Early Engagement - Provision of Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) across the South West

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. 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.