The procurement contact named on the official notice.

NHS Midlands and Lancashire Commissioning Support Unit (MLCSU) is working on behalf of NHS Cheshire & Merseyside Integrated Care Board (ICB) who are looking to undertake a Competitive Process for the provision of a Adult Autism Post-Diagnosis Support Service (AAPDSS) covering Halton and Warrington Places.

Where an adult is on the waiting list for an autism assessment and the autism assessment provider has been identified as needing support whilst waiting (and will struggle without support during the wait time) they may be referred to this service by the assessment provider.

The service will be accessed through referral only.

Referrals will mainly be initiated by the adult autism assessment provider or via self-referral (or carer/family referring on behalf of individual as appropriate).

Referrals can additionally be made by other service providers who work with adults with Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC).

The current service is due to end on Friday 31st January 2025.

It is the intention of the ICB to start commissioning a new contract from Monday 3rd February 2025 for 3 years, with an option to extend for a further 2 years.

Any bid must not exceed the maximum financial envelope of £60,000 per annum per place (Halton Place - £60,000 and Warrington Place - £60,000).

Any bid that exceeds this criterion will be viewed as Non-Compliant and will take no further part in the procurement exercise.

The total financial envelope is £120,000 per annum for both places (£600,000 for 3 years with an option to extend for 2 years), excl.

VAT).

The ITT will be live on Friday 27th September 2024 on the Atamis Portal.

The deadline for submission will be Monday 28th October 2024 12:00pm mid day.

The Commissioner reserves the right to reject bids that exceed the indicated budget per place.

To express interest and participate in the Competitive Process, please register and apply via Atamis e-sourcing portal https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome (https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome).

Should Tenderers have any queries, or have problems using the portal, they should contact the Helpdesk at: Phone: 0800 9956035 E-mail: support-health@atamis.co.uk The Atamis contract reference is C288031 - 'C&M ICB Adult Autism Post-Diagnosis Support Service - Warrington and Halton'.

The questionnaires will be located within the requirements.

Further details will be made available via documentation and information released during the tender process.

The ICB has set an affordability threshold for each place.

Bidders who submit a bid over the maximum contract values for each place will not achieve the score of a pass.

The cost analysis will be based on the lowest total overall price submitted (for 3 years + 2 year optional extension).

The competitive tendering process to which this ITT relates to and further to which the Authority intends to purchase the Services as set out in regulation 11 of the provider selection regime 2023 for the award of a contract with a competition.

This ITT has been made available to all Bidders who have expressed a potential interest in delivering this service in line with the requirements which fall under Regulation 11 for the award of a contract with a competition, and Schedule 1 of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023.

As such, the competitive tendering of these Services is being run as a bespoke, single-stage tender process as described in the documentation in this ITT, and in the Find a Tender contract notice advertisement.