Young People's Mental Health Digital Support Service to Swindon and Bath and North East Somerset Clinical Commissioning Groups

Following a successful pilot, Swindon and Bath and North East Somerset Clinical Commissioning Groups seek bids from providers who have the capability and capacity to deliver a Young People's Mental Health Digital Support Service for people aged between 11 and 18 across Swindon and Bath and North East Somerset localities.

The service aims to enhance early intervention and increase accessibility for those young people seeking help, by offering safe, early emotional support and online counselling for secondary school age users with emotional wellbeing and/or emerging mental health problems. The service must integrate, and work collaboratively, with a range of other support services, in particular the local CAMHS provider.

The Commissioner has a combined budget of £139,700 per annum. The total contract value for the initial 3 year Contract is £419,100. At the end of the initial contract term the Commissioners will have an extension option for any number of periods up to a maximum of a further 2 years available which will be awarded at their discretion, giving a maximum possible contract value of £698,500 exclusive of reclaimable VAT, over 5 years if the full contract term is fulfilled. The contract is due to commence on 01/06/2020.

Bidders should note that Swindon and BaNES CCGs will be formally merging with Wiltshire CCG on 1st April 2020, and as such any procurement and/or contracting activity after that date will be with the newly formed BaNES, Swindon and Wiltshire CCG. It is not expected that this will have any effect on the procurement process. This procurement is being carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners.

Additional information: Interested providers will be able to view this notice via the 'current tenders' list on the e-procurement system In-Tend, available on the following link: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/scwcsu/aspx/Home

In order to submit a bid, you will need to be registered on the e-procurement system and 'express an interest', and then complete a response as specified within the procurement documents.

On registration, please include at least two contacts to allow for access to the system in times of absence.

The services are healthcare services falling within Schedule 3 to the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 ("the Regulations") which are not subject to the full regime of the Regulations, but is instead governed by the "Light Touch Regime" contained within Chapter 3, Section 7 of the Regulations (Regulations 74 to 77).

The tendering process will be conducted in accordance with the requirements and flexibilities provided by Articles 74 to 76 of the Directive, and Regulations 74 to 76 of the Regulations. The Authority will run a transparent tender process, treating all Bidders equally. For the avoidance of doubt, the Authority will not be bound by the Regulations or the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union or any other regulations or legislation except for the specific parts or circumstances that apply to the procurement of these Services.

Neither the inclusion of a Bidder selection stage, nor the use of any language or terms found in the Directive or Regulations, nor the description of the procedure voluntarily adopted by the Authority ("Open", "Restricted", "Competitive Procedure with Negotiation", "Competitive Dialogue" or any other description), nor any other indication, shall be taken to mean that the Authority intends to hold itself bound by the Directive or Regulations, save by the provisions applicable to services coming within the scope of Annex XIV of the Directive / Schedule 3 of the Regulations.

The Contracting Authority intends to voluntarily observe the award decision notices provisions and 10 day standstill period described in Regulation 86 of the Regulations. Unsuccessful Bidders will receive scores and reasons for the decision, including the characteristics and relative advantages of the winning bid and the reasons why the Bidder/application was unsuccessful. Deadline for lodging of appeals should be in accordance with Regulation 87 and Regulation 91 of the Regulations.