Planning

Secure mental health transport

NHS SUFFOLK AND NORTH EAST ESSEX INTEGRATED CARE BOARD

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

08 Jul 2025 at 14:42

Planning Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (SNEE ICB) is planning a procurement process for secure mental health transport services under the industry category of health services. The procurement, currently in the planning stage, will focus on the secure and appropriate transportation of individuals with mental health needs across Suffolk and potentially the entire United Kingdom, excluding North East Essex and Waveney. A framework accreditation opportunity is expected to be released in autumn 2025, and interested providers can submit responses and receive the current draft specification by emailing procurement@snee.nhs.uk before the deadline of 17:00 on 31 July 2025. This process is part of the Provider Selection Regime with applicable regulations from the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023.

This procurement presents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in health services, particularly those experienced in patient transportation and mental health care. Companies capable of providing secure transportation with a person-centred and trauma-informed approach would be well-placed to benefit from this opportunity. Businesses with expertise in maintaining positive relationships with mental health service providers and excelling in quality assurance could thus increase their growth potential. Engaging in this tender could enable businesses to expand their operations in Suffolk and potentially further across the UK within the healthcare transport sector.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Secure mental health transport

Notice Description

SNEE ICB are planning to formalise the commissioning arrangements in relation to the appropriate and secure transportation of people who have mental health needs in Ipswich and East and West Suffolk. North East Essex and Waveney are currently out of scope for these arrangements. The secure transportation should be delivered with a person-centred and trauma informed approach and should not adversely impact the mental wellbeing of the service user. Transport will be required within the county of Suffolk and may be required from Suffolk to any area within the United Kingdom. These transport arrangements will contribute to the operation of the crisis and urgent emergency system in Suffolk; and commissioned transport providers will need to have regard to prevent any negative impacts on patient flow across the system.

Lot Information

Lot 1

In the autumn 2025, SNEE ICB intends to release to the market an accreditation opportunity to provide secure transport services for people with mental health needs in Suffolk on a framework. The current activity cost for secure mental health transportation is PS407,746 per annum. Prior to this the ICB would like to understand the level of interest in the market and gather input and feedback from interested providers about the current draft specification - to receive a copy of the specification please email: procurement@snee.nhs.uk In conjunction with this, we are also interested to hear your responses to the following questions: * What factors and/or processes need to be in place to enable you to establish and maintain a positive working relationship with the mental health provider and the advanced mental health practitioner (AMHP) service? * What key points should be included in a shared risk assessment agreement between a secure mental health transport provider, the mental health provider and the AMHP service? * Once a vehicle has been booked how many minutes do you consider to be a reasonable response time within the Suffolk geographic area? * In what ways, other than quality inspections, would you be able to give assurance to ICB commissioners about the quality of your provision and the experience of service users? Please send responses in respect of the questions and any comments on the specification to procurement@snee.nhs.uk by 17:00 on the 31 July 2025. Please include direct contact information in case the Commissioners would like to discuss your responses further. Additional information: This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) Prior Information Notice. The awarding of any contract in a future procurement process will be 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 to any process which may be published in relation to this notice.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-055b57
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/038327-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Planning Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85100000 - Health services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
8 Jul 20257 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
11 Sep 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NHS SUFFOLK AND NORTH EAST ESSEX INTEGRATED CARE BOARD
Contact Name
Jane Garnett
Contact Email
procurement@snee.nhs.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
IPSWICH
Postcode
IP1 2BX
Post Town
Ipswich
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH6 Suffolk
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH62 Ipswich
Delivery Location
TLH14 Suffolk CC
Local Authority
Ipswich
Electoral Ward
Gipping
Westminster Constituency
Ipswich

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts. 

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