Planning

Market Engagement: Talking Therapies and Psychological Therapies for Severe Mental Health Problems in Essex

NHS MID AND SOUTH ESSEX INTEGRATED CARE BOARD

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

23 Mar 2026 at 18:02

Summary of the contracting process

The NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board is conducting a market engagement event focused on Talking Therapies and Psychological Therapies for Severe Mental Health Problems in Essex. This virtual event, scheduled for Monday, 20th April 2026, from 10:00am to 11:00am, aims to inform interested parties about the upcoming procurement process, currently in the planning stage, and facilitate stakeholder interaction. Organisations are invited to register their interest by 12:00noon on Friday, 17th April 2026. Classified under health services, this initiative falls within the Provider Selection Regime governed by the Health Care Services Regulations 2023 and excludes the provisions of the Public Contract Regulations 2015. The procurement timeline indicates a tender period starting from 1st May 2026 with an anticipated service go-live date of 1st April 2027.

This market engagement presents a significant opportunity for service providers specialising in mental health care, particularly those offering evidence-based psychological therapies. Businesses capable of delivering high-quality, accessible services to adults with severe mental health needs across Essex are encouraged to participate. The procurement is poised to strengthen early intervention, improve mental health outcomes, and enhance collaboration across health and social care sectors. Companies with a track record in reducing care variation, improving service access, and fostering system integration would be well-placed to compete, thereby expanding their footprint in the Essex region and contributing to a higher standard of mental health provision. The event provides a platform for businesses to align with the strategic goals of local health authorities and potentially secure future contracts that promise growth and increased community impact.

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Notice Title

Market Engagement: Talking Therapies and Psychological Therapies for Severe Mental Health Problems in Essex

Notice Description

Market Engagement Event Talking Therapies and Psychological Therapies for Severe Mental Health Problems (TT & PTSMHP) in Essex This Prior Information Notice (PIN) is intended to notify the market of the Market Engagement event only. This PIN is NOT a call for competition. The Contracting Authority on behalf of Mid and South Essex, North East Essex and West Essex, Integrated Care Boards, to be succeeded by the proposed new Essex ICB from 1st April 2026 (hereafter referred to as "the Authority") invites suitably qualified providers to attend a virtual Market Engagement event which will inform the market of the Authority's intention to commission Talking Therapies (TT) and Psychological Therapies for Severe Mental Health Problems (PT SMHP) for Essex. The Market Engagement event will take place virtually via MS Teams on Monday 20th April 2026 from 10:00am - 11:00am. The event will offer an opportunity to engage with stakeholders and for prospective service providers to learn more about the service. The procurement process and timetable will also be shared. To express an interest, please follow the link and complete the registration form directly in the MS Teams webinar link: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/a9e0d005-b811-4527-84e7-f4fa8b10bddb@b5fa915c-fcb7-43a5-a5ad-631d989f6e1d The closing date for registering attendance is 12:00noon on Friday 17th April 2026. The event will be recorded, and all materials will be shared with interested providers. The indicative high-level timeline below is being issued by the Authority for information only and may be subject to change: Tender Period: 01st May 26 - 05th June 26 Evaluation & Moderation June - July 26 Governance: August 26 Notice of Outcome: 14th August 26 Standstill Period: midnight 26th August 26 Award: 27th August 26 Mobilisation: September 26 - March 27 Service go-live: 01st April 2027 The Authority has published this PIN to support market engagement for this TT PTSMHP services only. Any future procurement opportunities pertaining to these services, if undertaken, will be advertised with a separate call for competition via a relevant notice published in the Central Digital Platform (CDP) and all appropriate platforms, once final. Please note: Commercially sensitive information and Freedom of Information Respondents' views or submissions will not be individually identified or revealed to third parties. All information provided in this exercise will be treated in confidence and will NOT be considered in any future tender evaluation exercise. Information gathered may be used in the development of the procurement approach and final Specification for the Service prior to the Invitation to Tender being issued in May. Any information provided in response to this market engagement exercise marked as commercially sensitive will be treated as such. Respondents are asked to identify any of the information supplied in the course of this exercise which should not be disclosed because of its sensitivity. In doing so respondents must specify the reasons for its sensitivity and specify the period for which the information will remain sensitive for the Authority's records. Respondents should seek their own legal advice on the application of freedom of information legislation. The Authority will consider statements of confidentiality and commercial sensitivity that are provided by respondents and will endeavour to consult with respondents about sensitive information before deciding on any FOI requests received, but the Respondent must make its own assessment and decision on these issues. For avoidance of doubt, the final decision on any FOI request rests with the relevant public body, subject to applicable law.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Market Engagement Event: TT & PTSMHP Service Summary Mid and South Essex, North East Essex and West Essex, Integrated Care Boards -- to be succeeded by the proposed new Essex ICB from 1 April 2026 -- intend to commission Talking Therapies and Psychological Therapies for Severe Mental Health Problems (PT-SMHP). The commissioned services will form a core part of the local mental health offer, providing accessible, evidence-based psychological therapies for adults across Essex. The ambition is to support earlier intervention, improve recovery outcomes, and ensure people can access the right level of psychological support in a timely and person-centred way. Aims and Objectives The service aims to: * Provide high-quality Talking Therapies and specialist psychological therapies for people with severe or complex mental health needs. * Improve access, equity, and consistency across all parts of Essex. * Strengthen early intervention and reduce escalation into urgent or crisis services through timely, evidence-based support. * Enhance recovery, resilience, and self-management through structured, therapeutic interventions matched to clinical need. * Improve integration between primary care, community mental health services, and wider health and social care partners. * Reduce variation and address local inequalities in access, experience, and outcomes. Expected Outcomes * The newly commissioned service is expected to deliver: * Improved mental health and functional outcomes for individuals receiving therapy. * Increased access for underserved or marginalised communities across Essex. * Reduced waiting times and more efficient pathways into both Talking Therapies and PT-SMHP. * Reduction in crisis presentations and unplanned care through proactive intervention. * Positive user-reported experience, including improved wellbeing, confidence, and ability to manage day-to-day life. * Strengthened system collaboration and smoother transitions between therapy services and wider mental health pathways. The contract value listed as PS1.00 is due to the constraints in this form and does not represent the proposed contract value. The total contract value, proposed contract duration and relevant information will be shared during the engagement session. All relevant details, once finalised, will be published as part of the procurement documentation. Any future procurement opportunities pertaining to these services, if undertaken, will be advertised with a separate call for competition via a relevant notice published in Central Digital Platform (CDP) and all appropriate platforms, once final. Please Note: Any expenditure, work or effort undertaken by you prior to any subsequent procurement is a matter solely for your own commercial judgment. The Authority reserves the right to withdraw from the process at any time or to not tender the service(s) or to tender on a different basis. In such circumstances, and in any event, the Authority and/or its advisors shall not be liable for any costs or loss of expenses whatsoever incurred by any organisation, agent or subsidiary that may have contributed to any proposals submitted to this notice. Any and all information/documents are draft and subject to change. Under no circumstances should providers approach the Authority directly in relation to the service. The service that this Prior Information Notice (PIN) relates is within scope of the Provider Selection Regime (PSR). The Authority is bound only by the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 do not apply. Additional information: The service that this Prior Information Notice (PIN) relates is within scope of the Provider Selection Regime (PSR). The Authority is bound only by the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 do not apply.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-067205
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026513-2026
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
£1
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Mar 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
30 Apr 20264 weeks to go
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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NHS MID AND SOUTH ESSEX INTEGRATED CARE BOARD
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BASILDON
Postcode
SS14 0UG
Post Town
Not specified
Country
Not specified

Major Region (ITL 1)
Not specified
Basic Region (ITL 2)
Not specified
Small Region (ITL 3)
Not specified
Delivery Location
TLH3 Essex

Local Authority
Not specified
Electoral Ward
Not specified
Westminster Constituency
Not specified

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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