Public procurement notice: Contract Award Notice
Published: 2020-05-22
Buyer: Hampshire County Council
Country: UK
Contract type: Services
Procedure: Open procedure
CPV classification: 85140000: Miscellaneous health services
Estimated value: 3000000 GBP
Award criteria: The most economic tender

Technical requirements: Hampshire County Council’s Occupational Health Team is awarding a contract for the provision of an employee assistance programme which is currently used by staff within: Hampshire schools, Hampshire Constabulary, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire, ACRO Criminal Records Office and Hampshire County Council. The new contract will meet both current and future challenges in a very competitive market and bring new technologies and digital solutions to source, manage and develop Services. The supplier will use an innovative approach that is cost effective and can demonstrate value to the occupational health team and the employee. Active market engagement by the contract provider will be a critical element in order to achieve the necessary insight and understanding of the current marketplace, trends and workplace issues.
The main services will be delivered by telephone with ad-hoc and face-to-face counselling services in or around the county of Hampshire as needed.
The key aims of an EAP service is to ensure rapid access for employees to a full range of work related or personal matters that may impact on workplace performance and seek to resolve those issues where possible. With ever increasing pressures at home and work, there are times when some extra support to balance the demands of everyday life is needed. An independent provider of employee support services offering access to qualified Counsellors and Information Specialists who are experienced in helping employees deal with all kinds of practical and emotional issues such as, but not limited to, wellbeing, family matters, relationships, debt management and workplace issues is needed. The supplier must provide an EAP service across four types of package that each delivers flexibility and responsiveness whilst maintaining medical confidentiality at all times. The critical success factors have been identified as:
1) High quality services offering local, universal support with timely access to targeted and specialist services which take account of the learning from employees and significant others which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year;
2) An integrated, personalised model of provision that can respond to the holistic needs of a diverse group of employees with varied duties and responsibilities;
4) Sustainability of provision by ensuring best value for money without reliance on additional investment;
6) Confidentiality is the foundation of the services. In essence, the Customer’s EAP service is to act as a gateway to a wide range of services and support functions. The use of the EAP service by an employee is voluntary and the vast majority of employees who use the EAP service do so through self referrals. Alongside this self referral, the EAP service must also be able to accept referrals from other organisational parties, including OH, union representatives, HR professionals and line managers.
The initial framework term is 3 years with the option to extend by a further 12 months to a maximum of 4 years.


Winner: Health Assured Ltd
Award value: 3000000
Number of bids: 2