---
title: "Mental Health Practitioners in PCN's and SMI Health Checks"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06afb8"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06afb8"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06afb8.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06afb8.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "NHS ESSEX INTEGRATED CARE BOARD"
published: "2026-06-19"
---

# Mental Health Practitioners in PCN's and SMI Health Checks

Buyer: NHS ESSEX INTEGRATED CARE BOARD  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06afb8

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## Summary

The NHS Essex Integrated Care Board has updated its procurement process relating to the provision of Mental Health Practitioners within Primary Care Networks and Serious Mental Illness Health Checks. This falls under the community health services category. The contract is being managed through a Direct Award Process C under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. The current stage of this process is the intention to award notice, preceding a formal award. Key dates include the standstill period ending on 18th June 2026. The contract spans from 1st April 2026 to 31st March 2027, with a possibility of extension for another year, covering the Mid Essex area (region UKH3).

This procurement offers substantial growth opportunities for businesses involved in delivering community health services, particularly those experienced in handling complex mental health needs. Suitable businesses would include those capable of offering personalised, trauma-informed care, psychological support, and coordinated physical health interventions. The contract, valued at £797,194 split over two financial years, requires providers to handle annual health checks and ongoing support. Given the award was executed without a competitive process, businesses already embedded in local NHS networks or with similar service offerings may find this a strategic opportunity to expand their service delivery capabilities regionally.

## Notice

NHS Essex Integrated Care Board (the Authority) has awarded a contract for the provision of Mental Health Practitioners (MHPs) in Primary Care Networks (PCNs) and Severe Mental Illness (SMI) Physical Health Check services to the existing provider, Vita Health Group, following Direct Award Process C under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. NHS Essex Integrated Care Board, acting as the Relevant Authority, is commissioning these services to support adults with complex mental health needs who are not suitable for Talking Therapies, providing access to a range of interventions including personalised and trauma-informed care, psychological support, medicines management, and coordinated care. The SMI service ensures individuals receive an annual physical health check, appropriate follow-up, and access to interventions to improve their physical health outcomes.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

The Authority intends to award this contract via Direct Award Process C under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and Procurement Act 2023 do not apply. NHS Essex Integrated Care Board is the Relevant Authority undertaking this process. The services comprise the provision of Mental Health Practitioners (MHPs) within Primary Care Networks (PCNs) and Severe Mental Illness (SMI) Physical Health Check services. These services support adults with complex mental health needs who are not suitable for Talking Therapies provision, delivering a range of interventions including personalised and trauma-informed care, psychological support, medicines management and coordinated care. The SMI service ensures that individuals with severe mental illness receive an annual physical health check, appropriate follow-up, and access to interventions to improve physical health outcomes. The provider is an existing provider of these services to NHS Essex Integrated Care Board and has demonstrated their ability to deliver the services to the required standard, following assessment against the five key Provider Selection Regime criteria. The contract period is from 01 April 2026 to 31 March 2027 with an option to extend for a further 12 months. The total contract value for the 2026/27 and 27/28 financial year is PS797,194.00, comprising PS398,597.00 for each year. The aggregate value is PS797,194.00. The value is activity-dependent and may vary over the contract term.

### Procurement Information

This is a Direct Award Process C intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 and Procurement Act 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 decision makers by midnight Thursday 18th June 2026. The contract has not yet formally been awarded, this notice serves as an intention to award under PSR. The Authority has undertaken an appropriate and proportionate review of declarations and is satisfied that effective arrangements are in place to identify and manage any actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest. Where relevant, mitigation measures have been applied to ensure that no conflict is capable of conferring any undue advantage or disadvantage. On this basis, the Authority is satisfied that no conflict of interest has adversely affected, or is capable of adversely affecting, the integrity of the procurement. All five key criteria were utilised in determining the suitability and continuation of the provider. The criteria were applied with equal weighting, comprising: Quality and Innovation (20%) - The provider is currently delivering the existing contract and is satisfying the requirements of the service. Assessment against the specified criteria demonstrated that the provider meets the required standards, and it is expected that they will continue to deliver the service to a satisfactory standard under the new contract. Value (20%) - The provider has been assessed against the specified criteria and has demonstrated their ability to deliver the service in line with the current service delivery model and performance expectations. The contract value reflects an activity-based model, ensuring that payment aligns with the level of service delivered. Integration, Collaboration and Service Sustainability (20%) - The provider is an existing provider of Mental Health Practitioners in PCNs and SMI Health Checks services and is currently embedded within the system. Their continued delivery supports service continuity and integration across primary care and wider system partners, based on the established delivery model and performance. Improving Access, Reducing Health Inequalities and Facilitating Choice (20%) - The service provides access to a wide range of interventions, including personalised and trauma-informed care, psychological therapies, physical health checks, and medicine management. The SMI Health Checks element ensures that individuals with severe mental illness receive annual physical health checks, follow-up care, and support to access relevant interventions, improving access and addressing health inequalities. Social Value (20%) - The provider contributes to social value through partnership working across a range of statutory and non-statutory organisations, including NHS community services and primary care, which supports improved access to services. In addition, the provider utilises a local workforce, including both employed staff and volunteers, thereby contributing to the economic and social wellbeing of the local area. The assessment confirmed the provider is currently delivering the existing contract and is satisfying the requirements of the service. Assessment against the specified criteria demonstrated that the provider meets the required standards, and it is expected that they will continue to deliver the service to a satisfactory standard under the new contract.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/057819-2026 |
| Notice type | Tender 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 | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 19 Jun 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 9 Feb 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 | £797,194 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | NHS ESSEX INTEGRATED CARE BOARD |
| Locality | CHELMSFORD , ESSEX |
| Post town | Chelmsford |
| Postcode | CM1 1QH |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLH East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLH3 Essex |
| ITL 3 | TLH36 Heart of Essex |
| Local authority | Chelmsford |
| Electoral ward | Moulsham and Central |
| Westminster constituency | Chelmsford |
| Delivery location | TLH3 Essex |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | HERTFORDSHIRE PARTNERSHIP UNIVERSITY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST (HPFT |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 85323000 - Community health services

## Release History

- 19 Jun 2026 at 07:25 - TenderUpdate - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/057819-2026
- 8 Jun 2026 at 12:20 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/053775-2026

## Notice URLs

- http://www.england.nhs.uk
- https://www.essex.icb.nhs
- https://www.essex.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-06afb8. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06afb8.json.