Since 2015 United Kingdom Government (UKG) has met a European commitment to assist with the ongoing humanitarian Search and Rescue (SAR) operations to save refugees travelling to Europe by boat. To meet this commitment UKG has, through the UK Border Force (UKBF) deployed various combinations of UK Border Force patrol vessels and chartered ships to the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas. Such deployments have also supported enforcement operations conducted by Frontex, the EU's external borders agency, the Italian and the Hellenic Border Authorities. These deployments have also identified a specific requirement for medically qualified personnel to be attached to the vessels to provide immediate, primary, on board care for those rescued and crew if necessary.

It is expected that UKG, operating through the UKBF will continue to meet it's commitment to this work for a number of years and therefore intends to source suitable medical staff through a fully managed service.

UKBF are seeking the provision of suitable medical staff through a fully managed service including the organisation, coordination and deployment of medical staff and support services. Deployment lengths are currently for a minimum of 2 weeks, medical staff supplied will, therefore, be required to live onboard each vessel for a minimum of 2 weeks. If the successful service provider intends to supply medical staff for longer periods, each period must conform to 2 week blocks in order to coincide with UKBF working patterns. UKBF currently have 2 vessels deployed and will therefore require 2 medical staff (one per vessel) to be provided for each deployment period.