Award

Highly Specialist Speech and Language Assessment

NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

20 May 2026 at 08:22

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process undertaken by the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust involves the award of a contract for a "Highly Specialist Speech and Language Assessment" under the Health Services category. The procurement, focused on addressing a critical gap in services at the Whitlingham Ward Secure Unit in Norwich, falls under immediate and extreme urgency due to clinical risks associated with untreated dysphagia. The completed contract, signed on 27th April 2026, was awarded without prior publication, citing the necessity for rapid action. The NHS Trust is situated in Norwich, and this contract aims to mitigate immediate health risks within the Great Yarmouth and Waveney locality.

This tender presents opportunities for specialised health service providers, particularly those with expertise in dysphagia, to engage with critical care needs in the Norfolk region. Bowers Dysphagia Specialist, a large-scale supplier from Norwich, has already secured the contract, highlighting the Trust’s preference for experienced local providers. Enterprises in clinical risk management and speech and language therapy services could leverage such contracts to expand their service offerings rapidly. The limited procurement method underscores the urgency and necessity for specialised skills, making it suitable for businesses capable of delivering targeted healthcare interventions swiftly and efficiently.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Highly Specialist Speech and Language Assessment

Notice Description

temporary arrangement to purchase private highly specialist dysphagia assessment to a clinically at-risk individual in the Great Yarmouth and Waveney Locality

Lot Information

Lot 1

Service users admitted to our inpatient facilities do not have access to Speech and Language Therapy (SaLT) services due to a commissioning gap. As a result, when a dysphagia need is identified, service users are unable to receive a comprehensive assessment, which poses a clinical risk. The absence of appropriate assessment increases the potential that a choking incident could occur, potentially resulting in serious harm if dysphagia needs are not adequately addressed. Whilst a longer-term solution is explored this urgent contract has been awarded to avoid serious harm

Procurement Information

all peer organisations and system partners declined to offer any support citing lack of capacity and skill mix in the teams. This is a high-risk case requiring a one-off single assessment. In this case we are required to act rapidly to address immediate risks to safety and quality of care. Delaying the award of the contract to conduct a full application of the PSR would be likely to pose a risk to patient safety

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-069c98
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/046054-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

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
£500 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
20 May 20263 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
26 Apr 20263 weeks ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK NHS FOUNDATION TRUST
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
NORWICH
Postcode
NR1 2DH
Post Town
Norwich
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH5 Norfolk
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH51 Norwich and East Norfolk
Delivery Location
TLH1 East Anglia
Local Authority
Norwich
Electoral Ward
Lakenham
Westminster Constituency
Norwich South

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

BOWERS DYSPHAGIA SPECIALIST

Further Information

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-069c98-2026-05-20T09:22:33+01:00",
    "date": "2026-05-20T09:22:33+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-069c98",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "tender": {
        "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-069c98",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "32014L0024",
            "scheme": "CELEX"
        },
        "title": "Highly Specialist Speech and Language Assessment",
        "status": "complete",
        "classification": {
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "id": "85100000",
            "description": "Health services"
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "description": "temporary arrangement to purchase private highly specialist dysphagia assessment to a clinically at-risk individual in the Great Yarmouth and Waveney Locality",
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "description": "Service users admitted to our inpatient facilities do not have access to Speech and Language Therapy (SaLT) services due to a commissioning gap. As a result, when a dysphagia need is identified, service users are unable to receive a comprehensive assessment, which poses a clinical risk. The absence of appropriate assessment increases the potential that a choking incident could occur, potentially resulting in serious harm if dysphagia needs are not adequately addressed. Whilst a longer-term solution is explored this urgent contract has been awarded to avoid serious harm",
                "awardCriteria": {
                    "criteria": [
                        {
                            "type": "price"
                        }
                    ]
                },
                "hasOptions": false,
                "status": "cancelled"
            }
        ],
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "85100000",
                        "description": "Health services"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UKH1"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryLocation": {
                    "description": "Whitlingham Ward Secure Unit, Norwich"
                },
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "procurementMethod": "limited",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition",
        "procurementMethodRationaleClassifications": [
            {
                "id": "D_EXTREME_URGENCY",
                "scheme": "TED_PT_AWARD_CONTRACT_WITHOUT_CALL",
                "description": "Extreme urgency brought about by events unforeseeable for the contracting authority/entity and in accordance with the strict conditions stated in the directive"
            }
        ],
        "procurementMethodRationale": "all peer organisations and system partners declined to offer any support citing lack of capacity and skill mix in the teams. This is a high-risk case requiring a one-off single assessment. In this case we are required to act rapidly to address immediate risks to safety and quality of care. Delaying the award of the contract to conduct a full application of the PSR would be likely to pose a risk to patient safety"
    },
    "awards": [
        {
            "id": "046054-2026-1",
            "relatedLots": [
                "1"
            ],
            "status": "active",
            "suppliers": [
                {
                    "id": "GB-FTS-182021",
                    "name": "Bowers Dysphagia Specialist"
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-NHS-RMY",
            "name": "NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK NHS FOUNDATION TRUST",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK NHS FOUNDATION TRUST",
                "id": "RMY",
                "scheme": "GB-NHS"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "County Hall",
                "locality": "Norwich",
                "region": "UKH15",
                "postalCode": "NR1 2DH",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "amanda.k.roberts@nsft.nhs.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://www.nsft.nhs.uk/",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "BODY_PUBLIC",
                        "scheme": "TED_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Body governed by public law"
                    },
                    {
                        "id": "07",
                        "scheme": "COFOG",
                        "description": "Health"
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-FTS-182021",
            "name": "Bowers Dysphagia Specialist",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Bowers Dysphagia Specialist",
                "noIdentifierRationale": "soleTrader"
            },
            "address": {
                "locality": "Norwich",
                "region": "UKH15",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom"
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ],
            "details": {
                "scale": "large"
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-FTS-279",
            "name": "CEDR",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "CEDR"
            },
            "address": {
                "locality": "London",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom"
            },
            "roles": [
                "reviewBody"
            ]
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-NHS-RMY",
        "name": "NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK NHS FOUNDATION TRUST"
    },
    "contracts": [
        {
            "id": "046054-2026-1",
            "awardID": "046054-2026-1",
            "status": "active",
            "value": {
                "amount": 500,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "dateSigned": "2026-04-27T00:00:00+01:00"
        }
    ],
    "bids": {
        "statistics": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "measure": "bids",
                "relatedLot": "1",
                "value": 1
            }
        ]
    },
    "language": "en"
}