Prior information notice
This notice is for prior information only
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
NHS SUFFOLK AND NORTH EAST ESSEX INTEGRATED CARE BOARD
QJG
Endeavour House, Russell Road
Ipswich
IP12BX
UK
Contact person: Jane Garnett
E-mail: procurement@snee.nhs.uk
NUTS: UKH14
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://suffolkandnortheastessex.icb.nhs.uk/
Address of the buyer profile: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/snee-icb/aspx/Home
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
https://in-tendhost.co.uk/snee-icb/aspx/Home
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
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 mental health transport
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85100000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
SNEE ICB are planning to formalise the commissioning arrangements in relation to the appropriate and secure transportation of people who have mental health needs in Ipswich and East and West Suffolk. North East Essex and Waveney are currently out of scope for these arrangements.
The secure transportation should be delivered with a person-centred and trauma informed approach and should not adversely impact the mental wellbeing of the service user. Transport will be required within the county of Suffolk and may be required from Suffolk to any area within the United Kingdom.
These transport arrangements will contribute to the operation of the crisis and urgent emergency system in Suffolk; and commissioned transport providers will need to have regard to prevent any negative impacts on patient flow across the system.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKH14
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
In the autumn 2025, SNEE ICB intends to release to the market an accreditation opportunity to provide secure transport services for people with mental health needs in Suffolk on a framework. The current activity cost for secure mental health transportation is £407,746 per annum.
Prior to this the ICB would like to understand the level of interest in the market and gather input and feedback from interested providers about the current draft specification - to receive a copy of the specification please email: procurement@snee.nhs.uk
In conjunction with this, we are also interested to hear your responses to the following questions:
• What factors and/or processes need to be in place to enable you to establish and maintain a positive working relationship with the mental health provider and the advanced mental health practitioner (AMHP) service?
• What key points should be included in a shared risk assessment agreement between a secure mental health transport provider, the mental health provider and the AMHP service?
• Once a vehicle has been booked how many minutes do you consider to be a reasonable response time within the Suffolk geographic area?
• In what ways, other than quality inspections, would you be able to give assurance to ICB commissioners about the quality of your provision and the experience of service users?
Please send responses in respect of the questions and any comments on the specification to procurement@snee.nhs.uk by 17:00 on the 31 July 2025.
Please include direct contact information in case the Commissioners would like to discuss your responses further.
II.2.14) Additional information
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) Prior Information Notice. The awarding of any contract in a future procurement process will be subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Procurement Act 2023 do not apply to any process which may be published in relation to this notice.
II.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice:
12/09/2025
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
No
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
08/07/2025