--- title: "Early Engagement - Provision of Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) across the South West" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-6885bcb0-add4-4082-b65c-3bbea7ae1e6a" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-6885bcb0-add4-4082-b65c-3bbea7ae1e6a" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-6885bcb0-add4-4082-b65c-3bbea7ae1e6a.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-6885bcb0-add4-4082-b65c-3bbea7ae1e6a.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "NHS SOUTH, CENTRAL AND WEST COMMISSIONING SUPPORT UNIT" published: "2017-05-03" --- # Early Engagement - Provision of Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) across the South West Buyer: NHS SOUTH, CENTRAL AND WEST COMMISSIONING SUPPORT UNIT Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-b5fd17-6885bcb0-add4-4082-b65c-3bbea7ae1e6a [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-6885bcb0-add4-4082-b65c-3bbea7ae1e6a) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-6885bcb0-add4-4082-b65c-3bbea7ae1e6a.json) ## Summary NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit is initiating a procurement process for the provision of Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) across the South West of England. The title of this early engagement exercise is "Provision of Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) across the South West", classified under health and social work services. The engagement is currently in the planning stage, with a milestone deadline for provider interest set for 23rd February 2018. The procurement is expected to commence in late August 2017, and the SARC services will cover areas under the Police Force boundaries of Avon and Somerset, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Swindon, and Devon and Cornwall. This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses in healthcare services, particularly those focusing on social work and support services for vulnerable populations. Organisations from various sectors, including voluntary and third sectors, could find this a strategic opportunity to expand their service offerings. The engagement event in June will provide valuable insights and networking opportunities, encouraging businesses to align their services with the specifications laid out by NHS England to enhance the quality of care provided to victims of sexual assault. ## Notice This notice is placed as a Prior Information Notice and relates only to a pre-procurement provider engagement event. NHS England South (South West) is looking to re-commission Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) provision for both adults and paediatrics across the South West, covering the four Police Force boundaries of Avon and Somerset, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Swindon and Devon and Cornwall. The procurement is likely to commence late August 2017 and will be undertaken by South Central and West Commissioning Support Unit Procurement Team. There are currently seven SARCs across the South West with considerable variation in service provision, not only with regards to the age and needs of service users but also to activity, service specification and referral pathways. The procurement exercise will aim to increase equity of access to SARC provision and ensure a consistent and high standard of quality care to victims of sexual assault in line with Specification No. 30. There will be no reduction of current funding; additional funding for the development of SARC services has been identified. It must be noted that this procurement does not include the 'Sexual Offences Examiners' contract. At this time, NHS England would like to determine the potential level of provider interest from all sectors (including voluntary and third sector) in preparation for hosting a provider engagement event in June. This event will be an opportunity for providers to gain further understanding of the existing model, provide input into the specification and potential procurement strategy and network with other providers. Venue details and an agenda will be provided to those who express an interest. If you are interested in attending the provider engagement event and in the procurement of SARCs across the South West, please complete the provider market sounding questionnaire attached to this notice and return via the E-Procurement system In-Tend. Full details of how to submit the questionnaire can be found at the end of this notice. Please return your questionnaire by 12 midday on Friday 02 June 2017. Additional information: This notice is an information gathering exercise rather than a call for competition in its own right, and therefore publication or response does not commit NHS England or respondents to a future procurement, nor provide any process exemptions or preferential treatment to any parties expressing an interest. NHS England will not be liable for costs incurred by any interested party in participating in this exercise. Interested providers will be able to view the provider market event opportunity via the 'current tenders' list on in-tend. https://in-tendhost.co.uk/scwcsu/aspx/Home Or you should be able to go directly to this particular opportunity by following the link below: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/scwcsu/aspx/ProjectManage/318 In order to return the questionnaire, you will need to 'express an interest' and register on the system and then upload the completed questionnaire to the placeholder provided. The Services are healthcare services within the meaning and scope of Annex XIV of Directive 2014/24/EU ("the Directive") and Schedule 3 to the Public Contract Regulations 2015 ("the Regulations"), which are not subject to the full regime of the Regulations, but is instead governed by the "Light Touch Regime", (Articles 74 to 76 of the Directive, and Regulations 74 to 76 of the Regulations). 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. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/465a29d9-6070-4847-a136-3748c6b06325 | | Notice type | Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Not specified | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 3 May 2017 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 23 Feb 2018 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | 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 | NHS SOUTH, CENTRAL AND WEST COMMISSIONING SUPPORT UNIT | | Locality | BRISTOL | | Post town | Bristol | | Postcode | BS1 3NX | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) | | ITL 2 | TLK5 West of England | | ITL 3 | TLK51 Bristol, City of | | Local authority | Bristol, City of | | Electoral ward | Central | | Westminster constituency | Bristol Central | | Delivery location | TLK South West (England) | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 85 - Health and social work services ### Codes - 85000000 - Health and social work services ## Release History - 3 May 2017 at 14:40 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/465a29d9-6070-4847-a136-3748c6b06325 ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/465a29d9-6070-4847-a136-3748c6b06325 3rd May 2017 - Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/8f48caaa-08bd-4c52-a090-d4013d509ca0 Provider Sounding Questionnaire - https://www.england.nhs.uk/commissioning/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2016/02/serv-spec-30.pdf Service Specification No. 30 SARCs ## Notice URLs - https://in-tendhost.co.uk/scwcsu/aspx/Home - https://in-tendhost.co.uk/scwcsu/aspx/ProjectManage/318 ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. 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