---
title: "Friends in Need to NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board (ICB)"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-044b15"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-044b15"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-044b15.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-044b15.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "NHS FRIMLEY INTEGRATED CARE BOARD"
published: "2024-03-21"
---

# Friends in Need to NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board (ICB)

Buyer: NHS FRIMLEY INTEGRATED CARE BOARD  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-044b15

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## Summary

The NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board is directly awarding a contract to Buckinghamshire Mind for a 'Friends in Need' service. The total contract value is £150,918.50 per annum for an initial three-year term, starting on 1st April 2024. This procurement falls under the Provider Selection Regime (PSR) and does not fall under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. Providers have until 8th April 2024 to make representations, marking the start of the standstill period.

This opportunity with the NHS Frimley ICB presents a chance for businesses focused on health services to tender for a contract aimed at reducing loneliness and isolation among those with mental health needs. Companies with experience in community-based mental health support and peer-led services would be well-suited to compete. The procurement, led by the NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit, offers an initial contract term of three years with an option for a two-year extension, providing stability and growth potential for successful bidders.

## Notice

NHS Frimley ICB ("the Commissioner") sought to commission Buckinghamshire Mind to provide a 'Friends in Need' Service. The overall aim of the service is to provide a community-based offer to support people with mental health needs to reduce loneliness and isolation, increase wellbeing and social connections, support recovery by increasing individual resilience, awareness and understanding of mental health, support greater self-care, preventing and reducing the likelihood of a mental health crisis through peer support, groups, and activities. The Commissioner is directly awarding a contract to the existing provider Buckinghamshire Mind in accordance with the criteria outlined in Regulation (9) of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. The total value of the contract is PS150,918.50 per annum, total expected spend (including VAT), for the initial three year contract term is PS452,755.50. The full lifetime contract value (three years + two year extension) is PS754,592.50. The three-year contract period will commence on the 01st April 2024.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

NHS Frimley ICB ("the Commissioner") sought to commission a 'Friends in Need' Service. A summary of the purposes and objectives of the services are:-are: - The Friends in Need (FiN) service is a quality driven and accessible peer led community for anyone affected by mental health challenges. In 2016/17 the service was based in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead and in 2017/18 the service was expanded to incorporate both Slough and Bracknell & Ascot. Initially the programme was designed primarily to support people affected by isolation and loneliness which often accompanies people suffering from depression and mental health problems. Alongside delivery of the community mental health transformation and formation of our new MHICS (MH integrated community service) teams who support people with more significant mental health needs and co-morbidities such as substance misuse in the community: the scope of FiN has been expanded to ensure people experiencing a wider range of mental health problems (diagnosed or undiagnosed) and social determinants of need can access the hugely impactful groups and support. The over-arching principle of FiN however remains the same as it looks to bring people (regardless of their diagnosis) together to build their own sustainable peer support networks within their local area and online. It enables likeminded people to find friends and activities in their local area and online with the Friends in Need Facebook group. Over the years the Friends in Need network has become a well-regarded and established service amongst the local community with several groups and activities available every day of the week all year around. The Friends in Need group supporting ages 17-25 will continue to develop and support the different needs and peer support requirements of that group which is already seeing activity increasing every quarter. The Commissioner is directly awarding a contract to the existing provider Buckinghamshire Mind in accordance with the criteria outlined in Regulation (9) of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. The total value of the contract is PS150,918.50 per annum, total expected spend (including VAT), for the initial three year contract term is PS452,755.50. The full lifetime contract value (three years + two year extension) is PS754,592.50. The three year contract period will commence on the 01st April 2024. This procurement has been carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners.

Options: Option to extend for 2 years

### Procurement Information

This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award 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. The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority by 08th April 2024. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/009132-2024 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Limited |
| Procurement method details | Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 21 Mar 2024 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 21 Mar 2024 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £452,755 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | NHS FRIMLEY INTEGRATED CARE BOARD |
| Locality | WINDSOR |
| Post town | Slough |
| Postcode | SL4 3DP |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire |
| ITL 3 | TLJ15 Berkshire East |
| Local authority | Windsor and Maidenhead |
| Electoral ward | Old Windsor |
| Westminster constituency | Windsor |
| Delivery location | TLJ South East (England) |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | BUCKINGHAMSHIRE MIND |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 85100000 - Health services

## Release History

- 21 Mar 2024 at 09:56 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/009132-2024

## Notice URLs

- https://www.frimley.icb.nhs.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-044b15. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-044b15.json.