Community Based Mental Health Provision for Norfolk and Suffolk - Early Market Engagement

NHS Norfolk and Waveney ICB on behalf of both itself and NHS Suffolk and North East Essex ICB invites suitably qualified Providers to participate within early market engagement with the Commissioners re the future provision of Community based mental health services. Over the past five years, demand for urgent and emergency mental health support in Norfolk and Suffolk has grown and it is continuing to grow.

To help people stay well and avoid crisis admissions, both areas have developed community-based mental health and wellbeing services such as crisis support and wellbeing hubs, telephone support and short stay recovery houses. These services provide safe spaces and support for people aged 18+ years who may be struggling.

The Commissioner is in the process of reviewing our approach to commissioning this community-based mental health provision and the ICB want to have a consistent and effective approach across both counties through the new Norfolk and Suffolk ICB, from April 2027. To achieve this, the Commissioner will be taking an outcomes-based commissioning approach to the re-commissioning of these services.

The commissioning outcomes will be informed by population health inequalities data, and through co-production with service users, families and carers, and system partners. The purpose of this advert is to invite the market to engage and provide early market feedback in relation to Key service needs identified document.

The deadline for Soft Market Testing responses is by 17:00 hours on 2nd March 2026. Please note this is a market testing exercise and does not commit the ICBs to carry out any further procurement process.

Current services will remain in place during this period in line with existing contracts and service level agreements. Any future opportunity will be advertised in accordance with the regulations.

This is an early market engagement exercise only and at this stage the proposed contract length and anticipated contract value are to be determined and will be communicated during any future next steps. The Contracting Authority will be using an eTendering system for this market testing exercise.

Further information and the Invitation to Tender documentation can be found via the ‘Live Opportunities’ list on the e-procurement system at the following link: https://atamis-1928.my.site.com/s/Welcome You can search for the opportunity by entering the following contract ref C422638.

Please note that whilst this market engagement has been advertised on behalf of NHS Norfolk and Waveney and NHS Suffolk and North East Essex ICB, from the 1st April 2026 the ICBs will merge together and form the new NHS Norfolk and Suffolk ICB. NHS Norfolk and Waveney ICB on behalf of both itself and NHS Suffolk and North East Essex ICB invites suitably qualified Providers to participate within early market engagement with the Commissioners re the future provision of Community based mental health services.

Over the past five years, demand for urgent and emergency mental health support in Norfolk and Suffolk has grown and it is continuing to grow. To help people stay well and avoid crisis admissions, both areas have developed community-based mental health and wellbeing services such as crisis support and wellbeing hubs, telephone support and short stay recovery houses.

These services provide safe spaces and support for people aged 18+ years who may be struggling. The Commissioner is in the process of reviewing our approach to commissioning this community-based mental health provision and the ICB want to have a consistent and effective approach across both counties through the new Norfolk and Suffolk ICB, from April 2027.

To achieve this, the Commissioner will be taking an outcomes-based commissioning approach to the re-commissioning of these services. The commissioning outcomes will be informed by population health inequalities data, and through co-production with service users, families and carers, and system partners.

The Commissioners are keen to receive early market feedback in relation to the Key needs identified via an online questionnaire to support the development of new service specification. The aim of this Expression of Interest is to; 1. provide the market with visibility of the proposed opportunity; 2. support the ICB decision making to inform the future commissioning of services (as applicable); 3. to help define the future service approach, model and timelines; 4. to gauge the level of interest from the market of capable providers with capacity across the region to deliver the services noted above.

A further advertisement will be issued at the appropriate time. You will not be disadvantaged in any subsequent process if you choose not to respond to this market testing process, but the Commissioner wishes to understand your views.

The deadline for Soft Market Testing responses is by 17:00 hours on 2nd March 2026. Please note this is a market testing exercise and does not commit the ICB to carry out any further procurement process.

Current services will remain in place during this period in line with existing contracts and service level agreements. Any future opportunity will be carried out in accordance with the ICB’s procurement obligations under the Provider Selection Regime.

This is an early market engagement exercise only and at this stage the proposed contract length and anticipated contract value are to be determined and will be communicated during any future next steps. Please note that whilst this market engagement has been advertised on behalf of NHS Norfolk and Waveney ICB and NHS Suffolk and North East Essex ICB, from the 1st April 2026 the ICBs will merge together and form the new NHS Norfolk and Suffolk ICB.

Additional information: The deadline for Soft Market Testing responses is by 17:00 hours on 2nd March 2026. The Contracting Authority will be using an eTendering system for this market testing exercise.

Further information and the Invitation to Tender documentation can be found via the ‘Live Opportunities’ list on the e-procurement system at the following link: https://atamis-1928.my.site.com/s/Welcome You can search for the opportunity by entering the following contract ref C422638.