---
title: "Highly Specialist Speech and Language Assessment"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-069c98"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-069c98"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-069c98.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-069c98.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK NHS FOUNDATION TRUST"
published: "2026-05-20"
---

# Highly Specialist Speech and Language Assessment

Buyer: NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK NHS FOUNDATION TRUST  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-069c98

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## Summary

The procurement process undertaken by the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust involves the award of a contract for a "Highly Specialist Speech and Language Assessment" under the Health Services category. The procurement, focused on addressing a critical gap in services at the Whitlingham Ward Secure Unit in Norwich, falls under immediate and extreme urgency due to clinical risks associated with untreated dysphagia. The completed contract, signed on 27th April 2026, was awarded without prior publication, citing the necessity for rapid action. The NHS Trust is situated in Norwich, and this contract aims to mitigate immediate health risks within the Great Yarmouth and Waveney locality.

This tender presents opportunities for specialised health service providers, particularly those with expertise in dysphagia, to engage with critical care needs in the Norfolk region. Bowers Dysphagia Specialist, a large-scale supplier from Norwich, has already secured the contract, highlighting the Trust’s preference for experienced local providers. Enterprises in clinical risk management and speech and language therapy services could leverage such contracts to expand their service offerings rapidly. The limited procurement method underscores the urgency and necessity for specialised skills, making it suitable for businesses capable of delivering targeted healthcare interventions swiftly and efficiently.

## Notice

temporary arrangement to purchase private highly specialist dysphagia assessment to a clinically at-risk individual in the Great Yarmouth and Waveney Locality

### Lot Information

Lot 1

Service users admitted to our inpatient facilities do not have access to Speech and Language Therapy (SaLT) services due to a commissioning gap. As a result, when a dysphagia need is identified, service users are unable to receive a comprehensive assessment, which poses a clinical risk. The absence of appropriate assessment increases the potential that a choking incident could occur, potentially resulting in serious harm if dysphagia needs are not adequately addressed. Whilst a longer-term solution is explored this urgent contract has been awarded to avoid serious harm

### Procurement Information

all peer organisations and system partners declined to offer any support citing lack of capacity and skill mix in the teams. This is a high-risk case requiring a one-off single assessment. In this case we are required to act rapidly to address immediate risks to safety and quality of care. Delaying the award of the contract to conduct a full application of the PSR would be likely to pose a risk to patient safety

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/046054-2026 |
| 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 | 20 May 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 26 Apr 2026 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £500 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK NHS FOUNDATION TRUST |
| Locality | NORWICH |
| Post town | Norwich |
| Postcode | NR1 2DH |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLH East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLH5 Norfolk |
| ITL 3 | TLH51 Norwich and East Norfolk |
| Local authority | Norwich |
| Electoral ward | Lakenham |
| Westminster constituency | Norwich South |
| Delivery location | TLH1 East Anglia |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | BOWERS DYSPHAGIA SPECIALIST |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 85100000 - Health services

## Release History

- 20 May 2026 at 08:22 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/046054-2026

## Notice URLs

- https://www.nsft.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-069c98. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-069c98.json.