Evaluation of Pilot Medically Supervised Injecting Facility

Description

The HSE wishes to invite tenders from suitable suppliers to undertake an external evaluation of the 18 month pilot Medically Supervised Injecting Facility at Merchants Quay Ireland, 13-14 Merchant's Quay, The Liberties, Dublin, and D08 KT61. The evaluation is required to take place at 6 and 18 months, in line with planning permission and the licence to operate as per Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Act 2017. The Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Act 2017 Act defines a supervised injecting facility as "a facility operated by a licence holder where authorised users may consume drugs by injection." and the Act enables the Minister to issue licenses to operate a supervised injecting facility. This allows for the establishment, licensing, operation and regulation of supervised injecting facility on a pilot basis. As a result of this legislation (and following a tender process), the HSE awarded the contract to provide a medically supervised injecting facility to Merchants Quay Ireland (MQI). MQI subsequently applied and obtained planning permission to pilot a medically supervised injecting facility in its Riverbank Centre, Dublin 8. It is anticipated that this facility will be operational in quarter four 2024 and will run for an 18 month pilot phase. The HSE wishes to invite tenders from suitable suppliers to undertake an external evaluation of the 18 month pilot Medically Supervised Injecting Facility at Merchants Quay Ireland, 13-14 Merchant's Quay, The Liberties, Dublin, and D08 KT61. The evaluation is required to take place at 6 and 18 months, in line with planning permission and the licence to operate as per Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Act 2017. The Misuse of Drugs (Supervised Injecting Facilities) Act 2017 Act defines a supervised injecting facility as "a facility operated by a licence holder where authorised users may consume drugs by injection." and the Act enables the Minister to issue licenses to operate a supervised injecting facility. This allows for the establishment, licensing, operation and regulation of supervised injecting facility on a pilot basis. As a result of this legislation (and following a tender process), the HSE awarded the contract to provide a medically supervised injecting facility to Merchants Quay Ireland (MQI). MQI subsequently applied and obtained planning permission to pilot a medically supervised injecting facility in its Riverbank Centre, Dublin 8. It is anticipated that this facility will be operational in quarter four 2024 and will run for an 18 month pilot phase.