Short Breaks Service for people with complex needs and learning disabilities in South Tyneside

North East & North Cumbria Integrated Care Board are conducting a Request for Information (RFI) exercise in order to gain a better understanding of the capacity and appetite of the market to deliver Short Breaks Service for people with complex needs and learning disabilities in South Tyneside area.

This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intended approach notice. 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. The process and award decision will be made by the Direct Commissioning Committee.

It is important to note that this PIN/RFI is not a call for competition and as such potential providers will need to express an interest in any future competition opportunity once a contract notice is published on Find and Tender Service.

It should be noted that this PIN/RFI invites individuals and organisations to express an interest in this RFI exercise only, and it is NOT part of any pre-qualification or selection process. This PIN/RFI is intended as an awareness, communication, and information gathering exercise. An expression of interest is no indication of a commitment to participate in the RFI process nor does it infer any preferential or special status on those individuals and organisations who express an interest.

North East & North Cumbria Integrated Care Board is utilising an electronic tendering tool to manage this RFI exercise and communicate with potential providers. Accordingly, there will be no hard copy documents issued to potential providers and all communications with North East & North Cumbria Integrated Care Board , including RFI submissions, will be conducted via Atamis: health-family.force.com/s/Welcome ↗

If you have already registered on the system (e.g. to access contracts with another Health Family organisation) then there is no need to re-register.

If you have not already done so you should now register as a Supplier on the shared system.

You can register here: health-family.force.com/s/Welcome ↗

It is free to register on the portal and it can be accessed at any time of day providing you have a working internet connection. If you find that you need any advice or support in registering, please contact the Atamis helpdesk using the following details:

Phone: 0800 9956035

E-mail: [email protected]

Opening times 8am - 6pm

RFI documentation will be available on the e-tendering site on 30 July 2025.

Completed RFI questionnaires must be submitted by 5pm on 13 August 2025.

Potential providers are to note that the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (as amended) may apply to a future procurement including the New Fair Deal non-statutory policy setting out how pensions issues are to be dealt with when staff are compulsorily transferred from the public sector to independent providers delivering public services.

Following review of returned RFI responses, should the Relevant Authority wish to seek further clarification to any part of the responses, further market engagement may be carried out. Providers will be made aware of these arrangements via the Atamis system.