Planning

Friends and Family Test Messaging Provision

MID AND SOUTH ESSEX NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

27 Nov 2025 at 15:46

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is currently in the planning stage of a procurement process titled "Friends and Family Test Messaging Provision" in the services category, primarily focusing on SMS services. Located in Basildon, UK, the trust is seeking innovative ideas and solutions to enhance the delivery of its NHS Friends and Family Test. This market engagement will conclude on 12th December 2025, as the trust aims to better understand potential delivery models that could effectively meet their requirements. The contract, which falls under the main procurement category of services, is expected to commence on 1st April 2026 and may be renewed annually until 2028.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in short message services, communication technology, and innovative service delivery models. Companies with expertise in providing user feedback mechanisms, especially those tailored for healthcare environments, would be well-suited to compete for this contract. By engaging with Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, businesses can establish connections with a central government authority and potentially secure a role in enhancing patient engagement across a wide range of NHS services.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Friends and Family Test Messaging Provision

Notice Description

The NHS Friends and Family Test (FFT) is an important tool to help people who use NHS services have the opportunity to provide feedback on their experience. The FFT was created to help service providers and commissioners understand whether patients are happy with the service provided, or where improvements are needed. It's a quick and anonymous way to give your views after receiving NHS care or treatment. Since the FFT was launched in 2013, millions of patients have submitted feedback. It's used by most NHS services, including community care, hospitals, mental health services, maternity services, GP and dental practices, emergency care, and patient transport.

Planning Information

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust are interested to understand what solutions or delivery models might be possible, and how the market could help us achieve the intended outcomes for Friends and Family Test. We are not seeking detailed proposals or formal commitments, we would like to invite suppliers to share ideas, innovations, and approaches for how the requirement outlined in the attached document could be met. Please share all this with benjamin.larocca@nhsnet

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05ea69
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/077797-2025
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
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

64 - Postal and telecommunications services

CPV Codes

64212100 - Short Message Service (SMS) services

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
27 Nov 20251 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
12 Dec 20251 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 6-12 months
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
MID AND SOUTH ESSEX NHS FOUNDATION TRUST
Contact Name
Ben La Rocca
Contact Email
benjamin.larocca@nhs.net
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
BASILDON
Postcode
SS16 5NL
Post Town
Southend-on-Sea
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH3 Essex
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH37 Essex Thames Gateway
Delivery Location
TLH3 Essex
Local Authority
Basildon
Electoral Ward
Langdon Hills
Westminster Constituency
South Basildon and East Thurrock

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. 

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-05ea69-2025-11-27T15:46:18Z",
    "date": "2025-11-27T15:46:18Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-05ea69",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PBVJ-9475-ZCMD",
            "name": "Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PBVJ-9475-ZCMD"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Nethermayne",
                "locality": "Basildon",
                "postalCode": "SS16 5NL",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKH37"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "name": "Ben La Rocca",
                "email": "benjamin.larocca@nhs.net"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://www.mse.nhs.uk/",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "id": "publicAuthorityCentralGovernment",
                        "description": "Public authority - central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PBVJ-9475-ZCMD",
        "name": "Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust"
    },
    "planning": {
        "milestones": [
            {
                "id": "engagement",
                "type": "engagement",
                "description": "Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust are interested to understand what solutions or delivery models might be possible, and how the market could help us achieve the intended outcomes for Friends and Family Test. We are not seeking detailed proposals or formal commitments, we would like to invite suppliers to share ideas, innovations, and approaches for how the requirement outlined in the attached document could be met. Please share all this with benjamin.larocca@nhsnet",
                "dueDate": "2025-12-12T23:59:59Z",
                "status": "scheduled"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "077797-2025",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/077797-2025",
                "datePublished": "2025-11-27T15:46:18Z",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "W212857",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Friends and Family Test Messaging Provision",
        "description": "The NHS Friends and Family Test (FFT) is an important tool to help people who use NHS services have the opportunity to provide feedback on their experience. The FFT was created to help service providers and commissioners understand whether patients are happy with the service provided, or where improvements are needed. It's a quick and anonymous way to give your views after receiving NHS care or treatment. Since the FFT was launched in 2013, millions of patients have submitted feedback. It's used by most NHS services, including community care, hospitals, mental health services, maternity services, GP and dental practices, emergency care, and patient transport.",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "64212100",
                        "description": "Short Message Service (SMS) services"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UKH3",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "aboveThreshold": true,
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2026-04-01T00:00:00+01:00",
                    "endDate": "2027-03-31T23:59:59+01:00",
                    "maxExtentDate": "2028-03-31T23:59:59+01:00"
                },
                "hasRenewal": true,
                "status": "planning"
            }
        ],
        "status": "planning"
    },
    "language": "en"
}