National Framework Agreement for the provision of Mental Health and Wellbeing Services

This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The overall aim of the Framework Agreement is to provide Mental Health and Wellbeing services for young people, adults or both.

The Framework intends to cover a range of services that fall within the scope of Mental Health and Wellbeing services, delivered either virtually or in person. This is a Framework under The Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 and The Health Services (Provider Selection Regime) (Wales) Regulations 2025 In accordance with Regulation 17 of The Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 and Regulation 17 of The Health Services (Provider Selection Regime) (Wales) Regulations 2025, the Framework will be open to applications from new potential Providers during the Term of the Framework.

Previously appointed Providers are NOT obliged to re-apply. Further 'Intention to Award' notices will be published as and when new Providers are appointed.

The awarding of this framework agreement 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 Regulations 2024 do not apply to this award.

The standstill period begins on the day after the publication of this notice. Framework agreements have not yet been formally concluded; this notice serves as an intention to establish the framework agreements under the PSR.

The award decision makers were two Senior Commercial Procurement Specialists, the Commercial Procurement Manager and the Director of Commercial Procurement Services. The Key Criteria were: • Social Value 10% • Value - Commercial Questionnaire 10% • Quality and Innovation 30% • Integration, collaboration, and service sustainability 30% • Improving access, reducing health inequalities, and facilitating choice 20% The framework will be available to all Relevant Authorities (and any future successors to these organisations).

"Relevant Authority" is defined in section 12ZB(7) of the National Health Service Act 2006 and in section 10A(9) of the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006. The overall aim of the Framework Agreement is to provide Mental Health and Wellbeing services for young people, adults or both.

The Framework intends to cover a range of services that fall within the scope of Mental Health and Wellbeing services, delivered either virtually or in person. In accordance with Regulation 17 of The Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 and Regulation 17 of The Health Services (Provider Selection Regime) (Wales) Regulations 2025, new Providers may be added to this Framework during the Term of the Framework.

Award of a Framework Agreement does not guarantee or imply any commitment to award a Call-off Contract by any Relevant Authority. Previously appointed Providers are NOT obliged to re-apply.

Additional information: This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this framework agreement is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 and The Health Services (Provider Selection Regime) (Wales) Regulations 2025.

For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and The Procurement Regulations 2024 do not apply to this award. The standstill period begins on the day after the publication of this notice.

Framework Agreements have not yet been formally concluded; this notice serves as an intention to establish the framework agreements under the PSR. The decision was proposed by a Senior Commercial Specialist at Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and approved by the Commercial Procurement Manager and the Director of Commercial Procurement Services for Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

No conflicts of interest were detected or declared during the procurement process. The relative importance of the key criteria that the relevant authority used to make a decision are set out in this notice.

Each of the Key Criteria elements were weighted in consideration of the subject-matter and with a view to securing the needs of the people who use the services, improving the quality of the services, and improving the efficiency of in the provision of the services. The chosen providers met the selection criteria, passed the PASS/FAIL Key Criteria and met or exceeded the published required minimum total score of 65% across the remaining Key Criteria for award to the Framework Agreement.