---
title: "Community Based Alternative Crisis Support Service"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-050508"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-050508"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-050508.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-050508.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "CENTRAL AND NORTH WEST LONDON NHS FOUNDATION TRUST"
published: "2025-04-17"
---

# Community Based Alternative Crisis Support Service

Buyer: CENTRAL AND NORTH WEST LONDON NHS FOUNDATION TRUST  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-050508

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## Summary

NHS North West London is initiating the procurement process for a "Community Based Alternative Crisis Support Service" aimed at providing guidance and counselling services within the urgent mental health care pathway. The contracting process is currently in the planning stage, with a Market Engagement Event scheduled for 30 April 2025. The procurement covers multiple boroughs across North West London, including Brent, Harrow, Hillingdon, Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster, Ealing, Hounslow, and Hammersmith and Fulham. The overarching goal is to deliver non-clinical crisis support services to individuals experiencing mental health distress. This project, with a maximum annual contract value of £1.76 million and planned for a 3-year duration, holds significant importance in reducing A&E attendances by addressing mental health needs in community settings.

This tender represents a substantial opportunity for organisations proficient in delivering community-based mental health support services. Providers with local expertise and established relationships within the mentioned boroughs will find this tender particularly advantageous. Organisations offering drop-in support and collaborations with Liaison psychiatry teams will be well-suited to compete. The planned alternative crisis services will play a crucial role in supporting high-intensity users and providing practical, immediate assistance to those in mental health distress. Participating in this procurement process can contribute to considerable business growth by aligning with the objectives and funding allocated by the NHS North West London. Interested providers are encouraged to engage in the upcoming Market Engagement Event, ensuring they register by 28 April 2025.

## Notice

As part of the urgent mental health care pathway, NHS North West London are recommissioning crisis alternative neighbourhood provisions (such as crisis cafes or safe space) to provide accessible places to support people, families and carers experiencing difficulties with their mental health. We require these services to be delivered by providers who are experts in the areas where provision is based, and understand the local needs and challenges of the community. The contract value will be for a maximum annual value of PS1.76million (PS1million for residents in Brent, Harrow, Hillingdon, Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster and PS0.76m for Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith and Fulham residents) and it is intended this will run for a 3 year period.

The service will be a non-clinical service which will offer an open access safe space and calm environment for people who are experiencing mental health distress, in crisis, or need mental health advice. Without requiring an appointment, the provision will offer drop-in support, a warm drink, a listening ear, practical assistance, and the ability to refer or direct individuals to additional services if needed. The services will provide immediate practical support to reduce mental health distress and guide those with complex or urgent needs to the appropriate urgent care services. They help individuals manage their distress, develop healthy coping strategies, and ultimately aim to instil hope, self-worth, and purpose.

NHS North West London is seeking to commission an organisation who can co-produce seven/eight community crisis alternative services, with our Experts by Experience (EBE) advisors, service users and carers, to be based in geographical locations across North West London boroughs. The services would form part of the CNWL & WLT mental health pathway alongside statutory services to bolster mental health support to CNWL service users (16+) and WLT service users 18+. 
A core outcome for North West London is 'to reduce A&E attendances' with particular attention to High Intensity Users. It is vitally important that this service meets the needs of patients that frequently attend emergency settings if their needs could be met in a nonmedical environment. The provider will be expected to work with Liaison psychiatry teams and SPA's to ensure access and outreach to particular service users is in place.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust and West London NHS Trust (hereafter referred to as "The Authorities") invite interested providers to attend a Market Engagement Event in advance of publication of a collaborative procurement for Crisis Alternative Services across the boroughs of Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster.

Please note, the main objectives for the event are:
* Allow the Authorities to provide an overview of the requirements and expectations of the service.
* Gauge and generate interest around the opportunity.
* Gauge whether the requirements are achievable within the financial envelope available.
* Obtain feedback and answer any questions on the requirement as currently defined.
* Provide an opportunity for providers to make suggestions on potential improvements and efficiencies. 

The Authorities plan to hold this virtually via MS Teams, on Wednesday 30 April 2025 at 14:15 until 15:30.

This Market Engagement Event is open to any interested potential provider, however, we do ask that you limit attendance to a maximum of 2 people per organisation to allow for interaction by all attendees.

Registration closes at 12:00 (Noon) on 28 April 2025.

IMPORTANT: Providers interested in attending the engagement event must register their interest via the Atamis Portal. Once registered against the pre-procurement project, please complete the attendance form and return via the messaging function within the Atamis portal.

All presentation documentation, questions and answers will be published against the opportunity on the Portal following the event.

The purpose of this market engagement notice is to maximise transparency and competition for the upcoming tender and to ensure as wide an audience as possible are aware and informed of the Authorities' intentions. It is not a formal invitation to tender. You will need to respond to the subsequent tender notices to be considered.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015982-2025 |
| 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 | 17 Apr 2025 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 15 Jun 2025 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £8,800,000 |
| 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 | CENTRAL AND NORTH WEST LONDON NHS FOUNDATION TRUST |
| Additional buyers | WEST LONDON NHS TRUST |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Post town | North West London |
| Postcode | NW1 5JD |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI7 Outer London - West and North West |
| ITL 3 | TLI73 Ealing |
| Local authority | Ealing |
| Electoral ward | Norwood Green |
| Westminster constituency | Ealing Southall |
| Delivery location | TLI London |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 85312300 - Guidance and counselling services
- 85312320 - Counselling services

## Release History

- 17 Apr 2025 at 14:15 - Planning - Planning Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015982-2025

## Notice URLs

- https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome
- https://www.cnwl.nhs.uk
- https://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/
- https://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/about/contact
- https://www.westlondon.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-050508. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-050508.json.