Scope
Reference
24093
Description
Community drug and alcohol treatment and recovery provision for adults is currently commissioned through an Adult Integrated Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Recovery System contract.
The Cambridgeshire core Adult Drug and Alcohol Treatment Service (age 18 years +) provides all elements of drug and alcohol support and treatment including:
• Early intervention advice and support
• Pharmacological treatment
• Harm reduction services
• Pharmacy delivered services (including needle and syringe programmes, THN and supervised dispensing)
• Psychosocial support
• Recovery support
• Community/inpatient detox, and residential rehabilitation
• Workforce/stakeholder training
The Cambridgeshire service has specialist staff/teams which include:
• Psychology
• Family safeguarding
• Criminal justice
• Hospital liaison
• Social work/safeguarding
• Nursing/clinical (inc community detox, BBV)
• Primary care/place based early intervention (alcohol)
• Cambridgeshire Recovery service (CRS) (co-produced)
• Quality assurance
• Media/comms
The core Cambridgeshire Public Health Grant funded treatment contract value for 2025-26 is £5.1 million.
Since 2021, service delivery has been enhanced and expanded through investment from central government grants including the Rough Sleeping Drug and Alcohol Treatment Grant (RSDATG) and the Supplementary Substance Misuse Treatment and Recovery Grant (SSMTRG) (now referred to as DATRIG). The IPS service is delivered outside of the treatment service.
The additional grant streams fund the provision of a dedicated rough sleeping drug and alcohol outreach team in Cambridge City (£489k) and the supplementary grant funding provides an enhancement to the treatment service including the funding of additional front-line workers, training, tier 4 placements, dedicated CAB workers, buvidal and harm reduction focused work (1.1 million).
Summary of Needs Assessment and Recommendations:
A local drug and alcohol needs analysis has highlighted several key issues and recommendations.
Children & Young People:
• Highest unmet treatment need for OCU and alcohol in the 15-24 age range
Adults:
• Increase in numbers in treatment (currently 2900 adults in specialist treatment (rolling))
• A growing number of non-opiates entering specialist treatment (higher rates of unmet mental health need in this cohort)
• Lower referral rates from health services
• Underrepresentation of individuals with protected characteristics in specialist treatment.
• Challenges around 'continuity of care' from prison to community.
We will soon be launching a competitive process under the Provider Selection Regime (PSR) and are inviting potential providers to attend an online provider event on the 22nd of July 2025 at 14:00
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029
- Possible extension to 31 March 2033
- 7 years
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 85100000 - Health services
- 85323000 - Community health services
Contract locations
- UKH12 - Cambridgeshire CC
Engagement
Engagement deadline
21 July 2025
Engagement process description
Following on from a market testing exercise published in March 2025, Cambridgeshire County Council will soon be starting a competitive process under the Provider Selection Regime. The Council is inviting potential providers to an online provider engagement event on the 22nd of July at 14:00.
If you would like to attend, please respond to Scott.Davidson@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Please note:
This service is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Procurement Act 2023 do not apply.
Participation
Particular suitability
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Contracting authority
Cambridgeshire County Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PJVB-3262-VGVJ
New Shire Hall Emery Crescent Enterprise Campus,
Alconbury Weald, Huntingdon
PE28 4YE
United Kingdom
Region: UKH12 - Cambridgeshire CC
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government