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Sussex Recovery College VCSE Support - 27/29

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

10 Sep 2026 at 14:51

Planning Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust intends to procure VCSE support for a redesigned, pan-Sussex Recovery College. The service will replace the Brighton Recovery College and the Trust’s in-house provision with one comprehensive prospectus of courses for students across Sussex. It will provide learning opportunities aligned with recovery goals, tackle health inequalities and support people at greatest risk of marginalisation. VCSE courses will cover maintaining recovery, wellbeing and creative learning, with strong links to community networks and potential partnerships with charities and community organisations. The Trust will deliver the service with a VCSE organisation, while its courses will be co-delivered with clinicians and mental health practitioners. Delivery is across Sussex, with the Trust based in Worthing. This is a health and social care service.

This procurement is at the planning stage: the buyer has stated an intention to procure and has not issued an invitation to tender. The expected approach is the most suitable provider process under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023; the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply. The planned contract has an estimated value of £840,000. The buyer expects the next notice to be published on 20 November 2026. The service is arranged as one lot covering VCSE support for the Sussex Recovery College. The stated scope includes courses for people recently discharged from hospital or in crisis, people with complex needs and those managing common mental health conditions, alongside support towards volunteering, work or study. The award decision will be made through the PSR process.

The planned service is suited to VCSE organisations with established mental health recovery, wellbeing and community-learning capability across Sussex. Strong candidates are likely to be able to design and deliver accessible courses for people with varied and complex needs, including those recently discharged from hospital or in crisis, while working effectively alongside clinicians and mental health practitioners. Relevant experience includes reducing health inequalities, supporting people at risk of marginalisation, building links with local communities and helping participants move towards volunteering, employment or study. Organisations able to coordinate community partnerships, including with charities and other voluntary-sector bodies, will be well placed to contribute. The model also calls for a broad, coherent course prospectus and responsiveness to local population needs, so providers should prepare evidence of collaborative delivery and community reach before the procurement reaches the market.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Sussex Recovery College VCSE Support - 27/29

Notice Description

Sussex Recovery College VCSE Support - 27/29

Lot Information

Lot 1

Procurement of VCSE support to the Sussex Recovery College

New requirement - replacement of Brighton Recovery College and the SPFT in-House provided Recovery College.

Currently the pan-Sussex Recovery college is provided by two Providers. Brighton is provided by Southdown, previously contracted directly by NHS Sussex but recently delegated to SPFT under the delegated commissioning processes/agenda. The remainder has been provided by SPFT for many years.

The provision across Sussex is being re-designed to provide a single comprehensive prospectus of courses for all students regardless of where they live in Sussex. The prospectus will provide participants with a variety of learning opportunities that align with their recovery goals and proactively tackle health inequalities, and support individuals at the highest risk of marginalization.

The service will be delivered by SPFT in conjunction with a VCSE organisation.

SPFT courses will be co-delivered with clinicians / mental health practitioners. Some are aimed at students with more complex needs but also include understanding and managing common conditions. Courses will be accessible for people recently discharged from hospital or in crisis, focusing on understanding diagnosis and navigating services.

VCSE courses will offer further learning around maintaining recovery, including wellbeing and creative courses. Courses will have a strong link to community networks, some through sub partnerships with charities and community organisations. These courses will respond to local population needs (health inequalities) and focus on moving away from services to volunteering, getting back to work or study. Additional information: Most Suitable provider -'This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intended approach notice. The awarding of this contract 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.

Details of the award decision-makers.

Chief Communications Officer

Associate Director of Engagement and Experience

Recovery College and Peer Support Manager

Senior Finance Business Partner
HR Business Partner

Senior Category Manager Healthcare/Clinical Procurement

Deputy Director - Contracts


The intention is to award a contract using the most suitable provider process."

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f6fe
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085965-2026
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

85000000 - Health and social work services

85100000 - Health services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£840,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
10 Sep 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
20 Nov 20263 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
Sussex Partnership 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
WORTHING
Postcode
BN11 1HS
Postcode Area
Brighton
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ2 Surrey, East and West Sussex
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ27 West Sussex (South West)
Delivery Location
TLJ2 Surrey, East and West Sussex
Local Authority
Worthing
Electoral Ward
Central
Westminster Constituency
Worthing West

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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