Veterans' Mental Health Complex Treatment Service

The NHS Commissioning Board, known as NHS England, the Contracting Authority, (hereafter referred to as "The Authority") invites completed Invitation to Tender (ITT) submissions from all suitable providers to provide the Veterans' Mental Health - Complex Treatment Service in one or more of these following opportunities; East Midlands, West Midlands and East of England.

In 2017 NHS England commissioned the Veterans' Mental Health Transition Intervention and Liaison (TIL) service following publication of the engagement work in relation to veterans' mental health services. TIL services provide, across England, increased access and treatment for armed forces personnel approaching discharge and veterans with mental health difficulties.

Building on the VMH - TIL service the VMH Complex Treatment Service (VMH - CTS) will provide an enhanced service for veterans with complex mental health problems that are attributable to military service, which have not been resolved earlier in the care / support pathway and require an intensive and assertive multi-disciplinary package of clinical and social interventions where a military culturally sensitive approach would assist the rapport and therapeutic outcomes for the patient. The service will focus on those veterans who have complex mental health problems including PTSD.

The Procurement process will be facilitated entirely online via The Authority's e-procurement portal (ProContract). Interested Applicants wishing to participate in the procurement must register and complete the online questionnaires hosted on the portal prior to the deadline for submission 17th November 2017 at 12 noon. All clarification requests and correspondence pertaining to this ITT opportunity must be directed through the portal.

Contracts will be awarded for an initial period of two (2) years, with optional extension for a further two (2) years. i.e. Maximum total duration for each contract is four (4) years in total.

A timetable for the procurement, guidance regarding the process, and supplementary information relating to each contract opportunity is also available from the Portal.

This opportunity was previously advertised as part of the Veterans Mental Health - Intensive Service as Lot 2 - Midlands & East (PRJ437) which failed to attract any bids in this configuration. The opportunity is, therefore, being re-advertised as three smaller lots reflective of the local geography.

Additional information: This Tender process is being managed by NEL Commissioning Support Unit (NEL CSU) on behalf of The Authority in connection with a competitive procurement exercise that is being conducted in accordance with a process based on the Open Procedure under the Public Contract Regulations 2015 ("the Regulations" (as amended)). The services to which this Procurement relates fall within the "Light Touch Regime" (LTR) governing procurement of Health, Social, Education and Other service contracts. Neither the reference to "Open Procedure", "ITT", "SQ", the use of the term "Tender process", nor any other indication shall be taken to mean that the Contracting Authority intends to hold itself bound to any of the Regulations, save those applicable to LTR provisions.

Bidders are also to note that information relating to this procurement is provided in good faith, and may be subject to amendment by The Authority.