Planning

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME (EAP) SERVICES

THE CHIEF CONSTABLE FOR DEVON AND CORNWALL POLICE

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

20 Oct 2025 at 13:55

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Chief Constable for Devon and Cornwall Police is in the planning stages of a procurement process for Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) Services, with a focus on welfare and support for staff and their families across multiple police forces. The early market engagement, initiated through a Prior Information Notice (PIN), invites expressions of interest by 7th November 2025 from businesses able to provide these services, with the procurement anticipated to proceed in the coming months. The EAP aims to address various personal and work-related issues, including mental health, work-life balance, and stress management, and is designed to reduce absenteeism. This procurement is under the oversight of the South West Police Procurement Service, covering regions such as Avon, Somerset, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Devon, with locations centred around Exeter in the United Kingdom.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in guidance and counselling services, particularly those with the capacity to handle both virtual and in-person counselling. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) can particularly benefit from engaging with this procurement given its focus on comprehensive support for law enforcement personnel, a sector increasingly prioritising mental health services. With the contract commencing in July 2026 for a four-year period, participating businesses have the potential to establish long-term relationships within the public sector, expanding their reach and contributing to the well-being of police communities. The engagement process also offers businesses the chance to influence the service specifications and the procurement strategy, providing a bespoke opportunity to tailor offerings to public sector needs.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME (EAP) SERVICES

Notice Description

Avon & Somerset Police, Devon & Cornwall Police, Dorset Police, Gloucestershire Police and Wiltshire Police have a Contract for an EAP Service in place which expires on 30th June 2026. The South West Police Procurement Service (SWPPS), on behalf of Avon & Somerset Police, Devon & Cornwall Police, Dorset Police, Gloucestershire Police and Wiltshire Police, are currently undertaking early market engagement and considering various route to market options in order to run a successful procurement process for their future EAP Service requirements. The primary purpose of the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) is to provide rapid short-term access to welfare assistance and support to Staff and their Families. Psychological absence is one of the Forces' largest areas for absence, and therefore requires a proactive and reactive approach, both at work and home whilst also reducing short term and long-term absenteeism for the Forces. Support is required in the following areas: Personal matters - health, relationships, family, financial, emotional, anxiety, alcohol, drugs, legal information (signposting only inline with HMRC Guidelines - https://www.gov.uk/expenses-and-benefits-counselling) and other related issues. Work matters - work demands, working relationships, personal and interpersonal skills, work/life balance, stress and other related issues. Forces currently use a 6-session model for counselling (which offers individuals both virtual and in-person face to face counselling options); whereby the individual is entitled to receive one set of structured counselling sessions (up to 6-sessions) per issue, per year. Couples counselling is a separate entitlement of up to 8-sessions in any 12-month period. The purpose of the Prior Information Notice (PIN) is for early engagement with the market prior to undertaking a formal tender process which is anticipated to commence in the coming months. Through this market engagement we wish to openly consult with the wider marketplace to share our requirements and gather information whilst also providing information on our current position. We are seeking input from the supply market to inform our requirements, to help refine our specification for the services and help inform out procurement strategy and route to market. If you are interested in supporting SWPPS with this engagement, please respond to this PIN to hannah.whiting@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk, and you will be emailed a pre-market engagement questionnaire, which includes some customer background information. The closing date for expressions of interest is Friday 7th November 2025. SWPPS are committed to ensuring fairness, openness and transparency, and to follow the Procurement Act 2023. The PIN is issued solely for the purpose of conducting pre-procurement market testing and engagement. Interested parties will not be prejudiced or advantaged by any response or lack thereof to the PIN. This PIN does not constitute a call for competition to procure any services, supplies or works for SWPPS. SWPPS are not liable for any costs, fees, or expenses incurred by any party in replying to the PIN.

Planning Information

The purpose of the Prior Information Notice (PIN) is for early engagement with the market prior to undertaking a formal tender process which is anticipated to commence in the coming months. Through this market engagement we wish to openly consult with the wider marketplace to share our requirements and gather information whilst also providing information on our current position. We are seeking input from the supply market to inform our requirements, to help refine our specification for the services and help inform out procurement strategy and route to market. If you are interested in supporting SWPPS with this engagement, please respond to this PIN to hannah.whiting@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk, and you will be emailed a pre-market engagement questionnaire, which includes some customer background information. The closing date for expressions of interest is Friday 7th November 2025.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05cfec
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/066773-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85312300 - Guidance and counselling services

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
20 Oct 20254 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
7 Nov 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
30 Jun 2026 - 30 Jun 2030 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
THE CHIEF CONSTABLE FOR DEVON AND CORNWALL POLICE
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
hannah.whiting@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
EXETER
Postcode
EX2 7HQ
Post Town
Exeter
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK4 Devon
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK43 Devon CC
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Exeter
Electoral Ward
St Loyes
Westminster Constituency
Exmouth and Exeter East

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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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