Prior information notice
This notice is for prior information only
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
London Borough of Southwark
Southwark Council, 160 Tooley Street
London
SE1 2QH
UK
Contact person: Mr Iain Gray
Telephone: +44 2075250807
E-mail: Iain.Gray@southwark.gov.uk
NUTS: UKI
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://www.southwark.gov.uk
Address of the buyer profile: http://www.southwark.gov.uk
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
https://forms.office.com/e/bMRbjgKPFM
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
I.5) Main activity
Health
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Soft Market Testing - All-Age Integrated Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Recovery System
Reference number: DN763520
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85000000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
The Contracting Authority (Southwark Council) has commenced an exploratory process to update provider landscape knowledge, best practice and market sector considerations in relation to the future provision of an all-age community integrated drug and alcohol treatment and recovery system service contract, including a support offer for people of all ages affected by the substance use of another person.
The council is seeking market engagement with providers of these services through completion of an online questionnaire following review of a supporting document.
Responses required on 31/03/2025 by 17:00 hrs.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKI
Main site or place of performance:
Within the geographical boundaries of the London Borough of Southwark
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Community drug and alcohol treatment and recovery provision for people of all ages is currently commissioned through an all-age integrated drug and alcohol treatment and recovery system service contract. The core contract service specification comprises the following key components:
i. Community drug and alcohol treatment services for adults aged 18 years + (which includes a support offer for people of all ages affected by the substance use of another person who may or may not be in treatment) – recovery navigation inclusive of assessment, recovery planning and case management, structured psychosocial interventions, clinical interventions, aftercare and reintegration and harm reduction services including needle exchange and a blood borne virus and physical health service.
ii. Community drug and alcohol treatment services for children and young people aged 10 – 17 years – Tier 2 delivery including , assessment, care planning and case management and structured interventions.
iii. Commissioning responsibility for substance misuse services in community pharmacy (supervised consumption of medicines for the treatment of opioid dependency and needle and paraphernalia exchange services)
iv. Needle and paraphernalia exchange coordination services (provision of support, supplies, and clinical waste collection service to participating community pharmacies)
v. Commissioning responsibility for substance misuse prescribing services in primary care (general practice shared care scheme)
vi. Core integrated working pathways with the Criminal Justice System, hospitals and health, outreach services, Tier 4 residential pathway and the independently commissioned Recovery Support Service for Substance Use (service user involvement and peer led delivery)
The core Public Health Grant funded contract value for 2025-26 is £3.99m. Since 2021, service delivery has been enhanced and expanded through investment from central government grants including the Rough Sleeping Drug and Alcohol Treatment Grant and the Supplementary Substance Misuse Treatment and Recovery Grant. In 2024-25, additional investment in the service contract is up to £2.377m. This is funding the provision of a dedicated rough sleeping drug and alcohol outreach team, dedicated criminal justice system and hospitals teams and parents, children and young people’s delivery as well as increasing the number of service management and recovery worker posts and service delivery costs.
The current contract is due to end in 2026 and this soft market testing process will help to shape the future provision of these services in the borough.
II.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice:
01/04/2026
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
No
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
The Contracting Authority invites interested service providers to participate in market testing by responding to an online questionnaire available via this link:
https://forms.office.com/e/bMRbjgKPFM.
Closing date for submissions is by 17:00 on Friday 7 March 2025.
This soft market testing exercise is part of exploratory research around the future commissioning options for the service contract. It is purely investigatory in nature, although it may be used to assist the council in the development of the future delivery model, service viability and the potential routes to market under the Provider Selection Regime. For the avoidance of doubt, this is not a call for competition and providing a response will not preclude your participation in any future procurement exercise.
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
13/02/2025