Official UK procurement notice
Social Prescribing Link Worker - Rural Practice Network
Authority: NHS SOMERSET INTEGRATED CARE BOARD (Central government)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionSocial prescribing is a key part of Universal Personalised Care, connecting people to non-clinical community activities and services that support their social, emotional, and practical wellbeing. Delivered by trained professionals, it offers a holistic, person-centred approach that empowers individuals, reduces reliance on clinical services, and strengthens local communities through meaningful engagement.
Somerset Integrated Care Board are intending to award a contract to the existing provider following a Provider Selection Regime Direct Award Process C. The existing provider is satisfying the original contract and will likely satisfy the proposed new contract. The services provided are the service specification are not changing considerably.
This contract is for a period of 12 months from 01/07/26 to 30/06/27.
This Notice has been published by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners
CPV: Health services
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedLot #1Somerset Integrated Care Board ("the ICB") is directly awarding a contract to the…Awarded
Somerset Integrated Care Board ("the ICB") is directly awarding a contract to the existing provider Rural Practice Network in accordance with the following five criteria outlined in Regulation (9) of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023:
SPLW teams have strong collaborative relationships across Somerset's health, care, and community sectors, with presence within local networks, helping to ensure that individuals receive coordinated, holistic support. These links are ensured via taking a proactive role in multi‑agency meetings and neighbourhood collaborations at PCN-level, contributing valuable community insight and championing prevention-first approaches.
These partnerships are helping reduce duplication and improve the consistency of support for people with complex social needs. They also reflect the Providers' ongoing commitment to integrated working, collaborative problem‑solving, and elevating community voices within Somerset's health and care landscape.
Our Social Prescriber providers in Somerset come together as a Community of Practice to ensure learning and connections between teams, and as part of the Somerset Social Prescribing Collaborative to develop our strategic direction for social prescribing and a joint standards framework and performance metrics.
A direct award to Rural Practice Network would be appropriate and present the best value for the Commissioner in this circumstance.
Direct Award C has been used for the award of this contract. The existing provider is satisfying the original contract and will likely satisfy the proposed new contract. The services provided are the service specification are not changing considerably
The Commissioner made the decision of directly awarding the incumbent
Provider in accordance with the following five criteria outlined in Regulation (9) of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023:
- Quality and innovation
- Value
- Integration, collaboration, and service sustainability
- Improving access, reducing health inequalities and facilitating choice
- Social value
The approximate lifetime value of the contract is £76,797
This contract is for a period of 12 months from 01/07/2026 to 30/06/2027.
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and The Procurement Act 2023 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 12th June 2026 (8 working days following publication of intention to award notice) this contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.
This Notice has been published by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners.
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
- 1 Jun 2026, 16:06 BST
- Last source update
- 1 Jun 2026, 16:06 BST
- Authority reference
QSL-Rural Practice Network-SPLW-2021_22- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-051545- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06aab5Find a Tender
- Why no open competition
- The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the directive
- Published justification
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to 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 to this award.
The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority by 12th June 2026 (8 working days following publication of intention to award notice). This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.
Publisher note: The decision was approved in line with Somerset Integrated Care Board's Scheme of Reservation and Delegation by the Contract Oversight Group (COG) and Finance Committee. There were no conflicts of interest identified among committee members. This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to 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 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 12th June 2026 (8 working days following publication of intention to award notice). This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR. Written Representation can be sent to : [email protected]
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rural Practice Network | £76,797 † | — | Awarded |
Contracts
Contract 051545-2026-1 · Rural Practice Network
- Signed
- 15 Dec 2025
- Value
- £76,797
- Status
- active
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1bids | 0 | — | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Dispute resolution & review bodies
- Somerset Integrated Care BoardReview body
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- Rural Practice NetworkAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications
Official links; attachments are not copiedNo document links were published on the notice.