---
title: "CO0346 Employee Assistance Programme"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-03d4ac"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-03d4ac"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03d4ac.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03d4ac.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL"
published: "2026-05-06"
---

# CO0346 Employee Assistance Programme

Buyer: ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-03d4ac

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## Summary

The procurement process led by Essex County Council, a regional authority focused on general public services, was for the provision of an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP). This initiative was under the industry category of company health services, specifically services. Originally initiated in June 2023, the procurement stage has progressed to the 'award' phase with the contract being signed in August 2023. The tender referenced as DN669025 sought a provider to deliver a range of support services aimed at enhancing employee wellbeing, with the contract initially structured to end by 31 August 2023, before being extended.

This tender, procured through an open procedure, offered businesses the opportunity to deliver comprehensive EAP services including counselling, management support, and critical incident support amongst others. Such a contract presents growth potential for businesses specialising in employee health and wellbeing services, particularly those capable of offering tailored and scalable support solutions. The successful bidder, Vita Health Wellness Ltd, a large-scale firm based in Bury St. Edmunds, secured the contract valued at £79,875.88, indicative of interest from a competitive field of both large and SME bidders. Businesses with robust support resources and a strong understanding of organisational wellbeing could find such procurements beneficial for growth and market expansion.

## Notice

At Essex County Council (ECC) we are committed to supporting the wellbeing of our people. We strive to enable the right environment, conditions, and behaviours so individual and organisational wellbeing is embedded in everything we do. The purpose of our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) provision is to provide confidential and professional support to employees who may be experiencing personal or work-related issues. This will be offering counselling, guidance, and resources for a range of challenges such as stress, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, financial or legal issues, and more. We are seeking a Provider to deliver an EAP service within ECC as a crucial aspect of our broader wellbeing offer, to ensure that our employees have access to timely and effective support to help them cope with personal and work-related challenges, and ultimately, maintain a healthy and productive workforce.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

At Essex County Council (ECC) we are committed to supporting the wellbeing of our people. We strive to enable the right environment, conditions, and behaviours so individual and organisational wellbeing is embedded in everything we do. The purpose of our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) provision is to provide confidential and professional support to employees who may be experiencing personal or work-related issues. This will be offering counselling, guidance, and resources for a range of challenges such as stress, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, financial or legal issues, and more. We are seeking a Provider to deliver an EAP service within ECC as a crucial aspect of our broader wellbeing offer, to ensure that our employees have access to timely and effective support to help them cope with personal and work-related challenges, and ultimately, maintain a healthy and productive workforce. ECC's EAP is currently delivered by an external Provider, the contract of which is due to expire on 31st August 2023. Services provided include, but are not limited to: advice and support counselling services management support services trauma and critical incident support promotion of the Employee Assistance Programme therapeutic interventions bullying and harassment support interactive health content via a web platform and mobile application The annual utilisation rate with our current provider in 2022 (April - September) was 4.17%. The organisation focused service will provide: An assessment of organisational need and the design of tailored EAP services Clear communication of the EAP defining the purpose, objectives, and parameters of the service Clear communication so that the EAP is used to maximum advantage for both employees and ECC Comprehensive procedures outlining how the EAP will operate and be monitored and evaluated An effective implementation and on-going promotion plan to reach all those eligible to use the service Feedback to ECC on themes and trends which would benefit from action by the authority Arrangements for audit, evaluation, and service developments Occupational Health Services, general medical treatment, tax advice, legal advice aside from signposting in the context of welfare counselling and relevant consultation and advice relating to leisure or recreation are outside the scope of this procurement. For a full description, please refer to the specification provided within the tender.

Renewal: There are options to extend for a total period of up to 36 months.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/041560-2026 |
| Notice type | Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 6 May 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 10 Jul 2023 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 31 Jul 2023 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £351,000 |
| Lots value | £351,000 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £79,875 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Cancelled |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL |
| Locality | CHELMSFORD |
| Post town | Chelmsford |
| Postcode | CM1 1QH |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLH East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLH3 Essex |
| ITL 3 | TLH36 Heart of Essex |
| Local authority | Chelmsford |
| Electoral ward | Moulsham and Central |
| Westminster constituency | Chelmsford |
| Delivery location | TLH3 Essex |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | VITA HEALTH WELLNESS |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 85147000 - Company health services

## Release History

- 6 May 2026 at 14:21 - TenderUpdate - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/041560-2026
- 9 Aug 2023 at 13:28 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/023252-2023
- 20 Jun 2023 at 08:33 - TenderUpdate - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/017441-2023
- 8 Jun 2023 at 10:23 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/016256-2023

## Notice URLs

- https://procontract.due-north.com
- https://www.essex.gov.uk/

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-03d4ac. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03d4ac.json.