Scope
Reference
PRJ 1394
Description
NHS North Central London ICB is seeking to procure Mental Health Employment Support (Individual Placement & Support, Information Advice and Guidance, and Employment Advisers in NHS Talking Therapies).
NHS North Central London ICB is seeking a Lead Provider who will will have contractual responsibility for, and oversee the delivery of services, including both their own provision and those delivered by subcontractors, ensuring fidelity to approved models such as IPS and EA in TT.
The Individual Placement & Support (IPS) service will help people with severe mental illness to gain and/ or retain paid employment using the Individual Placement & Support model. It will involve intensive individual support, a rapid job search followed by placement in paid employment, and time-unlimited in-work support for both the employee and the employer. The service will be integrated within NLFT secondary care community teams and closely follow the eight principles that have been shown to increase IPS effectiveness.
The Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) aims to provide focused and time-limited information, advice and guidance to those who are struggling with their mental health. Those accessing the service may be in employment or economically inactive. This service will use innovative and creative methods to engage groups with the highest unemployment rates / a higher likelihood of being unemployed.
The Employment Advisers in NHS Talking Therapies (EA in NHS TT) will help individuals who are struggling with common mental health problems such as depression and anxiety, to remain in, get back to or find work with the aim of improving their overall wellbeing, reduce reliance on mental health services, and contribute to a more inclusive and productive society in NCL.
The Procurement is being managed by NHS London Commercial Hub (NHS LCH) hosted by NHS North East London, on behalf of the Authority, in connection with the with the Procurement Act 2023 (the Act) using the Open Procedure.
The Services to which the Procurement relate fall are listed within in Schedule 1 and consequently within the scope of Section 9 of the Act referred to as the "Light Touch Contracts"
Total value (estimated)
- £16,244,473 excluding VAT
- £19,493,368 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029
- Possible extension to 31 March 2031
- 5 years
Description of possible extension:
3 Year contact with the option to extend for an additional 2 years.
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 79600000 - Recruitment services
Contract locations
- UKI - London
Submission
Enquiry deadline
15 August 2025, 4:00pm
Tender submission deadline
12 September 2025, 4:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
All Tender submission documents are available free via Atamis e-tendering portal :
https://atamis-1928.my.site.com/s/Welcome
(Contract reference C357260)
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
26 November 2025
Award criteria
| Name | Description | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality | Overall Quality and Innovation 55% Deliverability 30% Social Value 15% |
Quality | 100% |
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Open procedure
Special regime
Light touch
Justification for not publishing a preliminary market engagement notice
Preliminary market engagement has been carried out.
Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-033438
Contracting authority
NHS North Central London Integrated Care Board
- NHS Organisation Data Service: QMJ
Laycock PDC Laycock Street
London
N1 1TH
United Kingdom
Contact name: Sara O'Donnell
Email: hub.queries@nhs.net
Region: UKI43 - Haringey and Islington
Organisation type: Public authority - central government