Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
2nd Floor, Woodland House, Maes-Y-Coed Road
Cardiff
CF14 4HH
UK
Contact person: Marisa Riley
Telephone: +44 2921501085
E-mail: marisa.riley2@wales.nhs.uk
NUTS: UKL22
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://nwssp.nhs.wales/ourservices/procurement-services/
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA0221
I.2) Joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
https://etenderwales.ukp.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.shtml
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
https://etenderwales.ukp.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.shtml
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
I.5) Main activity
Health
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
SECURE TRANSPORT SERVICES FOR MENTAL HEALTH PATIENTS
Reference number: CAV-CP-63142
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85143000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
The provision of secure transport services for mental health patients across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, supporting safe, timely, and compassionate transfers between healthcare and community settings, including urgent and high-risk journeys on a 24/7 basis. The contract is expected to commence in January 2027 for an initial term of three years, with the option to extend for a further two years
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
85143000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKL22
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The contract is for the provision of secure transport services for mental health patients across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. The service will support the safe, timely, and compassionate transfer of patients between a range of settings, including acute hospital sites, community locations, inpatient mental health units, and other clinically appropriate destinations across the UK. This will include hospital-to-hospital transfers, community-to-hospital admissions, discharge-related transport, and other clinically required journeys.
The provider will be required to deliver a flexible, responsive, and multi-purpose transport service capable of meeting a wide range of patient needs, including routine, urgent, and high-risk transfers. This includes the safe conveyance of patients detained under the Mental Health Act, as well as those requiring enhanced supervision, secure transport arrangements, or specialist handling. All services must be delivered in a manner that prioritises patient safety, dignity, and wellbeing, with staff trained in trauma-informed care, de-escalation techniques, and the safe and proportionate use of restraint where clinically necessary.
The service must operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year, supporting both pre-planned and emergency requests. Providers will be expected to meet defined response times, including urgent responses within one hour and standard responses within two hours. The provider must maintain an appropriately resourced and roadworthy fleet, including vehicles capable of meeting enhanced safety requirements (such as secure pods or cells where required), and ensure availability of suitable staffing levels determined through risk assessment for each journey.
The provider will also be required to ensure full compliance with all relevant statutory, regulatory, and clinical standards, including the Mental Health Act, safeguarding requirements, NHS Wales standards, and applicable guidance from Healthcare Inspectorate Wales. Robust arrangements for quality assurance, incident reporting, performance monitoring, and continuous improvement will be expected, alongside effective communication and coordination with Health Board services.
The contract is expected to commence in January 2027 for an initial term of three years, with the option to extend for a further period of up to two years, subject to satisfactory performance and agreement by the Health Board.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
2 500 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 60
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
The contract will be awarded for an initial term of 36 months, with the option to extend for a further period of up to 24 months, subject to satisfactory performance and at the discretion of the Health Board.
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2025/S 000-055281
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
27/07/2026
Local time: 12:00
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
CY
IV.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 6 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date:
27/07/2026
Local time: 12:00
Place:
Electronic opening via eTender Wales
Information about authorised persons and opening procedure:
Tenders will be opened electronically via the eTender Wales portal by authorised personnel within NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership Procurement Services. The opening process is not a public event.
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
No
VI.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
VI.3) Additional information
This is a Provider Selection Regime Wales (PSR Wales) Contract Notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Services (Provider Selection Regime) (Wales) Regulations 2025. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015/Procurement Act 2023 do not apply to this award.
Procurement documents, including detailed instructions on how to submit bids and the required information, are available at the following
link: https://etenderwales.bravosolution.co.uk/home.html.
The criteria for contract award decisions can also be found there.
NOTE: The authority is using eTenderwales to carry out this procurement process. To obtain further information record your interest on Sell2Wales at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/search_switch.aspx?ID=165067
Bids will be evaluated in accordance with the award criteria set out in this ITT using a structured evaluation process.
NOTE: The authority is using eTenderwales to carry out this procurement process. To obtain further information record your interest on Sell2Wales at http://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/search_switch.aspx?ID=166753
Under the terms of this contract the successful supplier(s) will be required to deliver Community Benefits in support of the authority’s economic and social objectives. Accordingly, contract performance conditions may relate in particular to social and environmental considerations. The Community Benefits included in this contract are:
Community Benefits Clauses will be applied in line with Welsh Government policy, focusing on delivering social, economic, and environmental benefits. This includes supporting local employment, engaging with local supply chains (including SMEs), promoting sustainable practices, and contributing to the well-being of communities across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.
(WA Ref:166753)
The buyer considers that this contract is suitable for consortia.
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
High Court
Royal Courts of Justice, The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
UK
Telephone: +44 2079477501
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
23/06/2026