Gender Dysphoria Services for Adults (No-Surgical) - Cheshire and Merseyside - NHS England

NHS England (NHSE) is seeking to commission specialised healthcare interventions (non-surgical) within a primary care setting that is appropriate to service the population in Cheshire and Merseyside, for adults on the NHS pathway of care for the treatment of gender dysphoria.

Providers who have the capability and capacity to deliver the service requirements are invited to take part in a procurement process that will result in a single contract being let.

The two-stage process will first test provider capability and capacity, then shortlisted providers will be invited to submit substantive service delivery proposals.

The successful provider will utilise a multi-disciplinary team of professionals, and the service will be delivered in compliance with NHSE's published service specification, from a primary care setting in the Cheshire and Merseyside area.

The service will provide assessment of individuals for the purpose of diagnosis and will provide (or arrange access to) healthcare interventions for those who receive a diagnosis of gender dysphoria as described in the service specification.

The contract is currently expected to commence in April 2024, though this is subject to mobilisation timings and therefore this date may be delayed (at the commissioner's sole discretion).

The contract term will be 5 years with an option to extend for a further 2 years (at commissioner discretion).

The maximum contract value is £1,500,000 per annum, plus up to £100,000 to cover mobilisation costs (if required, and at commissioner discretion).

The maximum total contract value over the life of the contract (including extension options and mobilisation funding), is £10,600,000.

The commissioner reserves the right to add related service elements and funding during the contract if they deem it to be necessary.

The objectives of the service are: • provide a high-quality, timely and sustainable service for adults who are registered with a GP in Cheshire and Merseyside and who have gender dysphoria; and promote respect, dignity, and equality for all individuals. • an integrated approach that supports the wider system in delivering an individual's overall health and social care needs. • provide a service with a visible profile, with at least one physical location where individuals feel safe, supported, and welcomed. • provide a service with robust clinical and operational governance structures, systems and frameworks. • establishment of a multi-disciplinary team of healthcare professionals, with a named clinical lead, who either have experience or are interested in developing competencies and expertise in the care of individuals with gender dysphoria. • engagement with and inclusion of service users in the co-design and ongoing development and delivery of the service. •establishment and development of meaningful collaborative relationships with local statutory services to meet the needs of the population.