The Customer has issued this Request for Quote with the objective of continuing and enhancing the current quality assurance and improvement program for medical providers undertaking examinations and health assessments for the Coal Mine Workers' Health Scheme (the Scheme), established under the Coal Mining Safety and Health Regulation 2017 (the Regulation).

Under the Regulation, only providers approved by RSHQ can undertake specified medical examinations and assessments. Under the current regulatory framework, four types of providers are assessed against the relevant standards by an external provider and awarded accreditation (currently Quality Innovation Performance Limited (QIP)).

An opportunity exists for a supplier to continue to deliver the accreditation program for the four current providers, namely x-ray imaging practices, spirometry practices, supervising doctors, and spirometry training providers. The full desktop-based assessments are to be conducted every two years (currently annually). However, some additional reporting may be required by selected provider types during the period (e.g. reporting on staff spirometry training at 12 months). The costs of the assessment are met by providers as fees paid directly to the supplier.

The customer intends to enhance the current program through the addition of supplier-managed on-site and clinical audit modules as required, based upon an assessment of risk. Completion of an audit module for spirometry will be the first required.

These additional audit initiatives would be developed and implemented by the supplier in consultation with the customer, and either paid for by the customer, or recovered from the provider under a funding arrangement to be proposed by the supplier that would seek to recover the costs from the providers either at the time of accreditation or otherwise over the course of the proposed accreditation and audit period. Clinical audits will require the supplier to access medical providers with expertise in the relevant area, and may include respiratory scientists, and occupational physicians. The purpose of these additional initiatives is to expand the breadth and rigour of the assessment to ensure the ongoing quality of the assessments and examinations for workers. These additional initiatives must be integrated with the ongoing accreditation to minimise the impact on providers and provide a comprehensive assessment of the provider to the customer.

Additional standards and accreditation modules for other types of providers may also be required over time and assessed two-yearly. Although historically the quality assurance and improvement program has been focused on the quality of respiratory examinations, the program may also consider other types of examinations covered by health assessments under the Scheme (e.g. auditory examinations).

The customer also intends to enhance the current program though the addition of enhanced reporting by the supplier to identify areas of non-compliance to support further regulatory action.