Sub-contract for Cheshire and Merseyside adult secure services (male low secure mental illness and male step-down)

Location

Liverpool

Description

The contract is for the provision of adult secure mental health services for patients from Cheshire and Merseyside, delivered by Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP) in line with nationally agreed NHS contracts and service specifications. The services are commissioned under a block contract arrangement, providing a defined level of clinical activity and capacity to meet anticipated system demand and support delivery of the secure care pathway across the Lead Provider Collaborative.

Total Quantity or Scope

The service includes the delivery of secure inpatient care and associated clinical support, providing assessment, treatment and recovery-focused interventions to support patients within the secure care pathway. Services are commissioned under a block contract arrangement, providing a defined level of capacity and activity to meet anticipated system demand, support patient flow, and ensure continuity of care across the Lead Provider Collaborative. The Authority intends to award a contract to the existing provider, Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, following Direct Award Process C under the Provider Selection Regime (PSR). The contract will run from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027. The approximate total lifetime value of the contract is £7,000,000 (excluding VAT).

Award Detail

Award Criteria

CPV Codes

• 85111000 - Hospital services

Indicators

• Award on basis of price.

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 Monday 29 June 2026. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; 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. Representations by providers must be made to decision makers by Monday 29 June 2026. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR. Representations should be submitted in writing to: rebecca.mottershaw-king@merseycare.nhs.uk. Decision-makers The decision to award this contract was made by PROSPECT Lead Provider Collaborative Senior Management Team in line with agreed governance arrangements and delegated authority for commissioning within the Lead Provider Collaborative. Conflicts of interest Conflicts of interest identified among decision-making group: none. Where conflicts or potential conflicts were identified, these were declared and managed in accordance with organisational policies. The non-conflicted members assessed the nature and risk of each conflict and agreed appropriate mitigation measures, which included delegation to non-conflicted members, to ensure a fair and transparent process. Key criteria and rationale In reaching its decision, the relevant authority considered the key criteria set out in the Provider Selection Regime, including: Quality and safety of services Ability to meet patient needs and deliver outcomes Value for money and financial sustainability Integration, collaboration and continuity of care Access and reducing health inequalities The relative importance of these criteria reflected the need to ensure safe, high-quality and continuous provision of secure services within an NHS provider setting, while maintaining system stability and supporting delivery of the Cheshire and Merseyside secure care pathway. The decision to award the contract to Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust reflects that the provider: Is currently delivering the services to the required quality and safety standards Provides established in-area NHS capacity, supporting system resilience and pathway continuity Supports integrated working across the Lead Provider Collaborative and wider system partners Enables predictable capacity and activity through a block contract model, supporting financial stability and planning Contributes to timely access to care, reduced reliance on out-of-area placements, and improved patient flow On this basis, the authority is satisfied that the provider is capable of continuing to deliver the services in line with the key criteria and system requirements, and that Direct Award Process C is appropriate as the service is not subject to considerable change.