Evaluation of the Quality & Engagement Act

The Welsh Government intends to procure a contract for an independent evaluation of the implementation and impact of the Health and Social Care (Quality and Engagement) (Wales) Act 2020. The evaluation will build on findings from a completed evaluability assessment and is expected to adopt a theory-based approach, assessing both the individual duties established by the Act and their collective contribution to the Act's overarching objectives. https://www.gov.wales/evaluability-assessment-health-and-... The current intention is to procure the contract in 2026/2027 to commence the contract during the 2027/28 financial year.

Estimated total contract value: up to £275,000 GBP (excluding VAT)Contract duration: 24 months (with up to 3 months extension for final outputs with no additional budget available). Structure of contract:The Welsh Government is considering a variety of models whereby: • The requirement is either tendered as one whole contract or divided into five lotted work packages (Work Packages 0-4). • Work Package 0 will be responsible for providing overall programme integration, coordination and synthesis across all work packages. • Work Packages 1 to 4 will be the evaluation strands. • At this stage we are considering whether suppliers are interested in bidding for one individual work package as an expert on a specific topic, multiple work packages or all work packages as a lead supplier co-ordinating the whole contract. • Where multiple suppliers are appointed they will be required to operate within a shared theory-based evaluation framework. • Effective collaboration and data sharing between suppliers will be a contractual requirement to support programme-wide synthesis, learning and reporting. • The approaches being considered reflect the recommendations made through the evaluability assessment, which identified the benefits of a single overarching evaluation delivered through distinct but connected evaluation strands.

Welsh Government reserves the right to select the most appropriate model based on the feedback received through this Pre-market Engagement Notice. Proposed work packagesWork package 0: Evaluation integration, coordination and synthesisThe Evaluation Integration Lead and would be responsible for:• Overall evaluation leadership and coordination• Maintaining the Act-level Theory of Change• Developing and maintaining a shared evaluation framework and common methodological approach• Leading contribution analysis across the evaluation and• Producing interim and final synthesis reports.Indicative budget: GBP 45,000Work package 1: Duty of QualityEvaluation of the implementation and impact of the Duty of Quality.Indicative budget: GBP 70,000Work package 2: Duty of CandourEvaluation of the implementation and impact of the Duty of Candour.Indicative budget: GBP 65,000Work package 3: Citizen Voice BodyEvaluation of the implementation and impact of Citizen Voice Body provisions.Indicative budget: GBP 60,000Work package 4: Statutory Vice ChairsEvaluation of the implementation and impact of the Statutory Vice Chairs provisions.Indicative budget: GBP35,000Ask:The Welsh Government is seeking an indication of market interest in this future procurement opportunity.Suppliers are invited to confirm their interest and respond to the questions below.

Responses are requested for market planning purposes only and will not form part of any future procurement evaluation.Please respond to the questions only. Do not include tender proposals, detailed solutions or commercial information at this stage.

Information provided beyond the scope of the questions may be disregarded.1. Contract and work-package ModelsWhich of the following models do you consider would provide the most appropriate basis for procuring and delivering the evaluation?• a single contract covering all five work packages;• a work-package model allowing suppliers to bid for one or more work packages; or• another model.

Please briefly describe.Please provide brief reasons for your preference, including any implications for effective coordination and integration across the evaluation.2. Potential bidding interestBased on the proposed structure, which work package(s) would your organisation potentially be interested in bidding for?• Work Package 0: Evaluation Integration, Coordination and Synthesis• Work Package 1: Duty of Quality• Work Package 2: Duty of Candour• Work Package 3: Citizen Voice Body• Work Package 4: Statutory Vice-ChairsPlease also indicate the delivery arrangement(s) your organisation would potentially consider:• sole supplier delivering the overall requirement;• lead supplier responsible for WP0 and coordinating delivery of WPs 1 to 4;• supplier delivering one or more individual work packages;• consortium member;• subcontractor; or• another delivery arrangement.

Please briefly describe.3. Work-package structureDoes the proposed work-package structure provide a practical basis for delivering a coherent and integrated evaluation?Please identify any changes to you would recommend in relation to:• the number or scope of work packages;• the role and responsibilities of Work Package 0; and/or• the arrangements for coordination, integration and synthesis across the work packages.

Please provide brief reasons for any suggested changes. 4. Other comments Are there any other matters that the Welsh Government should consider when developing the procurement that have not already been covered in your responses above?

In particular, you may wish to comment on: • indicative budgets; • contract duration; • procurement and mobilisation timetable; • barriers to market participation or competition; and • any other factors that could materially affect deliverability.Please keep your response concise and relevant to market planning. Status of this engagement: Responses will be used for market-planning and procurement-development purposes only.

They will not be evaluated as part of any subsequent procurement process. Participation in this preliminary market engagement will not provide a supplier with an advantage in any future procurement.

Failure to participate will not prevent a supplier from taking part in a future procurement opportunity. This notice does not constitute a call for competition, an invitation to tender or a commitment by the Welsh Government to undertake a procurement exercise.

The Welsh Government may amend the scope, structure, value, timetable, contract duration or procurement approach before publishing any subsequent procurement notice. Suppliers should not include commercially confidential information at this stage.

The Welsh Government may use and summarise the feedback received to inform the development of the requirement, procurement strategy and tender documentation. Information will be handled appropriately, subject to the Welsh Government’s legal obligations.The Welsh Government will not reimburse suppliers for any costs incurred in preparing or submitting a response to this preliminary market engagement.The Welsh Government will ensure that any information obtained through this preliminary market engagement is shared appropriately where required, to ensure equal treatment of suppliers in any subsequent procurement.

Responding to this notice: Response deadline: 2pm on 16th October 2026Response method: You can register interest via this notice. Responses should be concise and should address the numbered questions above. Clarification arrangements: If you have any clarification regarding any areas of this notice please email CPDProcurementAdvice@gov.wales.