Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
NHS England
Quarry House
Leeds
LS2 7UE
Contact
Russell Greeenwood
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKE - Yorkshire and the Humber
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
one.3) Communication
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Health
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
National Helpline for NHS staff
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85100000 - Health services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The requirement is for a staff support helpline, to continue to provide a psychological support offer for all NHS staff. This will aim to be a service provided for all staff during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and beyond. The service is provided for all health and care workers across the country. Currently the helpline has experienced over 14,000 contacts directly.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £18,000,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85100000 - Health services
- 85312320 - Counselling services
- 85312300 - Guidance and counselling services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need of establishing a suitable health and wellbeing offer for all our staff. As a result, we have operated a national staff support helpline since April 2020, to support our NHS staff who are under enormous pressure every day. The NHS staff helpline was also a key recommendation of the NHS Staff and Learners’ Mental Wellbeing Commission report in 2019: ‘A national NHS helpline service should be developed with the aim of providing a complete emotional support service to NHS staff and those learning in the NHS’.
Common themes that have emerged on the helpline in the past 18 months, that we want to continue supporting our staff with include -
• Concerns about the workplace or study
• Mental health issues / concerns
• COVID-19 concerns
• Family issues
• Isolation/loneliness
• Physical health/illness
• Relationship problems
The helpline is also identifying to a lesser extent, concerns relating to:
• Bereavement
• Violence/abuse
• Finance/unemployment
• Drug and/or alcohol misuse
• Bereaved by suicide
The requirement is for a staff support helpline, to continue to provide a psychological support offer for all NHS staff. This will aim to be a service provided for all staff during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and beyond. The service is provided for all health and care workers across the country. Currently the helpline has experienced over 14,000 contacts directly.
The support line will offer NHS staff the opportunity to converse with trained crisis support workers, and if required, qualified clinical support where needed. The requirement will be to run a 7-day service, that can operate nationally, and is able to cater to all groups and demographics. The service will need to operate at the least, between 7:00am-11:00pm daily.
This will need to be set up and delivered at a relatively fast pace, to enable a continuation in service for our workforce. There is a clinical risk attached to the necessity to keep the service continuous for our users, and therefore a gap in service will not be acceptable (a short period of transition between an old supplier and a new one can be agreed however).
Additionally, the supplier should be able to provide anonymized and vital data, to the commissioning organisation, to provide further understanding of emerging concerns and issues related to the health and wellbeing of our workforce. The content, structure and delivery of the reports should be opened to change depending on the requirements of the commissioning organisation.
This will also conclude in an evaluation piece that will need to be carried out at intervals throughout the year. This will involve working with our evaluation lead to explore and deliver report/s through qualitive evaluation methods, such as interviews with users, to gain an in-depth understanding of helpline usage by staff.
Finally, the supplier should be able to provide some expertise and resource in supporting communications and marketing, to raise awareness of the helpline.
Pre-market Engagement
NHS England & Improvement are currently undertaking an options appraisal and as part of this have issued a Notice to the market to gauge supplier interest and capability in relation to continuing the delivery of this service.
NHS England & Improvement are aiming to enter into a 12-month contract with an approximate Year One value (12 months) of £600,000 exclusive of applicable VAT. Dependent on budget and performance the contract may be extended for a further 2 years.
Supplier Expressions of Interest
Interested suppliers should read the details attached to the notice which specify further details about the requirement, how to register an interest in the possible procurement and the submission requirements for registering an interest.
The deadline for submitting Expressions of Interest is 5pm on 16/12/2021
two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice
17 January 2022
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