NHSWYICB - SEMH Cluster Support Service

The Contract Authority; NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board intends to award a contract to an existing provider following Direct Award Process C. The authority is publishing this notice in Find a Tender in accordance with the NHS Provider Selection Regime.<br/><br/>Contract Period: 01/09/2026 - 31/08/2027<br/><br/>Contract Value: £984,641. Additional information: Eligibility for Direct Award Process C<br/>The Record of Decision Making created at the time of the decision confirms that the service:<br/>

• is an existing service;<br/>
• is delivered by an existing providers (Barca Leeds, Gipsil and Northpoint Wellbeing);<br/>
• is replacing contracts that are due to expire; and<br/>
• is therefore eligible in principle for Direct Award Process C.<br/>The Record also identifies the named decision maker, senior approving bodies, contract value and term, and confirms that no conflicts of interest were declared. This document evidences that the decision was taken consciously and contemporaneously within the PSR framework, rather than by default or assumption.<br/><br/>2. No Considerable Change to Contracting Arrangements<br/>The Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) Cluster Based Support: MindMate Wellbeing service specification demonstrates that the proposed contract does not introduce any considerable change when compared with the existing arrangements.<br/>In substance:<br/>
• the service model remains a community based mental health service model;<br/>
• the population, geography, referral routes, and eligibility criteria are unchanged;<br/>
• delivery remains with the same providers, using the same service delivery model;<br/>
• there is no expansion, reconfiguration, or transfer of material risk.<br/>The ICB actively reviewed the proposed scope, duration, outcomes, delivery model, and risk profile against the existing contract and concluded that none of these elements met the PSR “considerable change” threshold.<br/><br/>3. Provider Performance and Likely Future Performance<br/>The Service Review Template – PSR Key Criteria provides detailed, narrative based evidence demonstrating that the existing providers:<br/>
• are satisfying the current contracts to a sufficient standard; and<br/>
• are likely to satisfy the proposed contracts to a sufficient standard.<br/>The Service Review assesses performance against all PSR key criteria, including:<br/>Quality and innovation<br/>Quality<br/>Strong outcomes and service effectiveness<br/>Service user experience<br/>Value and stewardship of public funds<br/>Cost-effective early intervention<br/>Integration, collaboration, and sustainability<br/>The services are well embedded within the Leeds healthcare system<br/>The Providers have developed established partnerships with schools and clusters over many years.<br/>Multi-agency delivery model<br/>Sustainability<br/><br/>4.Proportionality and Overall Assurance<br/>In determining the appropriate procurement route, the ICB considered whether a competitive process would deliver additional benefit. Given the continuity of need, the absence of material change, the provider’s sustained performance, the providers deep integration with clusters and schools with well-established pathways and the risks associated with service disruption, the ICB concluded that a competitive process would not be proportionate to the time, cost, and delivery risk involved.<br/>Taken together, the three documents; Record of Decision Making, Service Specification and Service Review Template provide a coherent and auditable justification for the use of Direct Award Process C, demonstrating that:<br/>
• the regulatory conditions for Process C are met;<br/>
• the decision was taken lawfully, transparently, and proportionately;<br/>
• the existing provider sufficiently meets the PSR criteria; and<br/>
• continuity of a clinically effective and system beneficial service is in the best interests of patients and the wider system.<br/>WY ICB therefore remains satisfied that the requirements of the Provider Selection Regime have been properly applied and evidenced.