New GP-led Respiratory Clinic Panel (GPRCP) Program: Approach to Market (ATM)

The Commonwealth has now published the Approach to Market (ATM) to establish the GPRCP on AusTender.

When activated during respiratory emergencies, panel participants will be required to activate quickly to provide health services to people with mild to moderate respiratory symptoms.

OVERVIEW OF THE GPRCP

• To ensure sufficient surge capacity is in place to respond to subsequent COVID-19 waves or any other future respiratory health emergencies, the GPRCP will be implemented from March 2023.

• Under this new panel arrangement, up to 150 existing, accredited primary care practices, which may include former GPRCs if they meet the standard criteria to participate, would be held in reserve to be activated as needed in response to the emergence of another COVID-19 wave or other major heath respiratory emergency.

• During periods of activation, GPRCP participants will be provided access to a new MBS Item (bulk-billed) for each respiratory consultation. Upon activation, they will also be eligible to claim a Practice Incentive Payment (PIP) equivalent to their PIP QI payment per 3-month period.

• Participating clinics will be able to provide their usual services through standard MBS Items while activated, they will not be constrained to only providing services under the GPRCP.

KEY DATES

AUSTENDER REGISTRATION

1. Register on AusTender at New User Registration: AusTender (tenders.gov.au) – AusTender is the Australian Government’s procurement information system.
2. Any queries or requests for technical or operational support can be directed to:

3. The AusTender Help Desk is available between 9am and 5pm AEDT, Monday to Friday (excluding ACT and national public holidays).

LODGING A RESPONSE

1. Once registered, navigate to Current ATM View – Health/23/325151: AusTender (tenders.gov.au) – here you will find a link to the ‘ATM Documents’ and ‘Lodgement Page’
2. Tenders must be lodged electronically via AusTender before the Closing Time (AEDT)
3. If Tenderers need to lodge material that cannot be submitted via AusTender, Tenderers should contact the Contact Officer at email GPRC@health.gov.au prior to Closing Time to make arrangements for its submission.
4. Where a Tender lodgment consists of multiple uploads, due to the number and/or size of the files, Tenderers must ensure that transmission of all files is completed and receipted before the Closing Time and clause 9.4 will only apply to the final upload.
5. The Department will accept Tenders lodged in Microsoft Word 2003 (or above), or PDF format.
6. The Tender file name/s should:

• incorporate the Tenderer’s company name; and
• reflect the various parts of the bid they represent, where the Tender comprises multiple files.
• Tender response files should not exceed a combined file size of 5 megabytes per upload.
• Tenders must be completely self-contained. No hyperlinked or other material may be incorporated by reference.

GPRC PANEL: APPROACH TO MARKET FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 

The FAQs are to be read in conjunction with the Approach to Market (ATM) Health/23/325151 – GP-Led Respiratory Clinic Panel (GPRCP) documents available at Current ATM View – Health/23/325151: AusTender (tenders.gov.au). This Tender was published to AusTender on 5 January 2023 by the Department of Health and Aged Care.

The FAQs are intended to provide answers to Tenderer’s email enquiries and provide further clarification to this tender and its related documents. Please direct any Tender enquiries to GPRC@health.gov.au.

To view the Frequently Asked Questions and Answers document, click here.

For further information or assistance, please email the team at practicesupport@gcphn.com.au