---
title: "Crisis Text Services to South West NHS Integrated Care Boards (ICBs)"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-04c27d"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04c27d"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04c27d.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04c27d.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "NHS BRISTOL, NORTH SOMERSET AND SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE (BNSSG) INTEGRATED CARE BOARD (ICB)"
published: "2024-12-05"
---

# Crisis Text Services to South West NHS Integrated Care Boards (ICBs)

Buyer: NHS BRISTOL, NORTH SOMERSET AND SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE (BNSSG) INTEGRATED CARE BOARD (ICB)  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-04c27d

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04c27d)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04c27d.json)

## Summary

The NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) Integrated Care Board (ICB) is planning a procurement for a 24/7 text messaging support service under the 'Light Touch Regime' of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. This procurement aims to support individuals in crisis within the health and social work services category across the South West of England. The process is currently at the planning stage, and interested providers must express their interest by 12:00 on 17th December 2024. The estimated combined annual budget for this project across seven collaborating ICBs is £658,000, with a potential contract term of up to 3 years, totalling an estimated value of £1,974,000. A detailed specification will be available upon registration on Atamis with the expected future notice date of 31st March 2025.

This tender offers significant business growth opportunities, particularly for providers with expertise in digital health support services. Companies that can deliver consistent, high-quality support for individuals facing mental health crises will be well-suited for this contract. The ability to handle high-stress situations and provide continuous service across multiple regions is essential. This opportunity is ideal for businesses that excel in creating digital health platforms, integrating local healthcare services, and providing robust, evidence-based support and escalation pathways. Engaging in this tender process will allow businesses to showcase their capabilities, potentially securing long-term government contracts and expanding their market presence in the healthcare sector.

## Notice

This notice is placed as a Prior Information Notice (PIN) to inform the market of NHS ICB's in the South West of England, (the Commissioner's), intention to commission a 24/7 text messaging support service. The Commissioner would like to understand the level of provider interest in delivering these services. The service will support people at times of crisis and be evidenced as able to support people who are or may be: * Highly anxious or stressed * Depressed or in a heightened emotional state * Suicidal or at risk of harm to themselves The overall aim of the service will be to offer an alternative to people who may not use telephone services to access emergency support, and to provide a digital platform to offer support and escalation, signpost to existing local services that takes into account waiting lists and referral pathways and works in harmony with local services. The service will reduce the number of people reaching crisis and need for further more intensive support. Whilst NHS BNSSG ICB is putting this PIN forward, the full list of ICBs working collaboratively to consider these services and their individual estimate annual budgets are as follows: - NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ICB (PS66k p/a) - NHS Devon ICB (PS141k p/a) - NHS Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire (BSW) ICB (PS88k p/a) - NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) ICB (PS116k p/a) - NHS Dorset ICB (PS87k p/a) - NHS Gloucestershire ICB (PS66k p/a) - NHS Somerset ICB (PS94k p/a) This means a combined estimated annual value of PS658,000. At this time the ICBs are considering contract terms of up to 3 years, so a total estimated opportunity value of PS1,974,000 (over 3 years). These figures are early estimates and are liable to change. The Commissioners are looking for expressions of interest from providers who have the capability and capacity to deliver the requirement, as well as responses to some general market engagement questions. This information will used by the Commissioners to inform their next steps. The deadline to register your interest is 12:00 Tuesday 17th December 2024. This exercise is being managed by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

This notice is placed as a Prior Information Notice (PIN) to inform the market of NHS ICB's in the South West of England, (the Commissioner's), intention to commission a 24/7 text messaging support service. The Commissioner would like to understand the level of provider interest in delivering these services. The service will support people at times of crisis and be evidenced as able to support people who are or may be: * Highly anxious or stressed * Depressed or in a heightened emotional state * Suicidal or at risk of harm to themselves The overall aim of the service will be to offer an alternative to people who may not use telephone services to access emergency support, and to provide a digital platform to offer support and escalation, signpost to existing local services that takes into account waiting lists and referral pathways and works in harmony with local services. The service will reduce the number of people reaching crisis and need for further more intensive support. Outcomes are expected to include: * Support provided directly * Referral to services that can support locally * Sharing of information and self-help tools where appropriate * Identification of serious risk of harm and escalation to emergency services when required * Support for people with known and ongoing mental health issues including serious mental health and personality disorders The service provider will need to offer a consistent 24/7 service across the 7 South West England ICBs, and work in each of the 7 Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) to establish the required local pathways and escalation measures as required. As this is a new service area providers will be expected to provide activity reports and thematic analysis of usage including reasons for service use, onward referrals and service outcomes as much as is possible. This information will then support decisions around longer term funding. Whilst NHS BNSSG ICB is putting this PIN forward, the full list of ICBs working collaboratively to consider these services and their individual estimate annual budgets are as follows: - NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ICB (PS66k p/a) - NHS Devon ICB (PS141k p/a) - NHS Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire (BSW) ICB (PS88k p/a) - NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) ICB (PS116k p/a) - NHS Dorset ICB (PS87k p/a) - NHS Gloucestershire ICB (PS66k p/a) - NHS Somerset ICB (PS94k p/a) This means a combined estimated annual value of PS658,000. At this time the ICBs are considering contract terms of up to 3 years, so a total estimated opportunity value of PS1,974,000 (over 3 years). These figures are early estimates and are liable to change. The Commissioners are looking for expressions of interest from providers who have the capability and capacity to deliver the requirement, as well as responses to some general market engagement questions. This information will used by the Commissioners to inform their next steps. Full detail of the envisaged service specification is available once you have registered on Atamis and located the opportunity. TUPE does not apply. The deadline to register your interest is 12:00 Tuesday 17th December 2024. This exercise is being managed by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners. Additional information: The services are healthcare services falling within Schedule 3 to the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 ("the Regulations") which are not subject to the full regime of the Regulations, but are instead governed by the "Light Touch Regime" contained within Chapter 3, Section 7 of the Regulations (Regulations 74 to 77).

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/039207-2024 |
| Notice type | Planning Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Not specified |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 5 Dec 2024 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 30 Mar 2025 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Planned |
| Lots status | Planned |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | NHS BRISTOL, NORTH SOMERSET AND SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE (BNSSG) INTEGRATED CARE BOARD (ICB) |
| Locality | BRISTOL |
| Post town | Not specified |
| Postcode | N/A |
| Country | Not specified |
| ITL 1 | Not specified |
| ITL 2 | Not specified |
| ITL 3 | Not specified |
| Local authority | Not specified |
| Electoral ward | Not specified |
| Westminster constituency | Not specified |
| Delivery location | TLK South West (England) |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 85000000 - Health and social work services

## Release History

- 5 Dec 2024 at 11:22 - Planning - Planning Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/039207-2024

## Notice URLs

- https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome
- https://www.england.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-04c27d. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04c27d.json.