Provision of Improving Access to Phycological Therapies (IAPT) in Mid and South Essex

This is a contract award notice and is intended to provide notice of NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board (herein "the Authority")'s intention to award a contract to deliver the provision of Improving Access to Phycological Therapies (IAPT) for Mid and South Essex to the patients within Mid and South Essex's geographical footprint.

This contract award notice is made following the Authority's publication of the voluntary ex ante transparency notice (Notice Number: 2023/S 000-037582) on the 21st December 2023 which outlined the rationale and reasoning for the Authority's decision to award this contract, under Regulation 32 (2) (c) of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 ("PCR 2015") (as amended The Public Procurement (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020).

In line with best practice, the Authority has observed the voluntary 10-day standstill period from the publication date of the voluntary ex-ante Notice before awarding the contract, pursuant to Regulation 99 (3) (c) of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 (as amended (EU Exit) 2020 etc.)

The contract will be for 12 months from 01st April 2024 - 31st March 2025 . The aggregate contract value is forecasted at £2,884,013.00

As of July 2022, the Integrated Care Board (ICB) superseded the previous 5 CCGs within Mid and South Essex. NHS Mid and South Essex ICB is currently undergoing an organisational restructure and have taken the decision to extend the current contract to the incumbent provider for 12 months whilst commissioning decisions and strategies can be made for the future of this service.

The Authority has taken the decision to award this IAPT to incumbent provider Vita Health Group. The provider is considered most technically capable of providing the most economically advantageous solution to the Authority under the current environment whilst the ICB undergoes restructure, review and alignment of contracts. The Authority is applying the NHS Standard Contract Terms and Conditions to support a combination of services, all of which are part funded under a single clinical contract, to ensure appropriate clinical governance and service delivery quality as well as consistency of service to patients.

The Authority will publish appropriate Notices accordingly to communicate any such future changes and opportunities to the market, once final.

Additional information: This contract award notice is made in Find a Tender Service (FTS) and Contracts Finder following the Authority's publication of the voluntary ex ante transparency notice (Notice Number: 2023/S 000-037582) on the 21st December 2023 which outlined the rationale and reasoning for the Authority's decision to award this contract, under Regulation 32 (2) (c) of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 ("PCR 2015") (as amended The Public Procurement (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020).

In line with best practice, the Authority has observed the voluntary 10-day standstill period from the publication date of the voluntary ex-ante Notice before awarding the contract, pursuant to Regulation 99 (3) (c) of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 (as amended (EU Exit) 2020 etc.)

The Service to which this procurement relates fall within Schedule 3 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 as amended by as amended by The Public Procurement (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020, (the "Regulations"). As such, the Authority does not intend to hold itself bound by any of the Regulations, save those applicable to Schedule 3 Services.

The Authority has taken a decision to award a contract to the incumbent provider as it is considered to be the most technically capable provider in the current environment, whilst the ICB undergoes its own procurement process to formally award this service. This award is made to ensure quality, safety and consistency in provision of care that meet the needs of the vulnerable service users and patient population during this transition period.

The Authority will publish appropriate Notices accordingly to communicate any such future changes and opportunities to the market, once final.