Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board
Phoenix House, Christopher Martin Rd,
Basildon
SS14 3HG
Contact
Procurement Manager
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKH3 - Essex
National registration number
99E
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.midandsouthessex.ics.nhs.uk
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Health
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Community Mental Health Services (Healthy Minds Service and Depression and Wellbeing Calls) LOTS in Mid and South Essex
Reference number
ACE-0822-2025-MSE
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85323000 - Community health services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short 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.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: Yes
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £6,941,862
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Lot No
LOT 1 Healthy Minds Service
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85323000 - Community health services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH3 - Essex
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
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.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality and Innovation / Weighting: 18.00
Quality criterion - Name: Value / Weighting: 13.50
Quality criterion - Name: Integration, Collaboration and Service Sustainability / Weighting: 36.00
Quality criterion - Name: Improving Access, Reducing Health Inequalities and Facilitating Choice / Weighting: 13.50
Quality criterion - Name: Social Value / Weighting: 9.00
Cost criterion - Name: Price (Commercial Offer Template) / Weighting: 10.00
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
Option to extend for a further 24 months
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
two.2.14) 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.
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Lot No
LOT 2 Depression and Wellbeing Calls
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85323000 - Community health services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH3 - Essex
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
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.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality and Innovation / Weighting: 18.00
Quality criterion - Name: Value / Weighting: 18.00
Quality criterion - Name: Integration, Collaboration and Service Sustainability / Weighting: 31.50
Quality criterion - Name: Improving Access, Reducing Health Inequalities and Facilitating Choice / Weighting: 18.00
Quality criterion - Name: Social Value / Weighting: 9.00
Cost criterion - Name: Price (Commercial Offer Template) / Weighting: 10.00
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
Option to extend for a further 24 months
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
two.2.14) 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.
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2025/S 000-031105
Section five. Award of contract
Lot No
LOT 1: Healthy Minds Service
Title
LOT 1: HEALTHY MINDS SERVICE FOR MSE ICB
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
25 July 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 1
Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 1
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 1
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
THURROCK AND BRENTWOOD MIND
152 Bridge Road,
Grays, Essex
RM17 6DB
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKH3 - Essex
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Lowest offer: £3,823,982 / Highest offer: £6,373,300 taken into consideration
five.2.5) Information about subcontracting
The contract is likely to be subcontracted
Short description of the part of the contract to be subcontracted
1) Trust Links (Identifier: PRHC-3159-NGYM)
2) South East and Central Essex Mind (Charity Number: 1148451)
3) Mid and North East Essex Mind (PJGM-8476-DTGR)
4) Basildon Mind (Charity Number 1107896)
Section five. Award of contract
Lot No
LOT 2: Depression and Wellbeing Calls
Title
LOT 2: DEPRESSION AND WELLBEING CALLS SERVICE FOR MSE ICB
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
25 July 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 4
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 4
Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 1
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 1
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
THURROCK AND BRENTWOOD MIND
152 Bridge Road,
Grays, Essex
RM17 6DB
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKH3 - Essex
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Lowest offer: £280,257 / Highest offer: £467,095 taken into consideration
five.2.5) Information about subcontracting
The contract is likely to be subcontracted
Short description of the part of the contract to be subcontracted
1) Trust Links (Identifier: PRHC-3159-NGYM)
2) South East and Central Essex Mind (Charity Number: 1148451)
3) Mid and North East Essex Mind (PJGM-8476-DTGR)
4) Basildon Mind (Charity Number 1107896)
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
Please note that this form has a mandatory minimum requirement for at least '1' to be marked against the below statements. The true number should be read as '0'.
Section V Award of Contract:
V.2.2) Information about tenders:
- Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: '0'
1 SME tender was received for LOT 1
4 SME tenders were received for LOT 2
Attain is conducting this process as agent for and on behalf of the Authority.
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award 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. The Authority intends to award a NHS Standard Contract for the provision of:
LOT 1: Healthy Minds Service for Mid and South Essex (Community Mental Health Service)
LOT 2: Depression and Wellbeing Calls Service for Mid and South Essex (Community Mental Health Service)
In line with the regulations, the Authority will observe the standstill period from Thursday 31st July 2025 until midnight Tuesday 12th August 2025. Representations by Providers must be made to the Authority by Tuesday 12th August 2025, this can be made via email to cariad.burgess@attain.co.uk.
Please note that this contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award a contract under the competitive process of the PSR.
DECISION MAKING PROCESS:
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.
Basic Selection Criteria was set out in the procurement documentation, the Selection Questionnaire (SQ) and were scored Pass/Fail. The tenders were assessed in line with the procurement documentation (Competitive Process Overview) 90% Quality and 10% Price. The Key Criteria (Quality) was weighted:
PSR Key Criteria 1 - Quality and Innovation 18.00% (out of 90%)
PSR Key Criteria 2 - Value 13.50% (out of 90%)
PSR Key Criteria 3 - Integration, Collaboration and Service Sustainability 31.50% (out of 90%)
PSR Key Criteria 4 - Improving Access, Reducing Health Inequalities and Facilitating Choice 18.00% (out of 90%)
PSR Key Criteria 5 - Social Value 8.00% (out of 90%)
The decision to award this procurement has been taken by the following approval committees at NHS MSE ICB: Working and Decision-Making Group 25th July 2025. There were no conflicts of interest identified among the procurement project group members approving the award of the procurement.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board
Phoenix House, Christopher Martin Rd,
Basildon
SS14 3HG
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
Representations must be made to the relevant Authority at the email address indicated in section V1.3 by Tuesday 12th August 2025 and clearly articulate any suspected breach in the Provider Selection Regime (PSR). This will then be reviewed by the Authority's PSR Representation Review Panel.