NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board (ICB) Procurement of a Neurodivergence Support Service for Children, Young People (age 0-25 years) and their Families

This is a Procurement Act 2023 (Act) Contract Notice. The awarding of the contract is subject to Section 20 under the Act which came into force on 24th February 2025.

The above service is classed as a Light Touch Regime service contract pursuant to the Act Regulation 9. Following market engagement activities which took place between 19th June 2025 and 15th July 2025 including a virtual Market Engagement Event on 15th July 2025, NHS Midlands and Lancashire Commissioning Support Procurement Unit is issuing this Contract Notice on behalf of NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board (ICB) who is seeking to procure a Neurodivergence Support Service for Children, Young People and Families for the registered populations of Herefordshire and Worcestershire, UK.

The ICB is intending to award one contract for the above service, for a period of 3 years with the option to extend for up to another 2 years. The total estimated value for the lifetime of the contract (i.e., 5 years) is £3million.

The contract will mobilise from the 1st May 2026 following a formal Competitive Tendering Procedure in accordance with Section 20 under the Act. The ICB intends to award one contract for the provision of a Neurodivergence Support Service for Children, Young People and Families to cover the population of the counties of Herefordshire and Worcestershire, UK.

The aim of the service will be to support children, young people with neurodivergent needs and their families/support networks to understand their unique circumstances, strengths and challenges, and develop strategies that will enhance and improve day to day living for all. This service will be independent of the Autism and ADHD diagnostic services, however, it will wrap around the core assessment pathway, providing a wide range of advice, information, support and other activities in environments that help people to feel safe and part of a wider network.

As the service will hold specialist expertise in supporting neurodivergent children, young people and their families, it is expected to play a key role in working with the Autism and ADHD diagnostic service and other key organisations, to support system-wide understanding of neurodivergent conditions and drive implementation of best-practice strategies that will enhance and improve day to day living for all. The contract commencement date is 1st May 2026.

The contract duration shall be for a period of 3 years with the option to extend for up to another 2 years, at the ICB's discretion. The total lifetime value of the contract is £3,000,000 (i.e., for 3 years including the 2-year optional extension period ).

The ICB reserves the right to reject Bids that are unaffordable and above the affordability envelope of the project, where the proposed value exceeds the affordability threshold of £600,000.00 per annum and £3,000,000.00 for the total lifetime value of the contract (i.e., for the 3-year contract period including the optional extension period of an additional 2 years). Where VAT is recoverable by the ICB, this applies to the net cost (excluding VAT).

Where VAT is not recoverable, the £600,000 per annum must cover the gross cost (including VAT). Interested parties are invited to submit bids within Atamis project C373050 with regards to provision of the above service. Full details of the service are set out in the Service Specification and accompanying tender documentation which are available to view in the Atamis Documents section of the above project.