEEDS | | Post town | Leeds | | Postcode | LS2 7UE | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLE Yorkshire and The Humber | | ITL 2 | TLE4 West Yorkshire | | ITL 3 | TLE42 Leeds | | Local authority | Leeds | | Electoral ward | Little London & Woodhouse | | Westminster constituency | Leeds Central and Headingley | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services - 75 - Administration, defence and social security services - 85 - Health and social work services ### Codes - 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services - 73110000 - Research services - 75200000 - Provision of services to the community - 75231230 - Prison services - 85323000 - Community health services ## Release History - 1 Jul 2021 at 20:02 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/3963e04b-4e9f-407b-a2b2-b5193bdb53fa ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/3963e04b-4e9f-407b-a2b2-b5193bdb53fa 1st July 2021 - Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder - https://atamis-1928.cloudforce.com/sfc/p/0O000000rwim/a/4J000000Q7IW/T9F0mCzEYUQ9zCihIAZlXTUAVRhkZnLOnvaKJ6ksfV8 Hep C GRT Attachment ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-03d08c9f-38dc-451b-ba8c-93bdc364cfbb. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-03d08c9f-38dc-451b-ba8c-93bdc364cfbb.json.