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NHS Talking Therapies and Psychological Therapies for Severe Mental Health Problems

NHS Essex Integrated Care Board

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

23 Jul 2026 at 10:27

Tender Notice
Award

08 Jun 2026 at 13:43

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

NHS Essex Integrated Care Board procured NHS Talking Therapies and psychological therapies for people with severe mental health problems, including evidence-based support for conditions such as anxiety and depression. Services are delivered through face-to-face, online and telephone consultations, supporting continuity of care for existing service users. The work is classified as health and social work services and is delivered in the Mid Essex Health Economy. The buyer is NHS Essex Integrated Care Board, based in Chelmsford. The requirement supports vulnerable people and those with complex mental health needs, with established therapeutic relationships, care pathways and clinical integration forming an important part of delivery. The selected provider is Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, a large NHS organisation based in Hatfield, Hertfordshire.

This procurement has been awarded under Regulation 14 of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023, using an urgent award without prior publication of a competition. NHS Essex Integrated Care Board selected the incumbent provider because delays created an immediate risk of interruption to essential mental health services and a new provider could not be mobilised safely in time. The award date was 9 February 2026. The revised total estimated contract value is £6,190,596 excluding VAT. The contract is for 12 months, from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027, with no extension option. Evaluation gave equal stated weighting to addressing immediate safety and care-quality risks and to price. One bid was recorded.

This award indicates demand for an established NHS mental health provider able to deliver talking therapies and psychological therapies across face-to-face, online and telephone channels. A credible future competitor would need evidence-based clinical delivery, experienced mental health professionals and the workforce capacity to support people with anxiety, depression, severe or complex mental health needs. The buyer’s reasoning shows that continuity of care, existing therapeutic relationships, established care pathways and clinical knowledge of service users are commercially important. Suppliers would also need robust governance, clinical integration, operational infrastructure and the ability to mobilise safely without creating a service gap. Experience of NHS service delivery and the ability to maintain patient safety, service stability and clinical outcomes would strengthen a competing proposition for this requirement.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

NHS Talking Therapies and Psychological Therapies for Severe Mental Health Problems

Notice Description

This Corrigendum Notice is published to amend the contract value used within the Contract Award Notice (CAN) that was published on the 08/06/2026 at 13:43 within the following areas: II.2) DescriptionII.2.4 II.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT) Section V: Award of contract V.2.4 and the revised contract value should now be PS6190596.00.

Lot Information

Lot 1

NHS Essex Integrated Care Board (the Authority) is awarding this contract for the provision of NHS Talking Therapies and Psychological Therapies for Severe Mental Health Problems, delivering evidence-based interventions via face-to-face, online, and telephone consultations to support individuals experiencing mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression. In accordance with Regulation 14 of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023, the Authority has made an urgent award to the incumbent provider due to an immediate and compelling need to maintain continuity of service, and the inability to complete a competitive process within the required timescales without significant risk. The decision to award to the incumbent provider is justified on the following grounds: The ongoing procurement process has been delayed. Further delay to service provision would create a real and unacceptable risk of interruption to essential mental health services, adversely impacting vulnerable service users. The urgency of need means there is insufficient time to recommence or complete a new selection process without jeopardising patient care. * Transitioning to a new provider would necessitate a substantial mobilisation period, including workforce onboarding, governance alignment and clinical integration. This cannot be achieved within the necessary timeframe to avoid a service gap, and therefore no alternative provider could deliver the services safely and effectively at the point required. * The incumbent provider maintains established therapeutic relationships, care pathways and clinical knowledge of current service users. Disruption to these arrangements would present a significant risk to patient safety, service stability and clinical outcomes, particularly for individuals with complex mental health needs. * The current provider has the immediate operational capacity, workforce, infrastructure and clinical expertise to continue delivering the service without interruption. This ensures compliance with the requirement under Regulation 14 to secure services quickly and safely in response to urgency. * The urgent award represents a proportionate response to exceptional circumstances, intended only to maintain continuity of provision while the Authority resolves the delayed procurement process and implements a compliant longer-term commissioning solution. The contract will run for a fixed term of 12 months commencing 1st April 2026 and ending 31st March 2027, with no option to extend. This timeframe enables the newly formed NHS Essex Integrated Care Board to complete the ongoing procurement for an Essex-wide service. The total estimated contract value is PS6,092,574.00.

Procurement Information

This contract has been awarded without prior publication in accordance with Regulation 14 of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023, due to extreme urgency. The urgency arises from delays to an ongoing procurement process, creating a risk of a service gap affecting vulnerable mental health service users. The Authority has determined that it is not possible to complete a competitive process within the required timescales and that no alternative provider could be mobilised safely in time. The award to the incumbent provider ensures continuity of care and mitigates risks to patient safety. Full details of the justification are set out in Section II.2.4.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06afc4
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/069521-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender 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

85000000 - Health and social work services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£6,092,574 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
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
NHS 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
CHELMSFORD , ESSEX
Postcode
CM1 1QH
Postcode Area
Chelmsford
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH3 Essex
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH36 Heart of Essex
Delivery Location
TLH3 Essex
Local Authority
Chelmsford
Electoral Ward
Moulsham and Central
Westminster Constituency
Chelmsford

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT)

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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