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Crisis Alternatives Model

NHS NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK INTEGRATED CARE BOARD

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

21 Aug 2026 at 12:39

Planning Notice
Summary of the contracting process

NHS Norfolk and Suffolk Integrated Care Board and Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust intend to commission outcomes-focused mental health services across the Norfolk and Suffolk localities. The procurement has two lots. Lot 1 is a prevention-focused Mental Health Wellbeing Hub Model for adults aged 18 and over, combining community hubs with telephone and digital support, a Single Point of Access, and advice, triage and referrals across the crisis pathway. It aims to improve wellbeing, resilience and access, address wider social factors and prevent escalation. Lot 2 is an integrated Crisis at Home and Crisis Outside of the Home service for adults aged 18 and over, providing community-based crisis support, admission prevention, stabilisation, discharge and step-down interventions, alongside a non-clinical setting outside the home as an alternative to hospital or urgent care.

This is at the planning stage: the authorities have announced an intention to procure and there is no invitation to tender yet. Any subsequent procurement is expected to use the Provider Selection Regime under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023, rather than the Procurement Act 2023. The authorities expect a further notice on 18 September 2026. They are consulting providers on draft specifications, deliverability, capability, partnership requirements, mobilisation risks and proposed outcomes. Providers must request the specifications by emailing nsicb.procurement@nhs.net and return survey responses by midnight on 10 September 2026. The authorities may later offer contract variations for similar or complementary services commissioned by a named authority, in accordance with the Provider Selection Regime.

The work is suited to providers able to design and deliver broad, outcomes-based mental health and wellbeing services for adults across two neighbouring counties. Relevant capability includes community support for emotional distress and mild to moderate needs, crisis response in people’s homes and communities, non-clinical crisis provision, admission prevention, stabilisation, discharge and step-down support. Providers should be prepared to maintain and scale the established Crisis at Home model while developing the Crisis Outside of the Home element, or to provide the prevention-focused hub model with physical, telephone and digital access. Joint proposals are encouraged where a single provider cannot cover the full geography or scope. Partnerships must demonstrate seamless pathways, effective information sharing, coordinated clinical oversight, smooth handovers, and credible mobilisation and recovery arrangements.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Crisis Alternatives Model

Notice Description

NHS Norfolk and Suffolk Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Mental Health Trust intend to procure an outcomes-focused Mental Health Wellbeing Hub Model and Crisis at Home and Crisis Outside of the Home Service across the Norfolk and Suffolk localities. Commissioning will be undertaken through an outcomes-based approach, with providers required to develop and propose a delivery model that demonstrates how the specified service functions and outcomes will be achieved across Norfolk and Suffolk.

Lot Information

Mental Health Wellbeing Hub Model

The Norfolk and Suffolk Mental Health Wellbeing Hub Model is a prevention-focused mental health and wellbeing service for adults aged 18 years and over. The service will provide community-based support for people experiencing emotional distress, poor mental wellbeing, or mild to moderate mental health needs through a combination of physical hub provision and telephone and digital support. The model also incorporates a Single Point of Access (SPA), through which all referrals into the wider Crisis Alternatives Pathway will be received, triaged and processed, including referrals to the Crisis at Home, Crisis Outside of the Home, and Short Stay Recovery House services. Providers across the pathway will contribute staff to the SPA to support assessment, triage, referral management, and the provision of advice and guidance. The Wellbeing Hub Model is designed to promote wellbeing, build resilience, address the wider social determinants of mental health, reduce inequalities in access and outcomes, and help prevent escalation into crisis services. Commissioning will be undertaken through an outcomes-based approach, with providers required to develop and propose a delivery model that demonstrates how the specified service functions and outcomes will be achieved across Norfolk and Suffolk. It is recognised that these service specifications cover a large geographical area and broad scope. As such, commissioners welcome and encourage prospective providers to develop joint service proposals, provided they can demonstrate how all providers involved will ensure seamless care pathways, effective information sharing, and smooth handovers of care. Additional information: This Prior Information Notice is to seek provider opinion on the draft specifications around deliverability, provider capability, partnership requirements, mobilisation risks and the outcomes that should be reflected in the service model. In order to access the service specifications please contact nsicb.procurement@nhs.net and submit responses to the survey prior to the 11th September 2026. For the avoidance of doubt these documents are NOT available on the Norfolk and Suffolk website or on Atamis. The deadline for completed responses to this PIN is midnight on 10th September 2026.

Crisis at Home and Crisis outside of the home model

The Norfolk and Suffolk Crisis at Home and Crisis Outside of the Home Service is a community based mental health crisis support service for adults aged 18 years and over. The service comprises two integrated elements: a Crisis at Home service that provides short-term admission prevention, stabilisation, discharge support and step-down interventions in people's homes and communities, and a Crisis Outside of the Home service that provides an accessible, non-clinical setting for people experiencing mental health crisis who require support outside their home environment. Referrals will be received and managed through the Single Point of Access, working closely with Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) and wider system partners to ensure appropriate clinical oversight, coordinated care and seamless movement through the crisis pathway. The service is intended to provide timely alternatives to hospital admission and urgent care settings, support de-escalation and recovery, and improve outcomes for people experiencing mental health crisis. Commissioning will be undertaken through an outcomes-based approach, where providers will be required to maintain and scale the established Crisis at Home model while developing and proposing a delivery model for the Crisis Outside of the Home element that demonstrates how the specified service functions and outcomes will be achieved across Norfolk and Suffolk. It is recognised that these service specifications cover a large geographical area and broad scope. As such, commissioners welcome and encourage prospective providers to develop joint service proposals, provided they can demonstrate how all providers involved will ensure seamless care pathways, effective information sharing, and smooth handovers of care. Additional information: This Prior Information Notice is to seek provider opinion on the draft specifications around deliverability, provider capability, partnership requirements, mobilisation risks and the outcomes that should be reflected in the service model. In order to access the service specifications please contact nsicb.procurement@nhs.net and submit responses to the survey prior to the 11th September 2026. For the avoidance of doubt these documents are NOT available on the Norfolk and Suffolk website or on Atamis. The deadline for completed responses to this PIN is midnight on 10th September 2026.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e98c
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079892-2026
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
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Aug 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
18 Sep 20263 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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NHS NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK INTEGRATED CARE BOARD
Additional Buyers

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
Postcode Area
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
TLH14 Suffolk CC, TLH15 Norwich and East Norfolk, TLH16 North and West Norfolk, TLH17 Breckland and South Norfolk
Local Authority
Norwich
Electoral Ward
Lakenham
Westminster Constituency
Norwich South

Further Information

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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