Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
NHS NORTH EAST AND NORTH CUMBRIA INTEGRATED CARE BOARD
PEMBERTON HOUSE COLIMA AVENUE SUNDERLAND ENTERPRISE PARK
Sunderland
SR53XB
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKC23 - Sunderland
NHS Organisation Data Service
QHM
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://northeastnorthcumbria.nhs.uk/
Buyer's address
https://health-family.force.com/s/welcome
one.3) Communication
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
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
North East and North Cumbria Crisis Text Support Service
Reference number
NENC035
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85100000 - Health services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
NHS North East North Cumbria Integrated Care Board is managing this market engagement exercise for the provision of a Crisis Text Support Service across the North East and North Cumbria Region.
The ICB is issuing this Prior Information Notice (PIN) as a Request for Information (RFI) to engage with the market and to gather information in order to gain a better understanding of both the capacity and appetite of the market in delivering the proposed services
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £1,135,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85100000 - Health services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKC - North East (England)
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
NHS North East North Cumbria Integrated Care Board is managing this market engagement exercise for the provision of a Crisis Text Support Service across the North East and North Cumbria Region.
The ICB is issuing this Prior Information Notice (PIN) as a Request for Information (RFI) to engage with the market and to gather information in order to gain a better understanding of both the capacity and appetite of the market in delivering the proposed services.
Any future opportunity 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.
It is important to note that this PIN/RFI is not a call for competition and as such you will need to express your interest in any future opportunity once the contract notice is published on Find a Tender Service.
It should also be noted that this PIN/RFI invites individuals and organisations to express an interest in this RFI exercise only, and it is NOT a pre-qualification questionnaire, and is NOT part of any pre-qualification or selection process.
This PIN/RFI is intended as an awareness, communication, and information gathering exercise. An expression of interest is no indication of a commitment to participate in the RFI process nor does it infer any preferential or special status on those individuals and organisations who express an interest in the RFI exercise.
NENC is utilising an electronic tendering tool to manage this RFI exercise and communicate with potential providers. Accordingly, there will be no hard copy documents issued to potential providers and all communications with NECS, including RFI submissions, will be conducted via Atamis: https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome
If you have already registered on the system (e.g. to access contracts with another Health Family organisation) then there is no need to re-register.
If you have not already done so you should now register as a Supplier on the shared system.
You can register here: https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome
It is free to register on the portal and it can be accessed at any time of day providing you have a working internet connection. If you find that you need any advice or support in registering, please contact the Atamis helpdesk using the following details:
Phone: 0800 9956035
E-mail: support-health@atamis.co.uk
Opening times 8am - 6pm
The RFI documentation will be accessible from Tuesday 28 October 2025 and completed RFI responses must be returned by 12:00 on Friday 14 November 2054.
two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice
1 April 2026
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes