Planning

Market Engagement: Talking Therapies and Psychological Therapies for Severe Mental Health Problems in Essex

• NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board F01: Prior information notice (prior information only)

Notice identifier: 2026/S 000-026513

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-067205

Published 23 March 2026, 6:02pm

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Contents

one. Contracting authority Press escape key to exit two. Object four. Procedure six. Complementary information

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• Copy link Print this notice Report concerns about this procurement ## Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board

PO Box 6483

Basildon

SS14 0UG

Contact

Procurement Manager

Email

cariad.burgess@attain.co.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKH3 - Essex

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.midandsouthessex.ics.nhs.uk

one.3) Communication

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Body governed by public law

one.5) Main activity

Health

Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Market Engagement: Talking Therapies and Psychological Therapies for Severe Mental Health Problems in Essex

Reference number

ACE-0868-2026-MSE

two.1.2) Main CPV code

Health services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

Market Engagement Event Talking Therapies and Psychological Therapies for Severe Mental Health Problems (TT & PTSMHP) in Essex

This Prior Information Notice (PIN) is intended to notify the market of the Market Engagement event only. This PIN is NOT a call for competition.

The Contracting Authority on behalf of Mid and South Essex, North East Essex and West Essex, Integrated Care Boards, to be succeeded by the proposed new Essex ICB from 1st April 2026 (hereafter referred to as "the Authority") invites suitably qualified providers to attend a virtual Market Engagement event which will inform the market of the Authority's intention to commission Talking Therapies (TT) and Psychological Therapies for Severe Mental Health Problems (PT SMHP) for Essex.

The Market Engagement event will take place virtually via MS Teams on Monday 20th April 2026 from 10:00am - 11:00am. The event will offer an opportunity to engage with stakeholders and for prospective service providers to learn more about the service. The procurement process and timetable will also be shared. To express an interest, please follow the link and complete the registration form directly in the MS Teams webinar link: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/a9e0d005-b811-4527-84e7-f4fa8b10bddb@b5fa915c-fcb7-43a5-a5ad-631d989f6e1d

The closing date for registering attendance is 12:00noon on Friday 17th April 2026. The event will be recorded, and all materials will be shared with interested providers.

The indicative high-level timeline below is being issued by the Authority for information only and may be subject to change:

Tender Period: 01st May 26 – 05th June 26

Evaluation & Moderation June – July 26

Governance: August 26

Notice of Outcome: 14th August 26

Standstill Period: midnight 26th August 26

Award: 27th August 26

Mobilisation: September 26 – March 27

Service go-live: 01st April 2027

The Authority has published this PIN to support market engagement for this TT PTSMHP services only. Any future procurement opportunities pertaining to these services, if undertaken, will be advertised with a separate call for competition via a relevant notice published in the Central Digital Platform (CDP) and all appropriate platforms, once final.

Please note: Commercially sensitive information and Freedom of Information

Respondents’ views or submissions will not be individually identified or revealed to third parties. All information provided in this exercise will be treated in confidence and will NOT be considered in any future tender evaluation exercise. Information gathered may be used in the development of the procurement approach and final Specification for the Service prior to the Invitation to Tender being issued in May. Any information provided in response to this market engagement exercise marked as commercially sensitive will be treated as such. Respondents are asked to identify any of the information supplied in the course of this exercise which should not be disclosed because of its sensitivity. In doing so respondents must specify the reasons for its sensitivity and specify the period for which the information will remain sensitive for the Authority’s records. Respondents should seek their own legal advice on the application of freedom of information legislation. The Authority will consider statements of confidentiality and commercial sensitivity that are provided by respondents and will endeavour to consult with respondents about sensitive information before deciding on any FOI requests received, but the Respondent must make its own assessment and decision on these issues. For avoidance of doubt, the final decision on any FOI request rests with the relevant public body, subject to applicable law.

two.1.5) Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: £1

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

Health services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes

• UKH3 - Essex

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Market Engagement Event: TT & PTSMHP

Service Summary

Mid and South Essex, North East Essex and West Essex, Integrated Care Boards — to be succeeded by the proposed new Essex ICB from 1 April 2026 — intend to commission Talking Therapies and Psychological Therapies for Severe Mental Health Problems (PT‑SMHP). The commissioned services will form a core part of the local mental health offer, providing accessible, evidence‑based psychological therapies for adults across Essex. The ambition is to support earlier intervention, improve recovery outcomes, and ensure people can access the right level of psychological support in a timely and person‑centred way.

Aims and Objectives

The service aims to:

• Provide high‑quality Talking Therapies and specialist psychological therapies for people with severe or complex mental health needs.

• Improve access, equity, and consistency across all parts of Essex.

• Strengthen early intervention and reduce escalation into urgent or crisis services through timely, evidence‑based support.

• Enhance recovery, resilience, and self‑management through structured, therapeutic interventions matched to clinical need.

• Improve integration between primary care, community mental health services, and wider health and social care partners.

• Reduce variation and address local inequalities in access, experience, and outcomes.

Expected Outcomes

• The newly commissioned service is expected to deliver:

• Improved mental health and functional outcomes for individuals receiving therapy.

• Increased access for underserved or marginalised communities across Essex.

• Reduced waiting times and more efficient pathways into both Talking Therapies and PT‑SMHP.

• Reduction in crisis presentations and unplanned care through proactive intervention.

• Positive user‑reported experience, including improved wellbeing, confidence, and ability to manage day‑to‑day life.

• Strengthened system collaboration and smoother transitions between therapy services and wider mental health pathways.

The contract value listed as £1.00 is due to the constraints in this form and does not represent the proposed contract value. The total contract value, proposed contract duration and relevant information will be shared during the engagement session. All relevant details, once finalised, will be published as part of the procurement documentation. Any future procurement opportunities pertaining to these services, if undertaken, will be advertised with a separate call for competition via a relevant notice published in Central Digital Platform (CDP) and all appropriate platforms, once final.

Please Note: Any expenditure, work or effort undertaken by you prior to any subsequent procurement is a matter solely for your own commercial judgment. The Authority reserves the right to withdraw from the process at any time or to not tender the service(s) or to tender on a different basis. In such circumstances, and in any event, the Authority and/or its advisors shall not be liable for any costs or loss of expenses whatsoever incurred by any organisation, agent or subsidiary that may have contributed to any proposals submitted to this notice. Any and all information/documents are draft and subject to change. Under no circumstances should providers approach the Authority directly in relation to the service.

The service that this Prior Information Notice (PIN) relates is within scope of the Provider Selection Regime (PSR). The Authority is bound only by the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 do not apply.

two.2.14) Additional information

The service that this Prior Information Notice (PIN) relates is within scope of the Provider Selection Regime (PSR). The Authority is bound only by the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 do not apply.

two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice

1 May 2026

Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No

Section six. Complementary information

six.3) Additional information

The Market Engagement event will take place virtually via MS Teams on Monday 20th April 2026 from 10:00am - 11:00am. The event will offer an opportunity to engage with stakeholders and for prospective service providers to learn more about the service. The procurement process and timetable will also be shared. To express an interest, please follow the link and complete the registration form directly in the MS Teams webinar link: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/a9e0d005-b811-4527-84e7-f4fa8b10bddb@b5fa915c-fcb7-43a5-a5ad-631d989f6e1d

The closing date for registering attendance is 12:00noon on Friday 17th April 2026. The event will be recorded, and all materials will be shared with interested providers.

Any future procurement opportunities pertaining to these services, if undertaken, will be advertised with a separate call for competition via a relevant notice published in Central Digital Platform (CDP) and all appropriate platforms, once final.

The service that this Prior Information Notice (PIN) relates is within scope of the Provider Selection Regime (PSR). The Authority is bound only by the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 do not apply.