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Rapid Response Clinic - Psychological Support

COUNTY DURHAM AND DARLINGTON NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

14 Sep 2026 at 12:25

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust is procuring psychological support for patients identified as suffering psychological harm during the Breast Surgery Service review process. The service is provided by an external psychotherapist working alongside the Trust’s psychologist. Its scope includes rapid-response support, signposting, referral to other services and, where needed, psychological intervention from the Trust. The purpose is to provide additional capacity, enable timely assessment and intervention, and reduce further harm caused by delays in accessing support. The service is classified as psychiatrist or psychologist services and is delivered across England. The requirement supports continuity of care, compassionate responses to patient concerns and the rapid response pathway operated by the Trust.

The procurement is complete and the contract was awarded on 24 July 2026 to Durham City Therapy Ltd. It used a Provider Selection Regime Direct Award C route, described as below threshold and without competition, with the existing provider selected. The award is for £16,800 excluding VAT, or £20,160 including VAT. The contract runs from 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026, with three optional four-month extensions available until 31 December 2027. Evaluation and justification covered quality and innovation, value, integration, collaboration and sustainability, improving access and reducing health inequalities, facilitating choice, and social value. The procurement has one completed lot, and a signature milestone was scheduled for 25 September 2026.

This award shows demand for specialist psychological support linked to NHS patient-care reviews, particularly where delays may cause further psychological harm. A credible future supplier would need qualified psychotherapeutic capability, experience supporting patients affected by distress associated with healthcare, and the ability to work closely with NHS psychologists and wider services. The service model favours providers able to respond quickly, assess need, offer appropriate psychological intervention, signpost patients and make effective referrals. Capacity must be flexible enough to respond to changing referral levels while maintaining continuity of care. Providers should also be able to demonstrate integrated working, compassionate care, attention to access and health inequalities, and a sustainable approach that supports established clinical pathways.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Rapid Response Clinic - Psychological Support

Notice Description

County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT) intend to award a 3 months (with 3 x 4-month optional extensions) contract under Provider Selection Regime Direct Award C process to existing provider, DURHAM CITY THERAPY LTD. This is for provision of an external psychotherapist to provide additional support to the Trust's Psychologist. This provision is for patients who, as part of the Breast Surgery Service review process, have been identified as suffering psychological harm. Support ranges from signposting, referral to other services, or if needed psychological interventional support from the Trust. Justification for this procurement route and contracting with this supplier is as follows: Key Criteria 1. Quality And Innovation The service model provides a rapid response approach, enabling timely intervention and avoiding further psychological harm associated with delays in accessing support. Key Criteria 2. Value This represents a cost-effective approach as costs are only incurred when patient demand requires additional capacity.The arrangement also provides flexibility to respond to fluctuating referral levels while maintaining continuity of care and reducing risk to patients and the organisation. Key Criteria 3. Integration, Collaboration And Service Sustainability The arrangement supports continuity of the existing rapid response pathway and will help reinstate timely assessment and intervention for patients currently experiencing delays. Key Criteria 4. Improving Access, Reducing Health Inequalities And Facilitating Choice The additional psychotherapeutic capacity will improve timely access to psychological support for patients identified as experiencing harm associated with their care. Key Criteria 5. Social Value The arrangement additionally supports the Trust's commitment to maintaining high-quality compassionate care and responding appropriately to concerns identified through the Royal College of Surgeons review and local peer review processes. There were no conflicts of interest identified.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f902
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/086822-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - without competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85121270 - Psychiatrist or psychologist services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£16,800 Under £100K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
14 Sep 20262 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
24 Jul 20261 months ago
Contract Period
1 Oct 2026 - 31 Dec 2026 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
COUNTY DURHAM AND DARLINGTON 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
DARLINGTON
Postcode
DL3 6HX
Postcode Area
Darlington
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC3 Tees Valley
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC33 Darlington
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Darlington
Electoral Ward
Pierremont
Westminster Constituency
Darlington

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

DURHAM CITY THERAPY LTD

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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