Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Provision of Safeguarding Support for Covid-19 Inquiry
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 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
- 85312300 - Guidance and 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 service 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, divided into 3 separate Lots:
Lot 1 Digital emotional support service with accessible offer for ALL
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)
- 85312310 - Guidance services
- 85312320 - Counselling 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
- 80570000 - Personal development training services
- 85312310 - Guidance 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
9 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: No
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
This Prior Information Notice is to signal an intention to further market engagement with those within the Emotional Support/Guidance market.
The Authority are requesting information for their proposed requirement.
A Future Opportunity on contract finder can be found here: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/e6dc55f8-f035-48cc-8499-e317d6a70b20
Please see within the attachments area added 20/07/23 relating to the Request for information, Clarifications to bidders questions and Technical specifications.
Please see the attached document titled ‘RM6355-Request for Information v1.0’ for further information.
Potential Providers must be registered on the Crown Commercial Service e-Sourcing Suite in order to respond to the future Procurement opportunities. If you have not yet registered on the e-Sourcing Suite, this can be done online at https://crowncommercialservice.bravosolution.co.uk following the link ‘I am a New Supplier User’.
Please see the attached document titled ‘RM6355 - Potential Provider eSourcing suite instructions’ for further information on how to register and express your interest in this procurement.