Provision of Adult Autistic Spectrum Disorder Screening & Diagnosis; Information, Advice & Guidance and Psychosocial Support to Oxfordshire PIN Notice

Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group ("OCCG") currently operate a pooled budget arrangement with Oxfordshire County Council ("OCC") to commission a number of healthcare services for Adults with High Functioning Autism ("HFA") or Asperger syndrome for those who are registered with General Practice in Oxfordshire. The commissioners wish to transform the current services with a view to improving the outcomes for patients and improving the patient pathway whilst making the services more efficient.

To this end the commissioners would like to hear from organisations that have experience in providing the following services that are being considered for transformation to help them consider how best to proceed: DIAGNOSIS AND SCREENING • A pre-diagnosis screening service for approximately 100 adults per annum who do not have a learning disability with a view to reducing the number of referrals for full diagnosis that result in a negative result. • A diagnosis service which provides autism diagnosis to an estimated 150 adults per annum using a recognised diagnosis assessment tool, resulting in appropriate referrals for care act assessment and thus reducing the demand for psychosocial support services. INFORMATION, ADVICE AND GUIDANCE AND PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT • Provision of comprehensive online information on Autism, including understanding the core deficits, the potential benefits and disadvantages of diagnosis, strategies and approaches to living with Autism available via a single point of access with an emphasis on signposting to existing resources.

In addition advice and guidance available via telephone, email and other communications channels as appropriate to cope with approximately 450 enquiries per annum. The expectation is that such resources will lead to individuals having an improved awareness, understanding and self/family management of HFA; improved physical and mental health; better access to information, advice and guidance whilst reducing the demand for secondary care, specialist services, screening and diagnosis, psychosocial support services. • A psychosocial support service supporting an average caseload of around 70 adults at any one time who have a positive diagnosis of autism.

To address the core deficits of Autism. This service will enable individuals to have improved awareness, understanding and self/family management of HFA to have improved functioning; to have better physical and mental health; to engage more effectively with mainstream services and to reduce the demand on secondary care and specialist services.

The contract term is envisaged to be for an initial 2 year period, with the option to renew for a further one year; this is subject to approval and the precise term will be advised at a later date. The contract has an estimated annual value of £235,000.

Further information can be found in the additional information box Additional information: The service is expected to be delivered through a mix of online and face to face provision which: • provides choice to service users; • effectively manages demand and provides timely access to services within budget; • interfaces with primary and secondary care services as part of an integrated care pathway for people with autism in Oxfordshire; • supports service developments through the innovative use of technology and collaboration. Expressions of interest from consortium or partnership arrangements will also be welcomed.

Please note that this is a PIN as a Call for Competition and further notices will not be published to advertise this opportunity in the event a decision is taken to proceed to procurement. The Services described 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").

Any tendering process undertaken in connection to this service 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. Any such process will be run transparently, treating all bidders equally.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Commissioner 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. Neither the inclusion of a bidder selection stage, nor the use of any language or terms found in the Directive or Regulations, nor the description of the procedure voluntarily adopted by the Commissioner ("Open", "Restricted", "Competitive Procedure with Negotiation", "Competitive Dialogue" or any other description), nor any other indication, shall be taken to mean that the Commissioner intends to hold itself bound by the Directive or Regulations, save by the provisions applicable to services coming within the scope of Annex XIV of the Directive / Schedule 3 of the Regulations. 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).