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Independent public voice, challenge and assurance function in support of NHS Essex ICB's Population Health Improvement Programme (PHIP)

NHS Essex Integrated Care Board

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

12 Oct 2026 at 13:59

Tender Notice
Award

02 Sep 2026 at 14:23

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

20 Aug 2026 at 15:29

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

20 Aug 2026 at 09:57

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

NHS Essex Integrated Care Board commissioned an independent public voice, challenge and assurance service for its Population Health Improvement Programme (PHIP). The work is broader than engagement or consultation: it includes independent scrutiny, challenge and reporting throughout programme implementation, supporting health and care transformation across Essex. It combines social research and evaluation consultancy. Delivery is countywide in Essex, drawing on relationships with local communities and the ability to respond to changing engagement needs, service transformation and health inequalities. The requirement is for an established independent function, rather than a one-off research exercise or standalone consultation project.

The procurement is complete and the contract was awarded to Healthwatch Essex through a direct award. The award was made on 13 July 2026, and the contract was signed on 2 September 2026. The contract value is £1.6 million gross. Its stated term runs from 3 September 2026 to 1 September 2030, with an option for the buyer to extend it for up to a further two years, to 1 September 2032. The requirement was not divided into multiple lots. The buyer justified the direct award on the grounds that no reasonable alternative provider could match Healthwatch Essex’s combination of independence, public trust, countywide reach, local infrastructure, community relationships, independent reporting and immediate operational readiness. The contract end date and extension end date were corrected in an amendment.

For suppliers considering similar work when this requirement returns to market, the award indicates that credibility depends on more than research or engagement expertise alone. A strong competitor would need to demonstrate trusted independence, recognised standing as a public voice, established community relationships and practical reach across Essex. It would also need the infrastructure and capacity to mobilise promptly, scrutinise programme delivery, challenge decision-makers and provide independent reporting over an ongoing transformation programme. Evidence of delivering social research and evaluation would be relevant, but the buyer’s stated rationale makes continuity, local presence and public confidence central to the service. The procurement also shows that the buyer may use a direct award where it considers this particular combination of capabilities and readiness unavailable from an equivalent alternative provider.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Independent public voice, challenge and assurance function in support of NHS Essex ICB's Population Health Improvement Programme (PHIP)

Notice Description

This Corrigendum Notice is published to amend the contract end date that used within the Contract details notice that was published on the 2 September 2026, 2:23pm at within the following areas: Contract(0001) Contract end date(UK7_94): 01/09/2030 should now read 01/09/2028 Extension end date(UK7_96)If all extensions are used. 01/09/2032 should now read 01/09/2030

Procurement Information

The Authority requires an independent public voice, challenge and assurance function to support delivery of the Population Health Improvement Programme (PHIP) during a period of significant health and care transformation across Essex. This requirement extends beyond engagement or consultation activity and includes the provision of independent scrutiny, challenge and reporting throughout implementation of the programme. The Authority has considered whether the requirement could reasonably be delivered by an alternative provider. Whilst other organisations may be capable of delivering individual aspects of engagement, participation, research or advisory services, the Authority has concluded that successful delivery of this requirement depends on a combination of recognised independence, established public trust, countywide reach, local infrastructure, community relationships, independent reporting capability and immediate operational readiness. Healthwatch Essex has an established role within Essex as an independent public voice organisation with existing countywide infrastructure, established community relationships and the ability to mobilise immediately. The Authority has concluded that there is no reasonable alternative provider capable of delivering an equivalent independent public voice, challenge and assurance function within Essex with the same combination of public recognition, community trust, local infrastructure and immediate mobilisation capability. The Authority therefore considers Healthwatch Essex to be the only provider capable of delivering the requirement in the manner necessary to achieve the objectives of the contract.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e839
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/096110-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

79315000 - Social research services

79419000 - Evaluation consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£16,000 Under £100K
Contracts Value
£1,600,000 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
12 Oct 2026Yesterday
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
13 Jul 20263 months ago
Contract Period
3 Sep 2026 - 1 Sep 2030 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
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
Not specified
Local Authority
Chelmsford
Electoral Ward
Moulsham and Central
Westminster Constituency
Chelmsford

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Healthwatch Essex

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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