Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) Service

NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (BNSSG CCG), the Commissioner, anticipates issuing a procurement for an Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) service in November 2018 for a service commencement date of September 2019. As part of the procurement process, the Commissioner will be holding a bidder event on the 14th November in Bristol.

The purpose of this event is to present to potential bidders on the requirements of the service and the procurement process, as well as to provide a networking opportunity for potential bidders, partners or subcontractors for the future service. A draft service specification is provided as an attachment for information only.

Interested providers will be able to view the bidder event opportunity via the 'current tenders' list on the e-procurement system In-Tend, accessible via the following link: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/scwcsu/aspx/Home In order to access the bidder event and express an interest you will need to register on the system and send your organisation details along with the names of no more than 2 attendees to Katie Luscombe via the e-procurement messaging system by no later than 12 noon on 8th November. On expression of interest, the participant will be sent details regarding the venue and timings for the day.

Please note that all presentation slides from the day as well as any clarification questions and responses will be made available to all of those that have expressed interest in the event. Please note this Future Opportunity Notice has been issued purely to seek expressions of interest for this bidder event, and does not currently form part of any formal procurement process.

Interested parties should note that a response to this Notice does not constitute an invitation to any subsequent formal procurement, which the Commissioners will consider in due course. This procurement is being carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners.

Additional information: Interested parties should be aware that this Notice is part of a market engagement exercise rather than a call for competition in its own right. Any response does not commit the CCG or respondents to a future procurement, nor provide any process exemptions or preferential treatment to any parties expressing an interest.

The CCG will not be liable for costs incurred by any interested party in participating in this exercise. 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 is instead governed by the "Light Touch Regime" contained within Chapter 3, Section 7 of the Regulations (Regulations 74 to 77).

Any future procurement 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 CCG will run a transparent procurement process, treating all bidders equally. For the avoidance of doubt, the CCG 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.