Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
NHS SOMERSET INTEGRATED CARE BOARD
QSL
2nd Floor Mallard Court Express Park Bristol Road
Bridgwater
TA64RN
UK
E-mail: rose.firth1@nhs.net
NUTS: UKK23
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://nhssomerset.nhs.uk
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
NHS Somerset ICB - Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs)
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85140000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
This is an Intention to Award Notice to award a contract using the Direct award C process under the Provider Selection Regime (PSR) regulations for NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board (ICB) for the provision of Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs).
MHSTs were introduced in Somerset in 2019 and have become an established component of the children and young people's mental health system. The national programme continues to expand towards an expectation of 100% pupil population coverage by December 2029. The proposed contract will continue the existing MHST model within Somerset, while supporting the planned expansion of coverage in line with national requirements.
Locally, MHSTs are delivering strong outcomes and are well-regarded by schools, children and young people and system partners. A 2025 review of the service confirmed its effectiveness and overall positive performance whilst identifying opportunities for continuous improvement, including strengthening integration, improving productivity and supporting continued expansion
The provider has successfully delivered MHST services within Somerset and has established workforce, governance, operational and safeguarding arrangements necessary to support delivery across educational settings, including:
• Established relationships with schools and educational settings across Somerset
• Experience supporting children and young people with emotional wellbeing and mental health needs
• Delivery of community and school-based interventions
• partnership working across health, education, social care and other voluntary sector organisations
• Established referral, escalation and safeguarding processes.
The provider additionally demonstrates the organisational infrastructure and workforce capability required to support delivery of MHST functions within educational settings, including engagement activity, early intervention support, partnership working and operational coordination across Somerset localities.
The contract period is 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2030. The total combined contract value is £ 13,434,965.17
The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to decision makers by midnight 3rd July 2026.
This exercise was carried out by NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board,
supported by NHS South Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW), along with the publication of this notice.
This contract had not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under PSR.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
13 434 965.75
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKK23
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
This is an Intention to Award Notice to award a contract using the Direct Award C process under the Provider Selection Regime (PSR) regulations for NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board (ICB) for the provision of the voluntary sector component of Somerset's Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs).
Direct Award C has been used for the award of this contract. The existing provider is satisfying the original contract and will likely satisfy the proposed new contract. The services provided are the service specification are not changing considerably from those delivered under the existing contract.
MHSTs were introduced in Somerset in 2019 and are now an established component of the children and young people's mental health system. The national programme continues to expand towards an expectation of 100% population coverage by December 2029. The proposed contract will support continuation of the existing MHST model within Somerset, whilst enabling planned coverage in line with national requirements.
Locally, MHSTs are delivering positive outcomes and are well regarded by schools, children and young people and system partners. A review of the service undertaken in 2025 confirmed its effectiveness and overall positive performance whilst identifying opportunities for continuous improvement, including strengthening integration, improving productivity and supporting continued expansion.
The provider has successfully delivered MHST services within Somerset and has established the workforce, governance, operational and safeguarding arrangements necessary to support delivery across educational settings and localities, including:
• Established relationships with schools and educational settings across Somerset
• Experience supporting children and young people with emotional wellbeing and mental health needs
• Delivery of community and school-based interventions
• partnership working across health, education, social care and other voluntary sector organisations
• Established referral, escalation and safeguarding processes.
The provider additionally demonstrates the organisational infrastructure and workforce capability required to support delivery of MHST functions within educational settings, including engagement activity, early intervention support, partnership working and operational coordination across Somerset localities.
Following consideration of the key criteria set out within the Provider Selection Regime, NHS Somerset ICB concluded that awarding a further contract to the existing provider represents the most appropriate approach to secure continuity of service delivery and maintain established relationships with schools, children and young people and system partners.
The contract period is 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2030. The total combined contract value is £13,434,965.17
The proposed contract period provides continuity of the existing MHST service model whilst supporting planned expansion towards national coverage expectations. Future commissioning arrangements beyond March 2030 will be considered during the lifetime of the contract.
The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to decision makers by midnight 3rd July 2026.
This exercise was carried out by NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board,
supported by NHS South Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW), along with the publication of this notice.
This contract had not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under PSR.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion: Quality and Innovation
/ Weighting: 20
Quality criterion: Integration, collaboration and service sustainability
/ Weighting: 30
Quality criterion: Improving access, reducing health inequalities and facilitating choice
/ Weighting: 30
Quality criterion: Social Value
/ Weighting: 10
Price
/ Weighting:
10
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
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition
Justification for selected award procedure:
The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the Directive
Explanation
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award. The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority by 3rd July 2026. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
No
Section V: Award of contract
Title: Somerset ICB- Mental Health Support Teams
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
07/05/2026
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Young Somerset
03363009
3 Chartfield House Castle Street, Tangier
Taunton
TQ1 4AS
UK
NUTS: UKK23
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 13 434 965.17
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
This is an Intention to Award Notice to award a contract using the Direct award C process under the Provider Selection Regime (PSR) regulations for NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board (ICB) for the Mental Health Support Teams
The contract period is 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2030. The total combined contract value is £ 13,434,965.17
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award.
The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority by 3rd July 2026 (8 working days following publication of intention to award notice). This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award a contract under the competitive process of the PSR.
The existing provider was assessed against the below 5 key criteria of PSR, which were all weighted evenly and used the below assessment matrix:
Key Criteria
1. Quality and Innovation
2. Value
3. Integration, collaboration, and service sustainability
4. Improving access, reducing health inequalities, and facilitating choice
5. Social value
Assessment Matrix
• Where a provider has scored a "Not Assured" for one or more sections, they will not be awarded the contract.
• Where a provider has scored "Conditionally Assured" for one or more sections, the ICB will consider the extent to which the partial assurance affects the overall delivery, and will ensure action plans are in place prior to contract finalisation.
• Where a provider has scored "Assured" for all sections, the contract can be awarded.
Potential conflicts of interest:
The SCW procurement team supported the project in the management of conflicts throughout the process. In line with national guidance (Managing conflicts of interest: revised statutory guidance for CCGs 2017) conflicts of interest were given a high priority within the procurement, with 'conflicts of interest' a standing item at project group meetings.
Project members were required to complete Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality forms prior to receiving any sensitive documentation. All conflicts were appropriately managed within the project, and there are no latent risks associated with the aforementioned conflicts. The number of conflicts of interest identified among group: 0.
Decision Makers;
The decision was approved in line with Somerset Integrated Care Board's Scheme of Reservation and Delegation by the Contract Oversight Group (COG) and Finance Committee.
For the purposes of where written representations are needed to be sent, please do so via the following email address: angela.mortley@nhs.net
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and The Procurement Act 2023 do not apply to this award. The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to decision makers 3rd July 2026 This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
NHS Somerset ICB
Yeovil
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
23/06/2026