Industry Notice for Australian Defence Contracted Health Service

This notice has been issued as a precursor to an upcoming multi-stage procurement process, with a Request for Proposal (RFP) anticipated for release in Quarter 3 2025. The RFP is intended to seek industry feedback and solutions with regards to a potential operating and delivery model for the provision of health care services to the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The RFP will also be used to assess the market’s capability and capacity to deliver against the full scope of Defence’s requirements, with a limited number of potential providers then being invited to participate in the next stage through a Request for Tender (RFT) process.

This notice is not a procurement. Any procurement process initiated by Defence in respect of the requirements will be released separately. Rather, this notice is designed to provide advance notification to industry of the intent to conduct a multi-stage procurement process. This notice does not guarantee that any future approach to market will actually be undertaken (nor about the form or timing of any such approach) and similarly does not represent a guarantee of works in any format.

Defence is seeking solutions to deliver comprehensive acute and chronic care services, both on and off base, that provide equitable access to health care irrespective of location and includes optimisation of support to diverse populations and force elements. Proposals must complement and integrate with the existing ADF and Australian Public Service (APS) health workforce working within Joint Health Command facilities.

The procurement approach will recognise three distinct types of healthcare service requirements (scheduled, unscheduled and preventive), shaped by the nature of demand. Scheduled and unscheduled care services are characterised by variable and sometimes unpredictable demand. These services are likely best delivered through a fee-for-service model, where providers are paid based on actual service use. Preventative care, including immunisations and occupational and clinical screening, is generally structured and predictable. For these services, a fixed price model is proposed, with the built-in ability to manage surges in personnel numbers or other scheduled campaigns.

Data sets will form part of the RFP package to assist respondents to understand current service delivery demands, as well as constraints. RFP response will be used to inform the finalisation of a draft Statement of Work and Contracting Suite that is intended to be released to shortlisted tenderers via RFT in due course.