Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Liverpool Road
Chester
CH2 1UL
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
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Health
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
National Framework for the Provision of Crisis Communications Support PIN
Reference number
F/090/CCS/22/SM
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 79416200 - Public relations consultancy services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Commercial Procurement Services, hosted by the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, is considering the letting of a National Framework Agreement to cover Crisis Communications Support for UK public sector organisations.
The aim of this PIN Notice, Preliminary Specification and Questionnaire is to understand, from each supplier in the market, the appropriateness of a potential framework agreement. The purpose of this PIN notice is to conduct preliminary market consultation, with a view to preparing a procurement. Suppliers participating in this market consultation are not guaranteed to receive either an invitation to tender (if invitations to tender are issued), or a place on any framework agreement which may be awarded following an invitation to tender.
This PIN notice is NOT a call for competition. There is no guarantee that any procurement exercise will result from this consultation.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 79416200 - Public relations consultancy services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Commercial Procurement Services, hosted by the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, is considering the letting of a National Framework Agreement to cover Crisis Communications Support for UK public sector organisations. The potential framework agreement aims to provide a consultancy support service to organisations facing, or potentially facing, situations that may involve reputational risk.
Suppliers would be required to deliver services to public sector organisations across the whole of the UK.
Suppliers would need to posess the ability to plan, train, advise and deliver services to public sector contracting authorities on the below areas:
• Strategic communications expertise
• Reputation management
• Risk identification and mitigation
• Media engagement support and media training
• Stakeholder/Internal relations expertise
• Public affairs and public relations expertise
Suppliers would need to be able to respond quickly to customers in times of sudden crisis, and/or provide long term support to help mitigate potential risks.
Suppliers would work closely with customers to determine the most suitable approach to deliver an agreed package of support.
Suppliers appointed to the framework must meet and maintain the following minimum standards:
• Employers (Compulsary) Liability Insurance with a minimum cover of £5m
• Public (and Products if applicable) Liability Insurance with a minimum cover of £5m
• Professional Indemnity Insurance with a minimum cover of £5m
• Cyber and Data Risk Insurance
• ISO9001 or evidence of equivalent certification or evidence of a Quality management system to a level equivalent to the ISO9001 standard
• ISO27001 or evidence of equivalent certification or evidence of an Information System Security management system to a level equivalent to the ISO27001 standard
• ISO20700 or equivalent
• Cyber Essentials certification
NB. This list is not exhaustive and is subject to change.
two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice
12 January 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
For all clarifications, to request the RFI documents, and to submit responses - please email info@coch-cps.co.uk.