AccEPT Clinic Service

Location

Exeter

Description

The AccEPT Clinic addresses substantial deficiencies in the provision of psychological therapy for adults with serious mental illness (SMI) in Devon. This includes: • People with hard-to-treat depression who have not benefited from existing IAPT or pharmacological interventions. • Individuals with bipolar disorder who are out of remit for secondary care but require psychological support or relapse prevention. • People with histories of SMI and mood disorders who no longer meet secondary care thresholds but experience languishing wellbeing.

Total Quantity or Scope

• People with hard-to-treat depression who have not benefited from existing IAPT or pharmacological interventions. • Individuals with bipolar disorder who are out of remit for secondary care but require psychological support or relapse prevention. • People with histories of SMI and mood disorders who no longer meet secondary care thresholds but experience languishing wellbeing. This notice is the Trust's statement of our intention to award a contract to an existing provider following the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023, direct award process C. The lifetime value of this contract is £740,360. The services will be provided between 1st April 2026 and 31st March 2029. The contract allows for a 2 year extension option.

Award Detail

Award Criteria

CPV Codes

• 85121270 - Psychiatrist or psychologist services

Indicators

• Award on basis of price and quality.

Legal Justification

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 standstill period begins on the day after the publication of this notice. Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority by 24th April 2026. This notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.

Other Information

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 standstill period begins on the day after the publication of this notice. Written representations by providers must be made to dpt.procurementcontracting@nhs.net by 24th April 2026. This notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR. The details of the award decision-maker is as follows:- Jacquie Mowbray-Gould Director - Mental Health, Learning Disability and Neurodiversity (MHLDN) Provider Collaborative Key reasons for selecting the provider include: • Strategic Fit and System Alignment: DPT, in partnership with the University of Exeter, demonstrated a strong fit with the Devon system's ambitions under the Community Mental Health Framework (CMHF). The AccEPT Clinic addresses the 'missing middle'-individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) who are underserved by current pathways-thus helping close a known treatment gap and supporting delivery of integrated, recovery-oriented care • Delivery of Evidence-Informed Care: The chosen provider offers a unique, co-produced, and research-integrated model of care grounded in the biopsychosocial approach. All therapy protocols are either NICE-concordant or delivered within ethically governed research frameworks, ensuring both clinical quality and innovation • Outcomes and System Contribution: The service has a strong emphasis on measurable impact, including improved psychological wellbeing, increased access to tailored therapies, and enhancement of workforce capacity via training and supervision. This positions the clinic as both a direct provider and a system learning site • Cost Effectiveness: The proposed model demonstrates cost-conscious delivery with a per-person and per-contact rate that compares favourably against non-NHS benchmarks, while providing enhanced service scope (e.g., expert by experience engagement, coproduction, and trainee placements) • Established Local Partnership and Delivery Track Record: DPT and the University of Exeter already jointly operate the service with robust governance, secure data infrastructure, and established pathways for safe clinical handover. Continuity of this arrangement supports service stability and minimises disruption for clients • Uniqueness of Provision: The AccEPT Clinic is a unique offer within the Devon system. There is no other local provider currently able to deliver the combination of evidence informed psychological therapies, integrated research activity, and co-produced delivery for this population group. The clinical-research model, specialist workforce, and systemwide contributions are not replicable by alternative providers within the local health and care landscape. The decision to award is therefore grounded in the provider's unique ability to meet the specification's requirements while offering scalable system value, equity-focused service delivery, and demonstrable outcomes.