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NENC065 - North East and North Cumbria Mental Health Secure Patient Transport Service

NHS NORTH EAST AND NORTH CUMBRIA INTEGRATED CARE BOARD

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

28 Aug 2026 at 12:35

Planning Notice
Summary of the contracting process

NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board intends to develop a regional Mental Health Secure Patient Transport Service. The service will transport people requiring secure mental health-related patient transport across the North East and North Cumbria region. It is classified as a health service and is expected to support future service delivery models, potentially using local framework arrangements. The requirement is relevant to providers with experience in secure patient transport, mental health services, patient safety and the operational management of sensitive journeys. The work covers the North East and North Cumbria region rather than a single site, so suppliers will need to consider regional coverage, coordination and service delivery across multiple local areas.

This procurement is at the planning and market-engagement stage; it is not a call for competition or an invitation to tender. The buyer expects any future opportunity to be subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. An online information session is planned for 3 September 2026 at 3:00pm, followed by a Request for Information issued on 8 September 2026. RFI responses are due by 12:00 on 18 September 2026. The buyer expects a subsequent notice on 16 November 2026. The market engagement will explore potential delivery models and the possible use of local framework arrangements, while seeking views on operational, commercial and contractual considerations, alternative approaches, refinements and innovation.

This early engagement will suit established secure patient transport operators, mental health healthcare providers and organisations able to deliver safe, reliable services across a large regional footprint. Suppliers should be prepared to contribute informed views on operational challenges, commercial arrangements, contract structures and alternative delivery models. The buyer is particularly seeking insight that can refine or improve the proposed approaches, including innovative solutions and how local framework arrangements could support delivery. Organisations considering participation should have sufficient subject-matter knowledge to discuss service delivery and market considerations. Attendance and RFI participation are voluntary and will not create preferential treatment in any later process, so the immediate value lies in influencing the emerging requirement and preparing for a possible future procurement.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

NENC065 - North East and North Cumbria Mental Health Secure Patient Transport Service

Notice Description

NHS North East North Cumbria Integrated Care Board is undertaking market engagement in relation to the future provision of a Mental Health Secure Patient Transport Service across the North East and North Cumbria Region. NENC ICB is hosting an information session for providers interested in the future delivery of Mental Health Secure Patient Transport Services across the North East and North Cumbria at 3:00pm on Monday 07 September. The session will provide an overview of a number of potential service delivery models currently being explored and explain how local framework arrangements could potentially be applied to support service delivery across the region. Following the market engagement session, NENC ICB will issue a Request for Information (RFI) on Tuesday 08 September 2026. The purpose of the RFI is to gather feedback and gain a better understanding of the operational, commercial and contractual considerations associated with the proposed service models, together with alternative approaches, refinements or innovations that providers may wish to suggest.

Lot Information

Lot 1

NHS North East North Cumbria Integrated Care Board is undertaking market engagement in relation to the future provision of a Mental Health Secure Patient Transport Service across the North East and North Cumbria Region. NENC ICB is hosting an information session for providers interested in the future delivery of Mental Health Secure Patient Transport Services across the North East and North Cumbria at 3:00pm on Monday 07 September. The session will provide an overview of a number of potential service delivery models currently being explored and explain how local framework arrangements could potentially be applied to support service delivery across the region. Following the market engagement session, NENC ICB will issue a Request for Information (RFI) on Tuesday 08 September 2026. The purpose of the RFI is to gather feedback and gain a better understanding of the operational, commercial and contractual considerations associated with the proposed service models, together with alternative approaches, refinements or innovations that providers may wish to suggest. Providers are encouraged, but are not required, to attend the market engagement session. Any information presented during the session, including presentation materials, anonymised questions and answers, and any associated clarifications, will be made available to all interested organisations through the Atamis portal. Organisations that are unable to attend the session will therefore have the same opportunity to review the information and participate in the subsequent RFI exercise. Any future opportunity is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award. It is important to note that this Prior Information Notice (PIN), market engagement exercise and associated RFI do not constitute a call for competition, procurement process, pre-qualification questionnaire or provider selection process. Participation is entirely voluntary and will not confer any advantage, preferential treatment or special status in relation to any future procurement activity. Please confirm via the Atamis Portal if you wish to attend the market engagement online session by providing the name(s) and email address(es) of those attending. Attendees should have sufficient subject-matter knowledge to contribute insight regarding service delivery, operational challenges and market considerations. This PIN is intended as an awareness, communication, and information sharing exercise. Attendance of this event, or response to the RFI is no indication of a commitment to participate in the any future process nor does it infer any preferential or special status on those individuals and organisations who attend this session. NENC ICB is utilising an electronic tendering tool to manage this RFI exercise and communicate with potential providers. Accordingly, there will be no hard copy documents issued to potential providers and all communications with NENC ICB, including EOI and RFI submissions, will be conducted via Atamis: https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome If you have already registered on the system (e.g. to access contracts with another Health Family organisation) then there is no need to re-register. If you have not already done so you should now register as a Supplier on the shared system. You can register here: https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome It is free to register on the portal and it can be accessed at any time of day providing you have a working internet connection. If you find that you need any advice or support in registering, please contact the Atamis helpdesk using the following details: Phone: 0800 9956035 E-mail: support-health@atamis.co.uk Opening times 8am - 6pm The Market Engagement Expression of interest will be accessible from Friday 28 August 2026 and confirmation of attendance of this submission must be returned by 12pm on Friday 04 September 2026. The market engagement session will be held via Microsoft Teams on Monday 07 September 2026 at 3:00pm. Joining instructions will be issued via the Atamis messaging facility to organisations that confirm attendance. The RFI documentation will be accessible from Tuesday 08 September 2026 and completed RFI responses must be returned by 12:00 on Friday 18 September 2026. Additional information: Previous Notice - 2026/S 000-018591 (RFI)

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06ee7a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/082155-2026
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
28 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
16 Nov 20262 months 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 NORTH EAST AND NORTH CUMBRIA 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
SUNDERLAND
Postcode
SR5 3XB
Postcode Area
Sunderland
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC44 Sunderland
Delivery Location
TLC North East (England)
Local Authority
Sunderland
Electoral Ward
Castle
Westminster Constituency
Washington and Gateshead 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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