Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
The Covid 19 Inqury acting through Crown Commercial Service
9th Floor, The Capital, Old Hall Street
Liverpool
L3 9PP
jack.rowan@covid19.public-inquiry.uk
Telephone
+44 7516684654
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.3) Communication
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Other type
Covid 19 Inquiry
one.5) Main activity
Other activity
Public Procurement
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Provision of Safeguarding Support for Covid-19 Inquiry
Reference number
RM6355
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85312320 - Counselling services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Crown Commercial Service, intends to put in place contracts for the provision of Emotional Support services for use by the Covid 19 Inquiry.
The Inquiry has pledged to be trauma-informed across all of its work.
A trauma informed approach means seeking to reduce the risk of retraumatisation to people who are engaging with the Inquiry.
Emotional support is one of the key ways of reducing retraumatisation by offering timely, sensitive, psychologically informed emotional support to people engaging with the Inquiry’s work.
Emotional support is not counselling or therapy. The focus is on facilitating the person’s engagement with the Inquiry, creating support plans, facilitating stabilisation, providing psychological containment and facilitating the person’s journey through their engagement process.
The contracts shall provide the offer of emotional support for everyone engaging with the Inquiry. This engagement will occur through three main routes:
1. Public Hearings
People will engage with the Inquiry through public hearings, whether that be as a witness or a member of the public attending hearings
2. Every Story Matters
The Inquiry will use its Listening Exercise, Every Story Matters to gather people’s experiences of the pandemic through online form submission, targeted research, commemoration activity and engagement events.
3. Inquiry Staff
Inquiry staff will be exposed to potentially distressing materials throughout the lifetime of the Inquiry.
The services will be divided into 3 separate Lots:
- Lot 1 Digital emotional support service with accessible offer for ALL (phone call equiv to texts)
- Lot 2 Phone based and face to face emotional support
- Lot 3 Staff-related tender for reflective practice, 1:1 emotional support for staff and training rollouts
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £7,645,650
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: Yes
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Digital emotional support service with accessible offer for ALL (phone call equiv to texts)
Lot No
1
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85312300 - Guidance and counselling services
- 85312310 - Guidance services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
- Digital service offering
- Website with easy to navigate, downloadable psychoeducation materials including advice, self guided
resources.
- Stories of courage and hope from people impacted by Covid
- Text based support service available to anyone who needs it
- Triaging - the digital service provider would triage clients according to need. Pathways into Tier 2 would
be swift and robust.
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Phone based and face to face emotional support
Lot No
2
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85312310 - Guidance services
- 85312320 - Counselling services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
- Emotional support via telephone, video call (or F2F if at a community event), offering: psychological
safety building, support plans, containment, risk assessment where needed.
- Pathway from Tier 1 to Tier 2 for ESM ppts who are significantly distressed by their engagement.
- Everyone could be given the details of the website for resources but some individuals engaging with the
Inquiry would go straight into the Tier 2 level.
- Direct entry pathway into Tier 2 enhanced support for:
- ESM Targeted Research ppts
- People engaging in focus groups or activity that is inviting recollection of traumatic events
- Hearings related support - witnesses and CP model from this Tier
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Staff-related tender for reflective practice, 1:1 emotional support for staff and training rollouts
Lot No
3
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 79633000 - Staff development services
- 80511000 - Staff training services
- 80561000 - Health training services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Inquiry staff will come into contact with people and materials that could potentially cause distress (e.g. evidential documents, witness testimony etc.) and therefore require additional emotional support beyond the standard employee assistance programs.
The supplier would be expected to deliver:
- Staff Training events
- Group reflective support
- 1-on-1 support
two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice
8 August 2023
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
A Future Opportunity on contract finder can be found here: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/e6dc55f8-f035-48cc-8499-e317d6a70b20
This Prior Information Notice is to signal an intention to commence market engagement with those within the Emotional Support/Guidance market.
The UK Covid-19 Inquiry intends to hold two Virtual Market Engagement events prior to the launch of the formal procurement process for the Inquiry’s emotional support requirements. The procurement is currently expected to commence in August 2023.
The purpose of this notice is to invite interested potential bidders to participate in the Virtual Market Engagement events on the 18th July 2023. The two events will cover two separate aspects of the procurement:
1. This will cover the requirements for the Inquiry’s Tier 1 and Tier 2 emotional support for Inquiry hearings, Every Story Matters (the Inquiry’s Listening Exercise), Commemoration activity and all external emotional support.
Lot 1 is primarily focused on our digital offering
Lot 2 is primarily focused on our In-person and telephone offerings
2. The event at 13:15-14:00 on 18th July 2023 (Lot 3)
This will cover the emotional support requirements for the Inquiry’s staff
3. Both events will include a Q&A sessions where you can raise questions
4. Written questions will be accepted after the events and please be aware that all questions and responses will be shared among all interested bidders.
Further information will be provided at both events.
Any potentially interested parties can join one or both of the Virtual Market Engagement Events and the Inquiry intends to share a brief overview of the requirements prior to the event. Both sessions will be recorded for anyone who is unable to attend, however, pre-registration is mandatory and prospective bidders will need to confirm their attendance via email to the named person below by 9am on the 17th of July 2023 with the subject heading Virtual Market Engagement - RM6355 Provision of Safeguarding Support for Covid-19 Inquiry. The email needs to include the name, position, organisation and email addresses of all colleagues wishing to attend.
Contact: Jack Rowan - Planning and Delivery, UK Covid-19 Inquiry
Email: jack.rowan@covid19.public-inquiry.uk
To ensure the smooth running of the event we are limiting the number of individuals from each potentially interested organisation to 3. As part of this event email addresses will be shared with the other attendees. If you don’t wish to disclose this information with other organisations please advise of this when you register.