1800RESPECT Procurement – Pre-release notice
The Department of Social Services will conduct a two-stage open competitive procurement process involving a Request for Expression of Interest (REOI) followed by a Request for Tender (RFT) to shortlisted Respondents. The purpose of the procurement is to secure a suitable organisation or group of organisations to deliver 1800RESPECT, the national telephone and online counselling and information service for people impacted by family, domestic and sexual violence.
Demand for 1800RESPECT has increased significantly over recent years, with the service answering more than 163,500 calls and online contacts in 2018-19.
The Australian Government’s priority is ensuring 1800RESPECT provides high quality, responsive and trauma informed support to people who need help, information and counselling. 1800RESPECT will continue to provide services throughout the duration of the procurement process.
The REOI is expected to be released in late March 2020 and closed in late April 2020. Following evaluation of responses the department will select a short list of respondents to be invited to tender. The RFT is anticipated be released in July 2020.
Information Sessions on this opportunity will be held in each capital city across Australia between 10 and 19 March 2020. These sessions will cover information about the service and also provide some information about the procurement process. It is not mandatory for potential respondents to attend a session.
The REOI will be published on AusTender. Interested parties are encouraged to subscribe to AusTender for updates about the procurement.
Public Interest Certificate
The public interest certificate for 1800RESPECT is issued under section 22(1) of the Government Procurement (Judicial Review) Act 2018 (the Act). All complaints made under the Act in relation to this procurement process must be made in writing to the delegate.