Provision of Awareness Training on Autistic Spectrum Conditions in Oxfordshire

This is a Prior Information Notice (PIN) on behalf of Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group, who are seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) from providers who have the capability and capacity to: 1. Undertake a contract for the provision of a structured programme of training and learning opportunities for statutory, voluntary and private sector organisations in order to: • improve awareness and understanding of Autistic Spectrum Conditions; • improve the accessibility of mainstream services for people with Autistic Spectrum Conditions.

Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group expects a minimum of 500 statutory sector staff should receive awareness training per annum, free of charge. 2. Provide training to Thames Valley Police and other providers in the criminal justice system on the Oxfordshire Autism Alert card.

As an integral part of its commitment to co-production and in order to deliver additional social value it is expected that people with Autistic Spectrum Condition will be instrumental in the development and provision of training. The associated training programmes will need to be developed as an element of the wider Transforming Care workforce development programme.

Any potential procurement that results from this engagement exercise is likely to commence in September 2017, with the new contract due to start January 2018. 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 £20,000. 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 Oxfordshire CCG or respondents to a future procurement, nor provide any process exemptions or preferential treatment to any parties expressing an interest.

Oxfordshire CCG 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").

The tendering 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 Authority will run a transparent tender process, treating all bidders equally.

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. 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 Authority ("Open", "Restricted", "Competitive Procedure with Negotiation", "Competitive Dialogue" or any other description), nor any other indication, shall be taken to mean that the Authority 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).