Official UK procurement notice
NHS Talking Therapies and Psychological Therapies for Severe Mental Health Problems
Authority: NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board (NHS & healthcare)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionUrgent award notice under the Provider Selection Regime 2023 for the provision of NHS Talking Therapies and Psychological Therapies for Severe Mental Health Problems Services for NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board (herein referred to as 'the Authority').
The awarded contract is for the provision of NHS Talking Therapies and Psychological Therapies for Severe Mental Health Problems Services, that are aimed at improving mental health outcomes by providing evidence-based therapeutic interventions. The services will be delivered through a combination of face-to-face, online, and telephone consultations. It will cater to individuals experiencing mild to moderate mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression, ensuring timely access to professional support.
CPV: Community health services
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedLot #1This is confirmation of an urgent award having being made due to an urgent circumstanceAwarded
This is confirmation of an urgent award having being made due to an urgent circumstance. This urgent award notice is published under the Provider Selection Regime 2023 for the provision of NHS Talking Therapies and Psychological Therapies for Severe Mental Health Problems Services for NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board (herein referred to as 'the Authority').
The awarded contract is for the provision of NHS Talking Therapies and Psychological Therapies for Severe Mental Health Problems Services, that are aimed at improving mental health outcomes by providing evidence-based therapeutic interventions. The services will be delivered through a combination of face-to-face, online, and telephone consultations. It will cater to individuals experiencing mild to moderate mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression, ensuring timely access to professional support.
This contract is being awarded on an urgent basis due the Competitive Process being under Review, necessitating the continuation of services with the current provider to avoid disruption. A delay in awarding this contract through standard procurement routes would have led to a service gap, negatively impacting service users by increasing waiting times and deteriorating mental health conditions.
Due to urgent circumstances, the Authority has awarded an 8-month contract to incumbent provider: Essex Partnership University Foundation Trust (EPUT)
The contract period is for a total of 8-months from 01st August 2025 - 31st March 2026. The total aggregate contract value is estimated at £4,505,768.00
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record · publisher note attached- Procedure method
- Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
- Legal basis
- CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded without competition
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Direct award (no call for competition)
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 17 Sept 2025, 16:53 BST
- Last source update
- 17 Sept 2025, 16:53 BST
- Authority reference
ACE-0840-2025-MSE- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-057486- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-059c98Find a Tender
- Why no open competition
- The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the directive
- Published justification
This contract has been awarded under the urgent circumstances provision of the Provider Selection Regime (PSR). This contract has been awarded under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply in this award. This urgent award notice has been published within 30 days of the Authority obtaining contract signature.
Rationale as to why this provider has been awarded:
In line with the guidance for exemptions in urgent situations under the Provider Selection Regime (PSR), the current provider has been awarded the contract due to the following reasons:
•Continuity of Care: The current provider has established relationships with service users, ensuring seamless care and avoiding disruption that could arise from transitioning to a new provider.
•Immediate Capacity and Expertise: The provider possesses the necessary infrastructure, workforce, and clinical expertise to continue delivering services without requiring additional mobilisation time.
•Avoidance of Service Gap: Appointing a new provider would require a significant transition period, during which service users could experience delays or a temporary lack of access to critical mental health support.
•Compliance with Urgent Procurement Regulations: this urgent award is justified as the ICB has identified extreme urgency that prevents the implementation of a competitive tender process to cover the service provision.
Proposed review date to conduct a full application of the PSR for that service: N/A as the Authority is undergoing a Review of the Competitive Procurement Process.
Publisher note: This contract has been awarded under the urgent circumstances provision of the Provider Selection Regime (PSR). This contract has been awarded under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply in this award. This urgent award notice has been published within 30 days of the Authority obtaining contract signature. Proposed review date to conduct a full application of the PSR for that service: N/A as the Authority is undergoing Review of Competitive Procurement Process. Details of Decision Makers: Mid and South Essex ICB Operation Group Mid and South Essex ICB Executive Team Rationale as to why this provider has been awarded: In line with the guidance for exemptions in urgent situations under the Provider Selection Regime 2023 (the 'PSR'), the current provider has been awarded the contract due to the following reasons: •Continuity of Care: The current provider has established relationships with service users, ensuring seamless care and avoiding disruption that could arise from transitioning to a new provider. •Immediate Capacity and Expertise: The provider possesses the necessary infrastructure, workforce, and clinical expertise to continue delivering services without requiring additional mobilisation time. •Avoidance of Service Gap: Appointing a new provider would require a significant transition period, during which service users could experience delays or a temporary lack of access to critical mental health support. •Compliance with Urgent Procurement Regulations: this urgent award is justified as the ICB has identified extreme urgency that prevents the implementation of a competitive tender process to cover the service provision. No conflicts of interest have been identified. The Authority is managing COIs as part of the procurement process.
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust | £4,505,768 † | — | Awarded |
Contracts
Contract 057486-2025-1 · Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
- Signed
- 1 Aug 2025
- Value
- £4,505,768
- Status
- active
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1bids | — | — | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation TrustAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications
Official links; attachments are not copiedNo document links were published on the notice.