Prior Information Notice (PIN) /Request for Information (RFI) for Steps to Safety National Support Partner

Tender description

The Department of Health and Social Care ("The Authority") is publishing Prior Information Notice (PIN) and Request for Information (RFI) to outline the Authority’s intention to invite potential bidders to review and seek feedback on the draft service specification for the Steps to Safety National Support Partner. The Authority is seeking to commission a partner to provide national support to NHS Integrated Care Board (ICBs) rolling out the Steps to Safety programme for victims and survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence (DASV). The programme aims to better identify victims and survivors of violence and abuse, provide specialist support services, increase safety and reduce the health impacts of violence and abuse. The roll out of Steps to Safety will be phased in 3 phases across all ICBs with the aim of ensuring dedicated referral services exist in every area of England so that by 2029, any victim or survivor in England can access this support, wherever they live.<br/><br/>The Department of Health and Social Care will be running a market engagement session on 21/10/2026 at 1pm. Please contact the Steps to Safety team via the inbox StepsToSafety@dhsc.gov.uk if you wish to join the session before 19th October 2026, 1200 miday.<br/><br/>All the interested suppliers should register at: health.atamis.co.uk to apply for the opportunity. The Atamis reference no.to seek this RFI is C481821<br/>For any Atamis queries email to: support-health@atamis.co.uk or via Helpdesk Phone: 0800 9956035<br/>The RFI closing date is 2nd Nov 2026, 5pm.<br/><br/>This PIN/RFI is issued solely for preliminary market engagement. It does not constitute a call for competition, an Invitation to Tender (ITT), or a commitment by the Authority to undertake a future procurement. Potential bidders are invited to review and, if they wish, comment on the draft service specification for the Steps to Safety national support partner. Feedback received may inform the final specification and the design of any subsequent procurement process. All information is subject to change and is non-binding on the Authority. Lot 1: The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) are seeking to commission a partner to provide national support to NHS Integrated Care Board (ICBs) rolling out the Steps to Safety programme for victims and survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence (DASV). We require a supplier with the experience and capability to deliver a comprehensive support offer to ICBs working in partnership with the DHSC, ICBs and the sector; specialist elements may be subcontracted, with the lead supplier accountable for delivery. The supplier should have the following expertise:<br/>DASV expertise, Training capability, Programme delivery, Partnership working, Lived-experience engagement and Delivery principles.<br/>The Authority intends to conduct the tender process via GCA Dynamic Purchasing Framework (DPS) RM6126 Research and Insights under regulation PCR 2015. You will need to be a supplier on the GCA DPS RM6126 Research and Insights framework to take take part in any future procurement exercise.<br/>Please see the attached Draft specification and market consultation template. The market consultation template needs to be returned before 2nd Nov 2026, 5pm.<br/>To register your interest for market engagement session on 21/10/2026 at 1pm. <br/>Please contact the Steps to Safety team via the inbox StepsToSafety@dhsc.gov.uk if you wish to join the session before 19th October 2026, 1200 midday.<br/><br/>To manage any actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest arising between the Steps to Safety Evaluation and the National Support Partner procurements, the Contracting Authority will take appropriate and proportionate measures to prevent, identify and remedy such conflicts. In accordance with Regulation 24 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, these measures will seek to prevent any distortion of competition and ensure the equal treatment of all economic operators.