Community Mental Health Services (Healthy Minds Service and Depression and Wellbeing Calls) LOTS in Mid and South Essex

Description

This Intention to Award Notice is issued in accordance with the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 under the competitive process. The Procurement relates to the Invitation to Tender (competitive process) for the provision of Lot 1: Healthy Minds Services and Lot 2: Depression and Wellbeing Calls Service (mental health services) for NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board (herein referred to as the 'Authority'). The Authority has undertaken a full evaluation and assessment of the compliant bid submissions received as part of this competitive process, which were evaluated in line with the procurement documentation published within the Competitive Process Overview (CPO). The contract award criteria are specified in the procurement documentation and CPO. As a result of this, the Authority intends to award the proposed Contract for the Service to the Provider that achieved the highest technical and commercial scores across the key criteria used. The purpose of this competitive process was for the Authority to secure a suitably qualified provider to deliver this Lot 1: Healthy Minds Service and Lot 2: Depression and Wellbeing Calls Service across Mid and South Essex. The contract term for both LOT 1 and LOT 2 is from 01st October 2025 - 30th September 2028, with the option to extend for a further 24 months. The maximum 3-year contract value for LOT 1 is £3,890,885.00 Pound Sterling, which acts as an affordability cap for the commercial offer template for this procurement. The total aggregate contract value for LOT 1 over the 5-year contract term (inclusive of optional extensions) is £6,466,732.00 Pound Sterling. The maximum 3-year contract value for LOT 2 is £285,875.00 Pound, which acts as an affordability cap for the commercial offer template for this procurement. The total aggregate contract value for LOT 2 over the 5-year contract term (inclusive of optional extensions) is £475,130.00 Pound Sterling. The selected provider was selected due to achieving the highest scores across the key criteria used. The provider has been assessed and passed against the relevant key criteria. As outlined in the procurement documentation, the key criteria contained Technical Questions. The raw weighting and applied weightings have been assigned per Key Criterion in accordance with its relative importance in line the assessment of this tender process as determined by NHS MSE ICB. The Tender was assessed on Quality (90% weighting) and Price (10% weighting). Key Criteria was: Quality and Innovation 18.00% (out of 90%) Value 13.50% (out of 90%) Integration, Collaboration and Service Sustainability 31.50.00% (out of 90%) Improving Access, Reducing Health Inequalities and Facilitating Choice 18.00% (out of 90%) Social Value 9.00% (out of 90%) This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) Contract Notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award. Lot LOT 1 Healthy Minds Service: This Intention to Award Notice is issued in accordance with the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 under the competitive process. The Procurement relates to the Invitation to Tender (competitive process) for the provision of Lot 1: Healthy Minds Service (mental health services). The Authority has undertaken a full evaluation and assessment of the compliant bid submissions received as part of this competitive process, which were evaluated in line with the procurement documentation published within the Competitive Process Overview (CPO). The contract award criteria are specified in the procurement documentation and CPO. As a result of this, the Authority intends to award the proposed Contract for the Service to the Provider that achieved the highest technical and commercial scores across the key criteria used. (Weighted 90% Quality and 10% Price). The purpose of this competitive process was for the Authority to secure a suitably qualified provider to deliver this Healthy Minds Service across Mid and South Essex. LOT 1 Healthy Minds is a new, transformed service across the whole of Mid and South Essex that focuses on community-based mental wellbeing support, promoting resilience, early intervention, and social connection. The Healthy Mind Service is a community-based mental health and wellbeing provision designed to offer timely, accessible, and person-centred support for adults aged 18+ across Mid and South Essex. The service will be delivered under a single umbrella but consist of two distinct, complementary pathways: Service 1 – Mental Health Community Connectors (MHCC): A flexible, community-facing service that acts as a first point of contact for individuals requiring mental health support. The MHCC team will work closely with Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (INTs) and local communities to connect people with appropriate services, community resources, and peer support. The focus will be on relationship building, social prescribing, personalised care planning, and enabling people to access the right support at the right time, without delivering long-term interventions. Service 2 – Healthy Mind Hubs: A short-term, community-based wellbeing offer providing a programme of holistic workshops, activities and wellbeing sessions to promote mental, physical and emotional health. The Hubs will act as a preventative and supportive resource for individuals with non-clinical mental health needs, aiming to build resilience, reduce isolation, and enhance community connections. Together, these services will work in partnership with local statutory, voluntary, and community services to create an integrated, person-led mental health support system within neighbourhoods. Additional information: The maximum 3-year contract value for LOT 1 is £3,890,885.00 Pound Sterling, which acts as an affordability cap for the commercial offer template for this procurement. The total aggregate contract value for LOT 1 over the 5-year contract term (inclusive of optional extensions) is £6,466,732.00 Pound Sterling. Lot LOT 2 Depression and Wellbeing Calls: This Intention to Award Notice is issued in accordance with the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 under the competitive process. The Procurement relates to the Invitation to Tender (competitive process) for the provision of Lot 2: Depression and Wellbeing Calls Service (mental health services). The Authority has undertaken a full evaluation and assessment of the compliant bid submissions received as part of this competitive process, which were evaluated in line with the procurement documentation published within the Competitive Process Overview (CPO). The contract award criteria are specified in the procurement documentation and CPO. As a result of this, the Authority intends to award the proposed Contract for the Service to the Provider that achieved the highest technical and commercial scores across the key criteria used. Weighted 90% Quality and 10% Price assessment. The purpose of this competitive process was for the Authority to secure a suitably qualified provider to deliver this Lot 2: Depression and Wellbeing Calls Service across Mid and South Essex. LOT 2 – Depression Wellbeing Calls LOT 2 Depression Wellbeing Calls is a new, transformed service across the whole of Mid and South Essex. This is a targeted service providing proactive support for people newly diagnosed with depression by their Primary Care Practitioner, prescribed medication, referred to Talking Therapies, or both. The Depression Wellbeing Calls Service provides structured, proactive telephone support for individuals who have been newly diagnosed with depression by their Primary Care Practitioner and/or prescribed medication, referred to Talking Therapies, or both. The service offers a structured and compassionate response, ensuring the first contact with the individual is made within 3 working days of referral from primary care. The service aims to address the immediate needs of those presenting with depression, offering a blend of emotional support, goal-setting, and self-management strategies. The goal is to reduce the risk of suicide, enhance mental wellbeing, and support individuals in managing their daily lives, empowering them to transition to longer-term care and recovery services as necessary. Additional information: The maximum 3-year contract value for LOT 2 is £285,875.00 Pound, which acts as an affordability cap for the commercial offer template for this procurement. The total aggregate contract value for LOT 2 over the 5-year contract term (inclusive of optional extensions) is £475,130.00 Pound Sterling.