---
title: "Specialized Citizens Advice Service to those with Severe Mental Health illness"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-04a336"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04a336"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04a336.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04a336.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "NHS SUFFOLK AND NORTH EAST ESSEX ICB"
published: "2024-11-28"
---

# Specialized Citizens Advice Service to those with Severe Mental Health illness

Buyer: NHS SUFFOLK AND NORTH EAST ESSEX ICB  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-04a336

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## Summary

NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) has initiated a public procurement process to award a 28-month contract for the provision of a specialised Citizens Advice Service to individuals with severe mental health illnesses in the West Suffolk Alliance region. This service falls under the health and social work services industry category, classified under CPV code 85000000. The contract, valued at £238,334, covers the period from 1st December 2024 to 31st March 2027. The procurement stage is now complete, with the contract awarded to the Suffolk West Citizens Advice Bureau. This contract was awarded following a limited procurement method due to the technical necessity of continuing with the existing supplier.

This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in health and social work services, particularly those with expertise in mental health support. Suitable businesses may benefit from involvement in a project that aims to reduce healthcare dependency and improve life outcomes for individuals with severe mental illnesses. The contract’s emphasis on specialised training for caseworkers and a coordinated advice process highlights the demand for expert knowledge in mental health awareness and effective communication skills. Businesses able to offer such specialised services could find this tender an excellent opportunity to expand their portfolio and contribute to important community health initiatives.

## Notice

A voluntary ex ante transparency notice was released to demonstrate the intention of NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board's ("the ICB") to award a 28 month contract term, for the provision of a specialized Citizens Advice Service to those with Severe Mental Health illness, that require additional support to access services regarding finance issues across West Suffolk Alliance.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

A voluntary ex ante transparency notice was released to provide notice of the ICB's intention to award a 28-month contract (from 1st December 2024 - 31st March 2027). The contract value of the 28 month period is PS238,334. The Supported Advice Service was created in 2020 to help people with poor mental health and severe mental illnesses overcome practical problems that have become both sources of stress and obstacles to recovery. People referred into the service have an enhanced level of support over core services. The caseworkers receive specialist training in mental health awareness and communication skills, so they are better able to work with this cohort of people. They coordinate the advice process; provide support and encouragement; liaise with external organisations; and plan onward referrals to appropriate partners. Citizens Advice objectives are to reduce the duration of the advice process and to minimise disengagement. People will then have the best chance of overcoming the non-clinical issues that have become impediments to improving their health. This will result in a reduction in repeat GP visits, hospitalisation and reliance on health and care services. Citizens Advice hold the Advice Quality Standard, are accredited to the Money Advice and Pension Service Framework and registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The ICB deem that there is a clear benefit to be gained from maintaining continuity with the incumbent service provider. The ICB will award the contract utilising the NHS Standard Contract for the provision of healthcare services. Additional information: The Service to which this procurement relates fall within Schedule 3 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 as amended by as amended by The Public Procurement (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020, (the "Regulations"). As such, the Contracting Authority does not intend to hold itself bound by any of the Regulations, save those applicable to Schedule 3 Services.

### Procurement Information

A guiding principle of the NHS is that good healthcare is available to all, but whilst progress to improve the health outcomes of the population as a whole has been made, health inequalities remain between different population groups. Commissioners recognise that people from disadvantaged groups can experience barriers to access mainstream services, and despite increasing financial pressures, we recognise there remains a need to ensure people with severe mental illness receive support and can access health and care services in Suffolk and North East Essex. The service will help people with poor mental health and severe mental illnesses overcome practical problems that have become both sources of stress and obstacles to recovery. People referred into the service have an enhanced level of support over core services. The caseworkers receive specialist training in mental health awareness and communication skills, so they are better able to work with this cohort of people. They coordinate the advice process; provide support and encouragement; liaise with external organisations; and plan onward referrals to appropriate partners. Citizens Advice objectives are to reduce the duration of the advice process and to minimise disengagement. People will then have the best chance of overcoming the non-clinical issues that have become impediments to improving their health. This will result in a reduction in repeat GP visits, hospitalisation and reliance on health and care services. The Service to which this procurement relates fall within Schedule 3 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 as amended by as amended by The Public Procurement (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020, (the "Regulations"). As such, the Contracting Authority does not intend to hold itself bound by any of the Regulations, save those applicable to Schedule 3 Services.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/038424-2024 |
| 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 | 28 Nov 2024 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 5 Sep 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 | £238,334 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | NHS SUFFOLK AND NORTH EAST ESSEX ICB |
| Locality | COLCHESTER |
| Post town | Colchester |
| Postcode | CO4 9QR |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLH East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLH3 Essex |
| ITL 3 | TLH34 Essex Haven Gateway |
| Local authority | Colchester |
| Electoral ward | Highwoods |
| Westminster constituency | Colchester |
| Delivery location | TLH14 Suffolk CC |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | SUFFOLK WEST CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 85000000 - Health and social work services

## Release History

- 28 Nov 2024 at 11:52 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/038424-2024
- 26 Sep 2024 at 14:00 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/030828-2024

## Notice URLs

- https://suffolkandnortheastessex.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-04a336. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04a336.json.