Abortion Care Services to NHS Bristol, North Somerset & South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) Integrated Care Board (ICB)

1. This notice is placed to seek expressions of interest in being considered as the Most Suitable Provider for the delivery of Abortion Care Services to NHS Bristol, North Somerset & South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) Integrated Care Board (ICB). 2. BNSSG ICB (the Commissioner) is seeking to secure a prime provider who has the capability and capacity to deliver Abortion Care Services, in line with the specified requirements. 3. This service specification for these services have been developed with reference to the National Service Specification for Abortion Care in the NHS developed by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), the Faculty for Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH) and the Faculty of Public Health (FPH) and with NICE and RCOG guidelines. It also takes into account the findings from the BNSSG Sexual Health Needs Assessment and using comparable services in other ICB areas. A copy of the localised specification will be available to any provider registering an expression of interest. 4. This is a single lotted procurement, seeking a sole prime provider to deliver the services across the full BNSSG ICB geographical footprint. 5. The Commissioner will undertake a desktop assessment which will include both qualification requirements and review of information from any interested provider against the key criteria outlined below. 6. The qualification requirements are made up of two parts, namely the Basic Selection Criteria (BSC) and a set of compliance questions. If an interested provider is unable to satisfy the requirements of these elements, then the desktop assessment will not be able to proceed. The BSC is intended to establish the provider's identity, ownership and legal, economic and financial standing amongst other compliance elements. Please note, it will be at this point that providers will be required to submit proof of their accounts, profit and loss and if necessary further evidence to support their financial position. 7. The key criteria for review will be as follows: a. Quality and Innovation i. Provider to give example of innovation in abortion care services they have led on in the last five years ii. CQC report check iii. Review of provider's annual report from last five years iv. Review of clinical governance arrangements as well as clinical and safeguarding policies for the abortion care services, including arrangements to transfer patients between pathways b. Value i. Confirmation that the bidder will be able to meet all requirements of the service over the life of the contract within tariff funding only c. Integration, collaboration and service sustainability i. Review of provider workforce structure for this contract and proposed patient pathways ii. Review of evidence of collaborative working across abortion care and sexual health services iii. Review of provider workforce strategies including recruitment & retention and training d. Improving access, reducing health inequalities, and facilitating choice i. Review of estate plan to ensure that services are accessible across BNSSG including by public transport, and have a choice of clinical location to attend ii. Review of referral processes to ensure that patients are able to access the service via online and telephone routes iii. Health Inequalities reporting e. Social Value i. Evidence of examples of delivery of social value by providers over the last five years including (but not limited to) contribution to reducing carbon reduction and contribution to the local community with recruitment opportunities and career development ii. Review of the provider's staff wellbeing policy 8. The intended contract start date is 1st April 2025 and the expected initial term of the contract will be for 7 (seven) years, with an option at the Commissioner's discretion to extend for a further 3 (three) years. 9. Please note that TUPE may apply to these services, TUPE information will be made available to interested providers upon request. 10. The contract activity will be payable on the basis of applicable NHS tariff for activity performed. The estimated cost is £4.3m per annum, which over the full potential term would be a total estimated contract cost of £43m. 11. Payments to a provider may be based on agreeing a block payment each month with financial adjustments thereafter, to 'true-up' to actual activity. These financial adjustments would expect to be settled with any provider on an agreed frequency, i.e. on a quarterly or half-yearly basis. The actual payment basis would be agreed during the due diligence phase of this process and prior to contract award. 12. This procurement is being carried out by South, Central & West (SCW) Commissioning Support Unit (CSU) on behalf of BNSSG ICB. The procurement lead for this procurement is Jamie Mackay. 13. Interested providers should email their expression of interest directly to Jamie.mackay1@nhs.net 14. The deadline for submission of your expression of interest is 12:00 Monday 21st October 2024. 15. This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intended approach notice, declaring the intent to carry out a Most Suitable Provider process. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award.