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Neurodiverse Environmental Audits

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

10 Aug 2026 at 16:10

UK4 - Tender Notice
TenderUpdate

23 Jul 2026 at 10:13

UK4 - Tender Notice
TenderUpdate

21 Jul 2026 at 10:37

UK4 - Tender Notice
Tender

21 Jul 2026 at 10:09

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust is commissioning neurodiversity-informed environmental audits of low- and medium-secure forensic mental health services across its sites in the Thames Valley and Wessex. The work covers adult secure services, including male and female wards, mixed diagnostic groups, and both long-term and acute forensic settings. Auditors will examine bedrooms, corridors, communal lounges and dining areas, quiet and sensory rooms where present, seclusion suites, clinical and interview rooms, and attached outdoor spaces. The assessment will consider physical conditions and operational practices affecting neurodivergent people, including visual, auditory, olfactory, tactile, thermal, airflow, spatial and movement factors. The purpose is to identify gaps and improvement priorities, including possible environmental and estate adjustments that improve service-user experience.

The buyer invited offers through a below-threshold open competition for one lot. The procurement has reached the tender stage. Questions could be submitted until 27 August 2026 at 23:45, and offers were due by 16 September 2026 at 23:45. Electronic submission was allowed. The contract is scheduled to run from 26 October 2026 to 25 April 2027. Its estimated value is £80,000 excluding VAT, or £91,600 including VAT. The opportunity is reserved for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community or social enterprises located in Oxfordshire. Evaluation is based on 55% technical quality, social value and presentation, and 45% commercial cost. The service is classified mainly as consultancy, with an additional works element.

This opportunity suits specialist environmental, healthcare-design, estates, acoustics or neurodiversity consultancy providers able to audit secure forensic mental health environments and turn findings into practical improvement priorities. Relevant capability includes assessing how lighting, colour, glare, signage, visual clutter, windows, mirrors, noise, alarms, echoes, smells, cleaning products, food preparation, textures, furniture, bedding, temperature, ventilation and movement affect neurodivergent service users. Providers should be able to work across ward interiors and associated outdoor areas, understand the interaction between the physical environment and day-to-day operation, and produce a structured external assessment. The procurement is particularly suited to SMEs and voluntary, community or social enterprises based in Oxfordshire, with strong technical quality, social value and presentation expected.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Neurodiverse Environmental Audits

Notice Description

Environment Audit of Low and Medium-Secure Forensic Mental Health Services within the sites of Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust (Thames Valley and Wessex, Adult Secure Neurodiverse Environmental Audits). As part of alignment with new national standards, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust is looking to commission a structured neurodiversity-informed environmental audit. We seek to identify any gaps and priorities for improvement. This may inform new environment recommendations including day to day operation of environments and estate adjustments with an aim to improve experience for our service users. People accessing low- and medium-secure forensic mental health services frequently experience heightened sensory sensitivities and require reasonable adjustments to understand the environment around them (i.e. appropriate signage). This is particularly relevant for individuals who are neurodivergent, including those with autism and / or learning disabilities. The design, layout, and day to day operation of ward environments can significantly influence distress levels, behaviour, engagement in care, and overall outcomes. A poorly adapted environment may exacerbate agitation, anxiety, aggression, withdrawal or seclusion incidents, whilst a well adapted environment can promote feelings of safety, regulation and recovery. Oxford Health is working to improve the experience of people with learning disabilities and / or autism accessing its mental health services and seeks to commission a structured external audit of a specified number of wards across its sites to ensure the environment is neurodiverse-informed and to identify gaps and priorities for improvement.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06cf88
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/075880-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

45 - Construction work

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services

CPV Codes

45262640 - Environmental improvement works

71313200 - Sound insulation and room acoustics consultancy services

90711500 - Environmental monitoring other than for construction

90713000 - Environmental issues consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£80,000 Under £100K
Lots Value
£80,000 Under £100K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
10 Aug 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
16 Sep 2026Today
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
26 Oct 2026 - 25 Apr 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Oxford Health 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
OXFORD
Postcode
OX4 4XN
Postcode Area
Oxford
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ14 Oxfordshire CC
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Oxford
Electoral Ward
Littlemore
Westminster Constituency
Oxford East

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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