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Preliminary Market Engagement For Specialist Mental Health Patient Transport Services.

Swansea Bay University Health Board

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

28 Sep 2026 at 10:42

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Swansea Bay University Health Board is planning specialist patient transport services for people with mental health needs and learning disabilities. The service is categorised as ambulance services (CPV 85143000). The Health Board is the buyer, with procurement support from NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership, hosted by Velindre University NHS Trust. The stated delivery area is Wales. The procurement is planned as a single service lot, with the whole requirement grouped together rather than separately described service packages. The service is intended to meet patient transport needs in these specialist care areas; the buyer has been gathering market information to shape how the service will be delivered and specified. This is an intention to procure, not an invitation to submit a tender.

The process is at planning: the Health Board has not yet invited tenders. It expects to publish a further notice on 8 October 2026. The planned contract period runs from 1 December 2026 to 30 November 2028. The estimated value is £623,602, with a gross value of £748,322.40. The buyer has not set out the expected procurement procedure, evaluation criteria or supplier eligibility requirements at this stage. It has completed preliminary market engagement, using supplier input to inform its procurement strategy, service specification, commercial model and evaluation approach. The engagement included informal pricing for representative patient journeys, current pricing structures, preferential rates, discounts and cost-saving proposals. Suppliers were also asked about possible participation in the Health Board’s Priority Supplier Programme.

The planned service is relevant to providers experienced in specialist mental health and learning-disability patient transport. The buyer has already sought input from incumbent and other known providers in this sector, including pricing for representative patient journeys and information about existing pricing structures. It also invited suppliers to describe preferential rates, discounts and cost-saving proposals, indicating that commercial value and service delivery models are being considered as the future specification and evaluation approach are developed. Suppliers may also wish to consider the Health Board’s Priority Supplier Programme, which was presented during engagement and prompted expressions of interest. The engagement itself does not give participants an advantage or disadvantage in the later tender; the buyer says all suppliers will receive equal treatment. No particular accreditations, staffing standards or minimum capacity have yet been set out.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Preliminary Market Engagement For Specialist Mental Health Patient Transport Services.

Notice Description

Swansea Bay University Health Board undertook a preliminary market engagement exercise in relation to the proposed procurement of Specialist Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Patient Transport Services. The engagement was carried out to gain market intelligence on service delivery models, pricing structures, and potential opportunities for value for money. Information gathered through the exercise will be used to develop the procurement strategy and service specification for the planned procurement process. The preliminary market engagement exercise was undertaken exclusively to inform the Health Board's understanding of the market and support the development of the procurement strategy, service specification, and tender documentation. Participation in the exercise does not confer any advantage or disadvantage in any subsequent procurement process, and all suppliers will be afforded equal treatment during the formal tender exercise.

Planning Information

A market engagement exercise was undertaken with incumbent providers and other known providers operating within the specialist mental health patient transport sector. Suppliers were requested to provide informal pricing against a series of representative patient journey scenarios and to submit details of their current pricing structures, together with any preferential rates, discounts, or cost-saving proposals that could be offered. Suppliers were also provided with information regarding the Health Board’s Priority Supplier Programme (PSP) and invited to indicate their interest in participation. The information received will be used to inform the procurement strategy, service specification, commercial model, and evaluation approach for the forthcoming tender exercise.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-077b43
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/091310-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85143000 - Ambulance services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£623,602 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
28 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
8 Oct 20261 day to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Dec 2026 - 30 Nov 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Swansea Bay University Health Board
Additional Buyers

Velindre University NHS 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
PORT TALBOT
Postcode
SA12 7BR
Postcode Area
Swansea
Country
Wales
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLL Wales
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLL4 Mid and South West Wales
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLL44 Neath Port Talbot
Delivery Location
TLL Wales
Local Authority
Neath Port Talbot
Electoral Ward
Baglan
Westminster Constituency
Aberafan Maesteg

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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