985_27 Occupational Health Services

ESPO is conducting market engagement to gain feedback and insight from potential suppliers to inform the development of a proposed framework for the provision of Occupational Health Services and Employee Assistance Programmes. The intended outcomes of the preliminary market engagement process are: * To alert the market to and encourage participation in the framework procurement. * To identify and explore opportunities to improve the framework offering in specific areas: - Market trends - Regulatory or legislative updates. - Opportunities for improvement through technology. - Framework scope - Framework pricing - Rebate structure - Data controls - Ease of use - Framework appeal * To communicate the outcomes of the engagement process to the market, ensuring fairness. Engagement is initially being undertaken initially via a Request for Information (RFI) questionnaire, details of which are captured on the EastMidsTenders eProcurement Portal (www.eastmidstenders.org). The deadline for responding to the RFI was 17:00 (5pm) on 10 July 2026. Market engagement is now expected to be completed in October (not September as originally estimated). Please note that the deadline for RFI responses has passed, meaning new responses (of the RFI) can no longer be considered as part of this market engagement exercise (with all remaining activity focusing on those responses already received). Suppliers wishing to participate in the engagement process MUST must first express an interest as follows: (a) Go to https://www.eastmidstenders.org/; (b) Register (if not already registered on ProContract); (c) Search for tender opportunity 985_27 (via "View Opportunities" from the EastMidsTenders Portal); d) Express an interest. Suppliers can access the RFI in the 'Messages' section via the 'Activity' dashboard once an expression of interest has been registered. Any questions or clarifications should only be submitted to ESPO as a message on the eProcurement Portal. ESPO also intends to conduct 1-2-1 meetings with a limited number of potential suppliers to further explore points raised within their questionnaire responses requiring further detail or clarification. To ensure equal treatment of potential suppliers, and that participants in the preliminary market engagement process are not put at an unfair advantage, ESPO will publish market engagement outcomes within any subsequent ITT documentation.