Adult Mental Health Support Services for Swindon

Swindon Borough Council is recommissioning adult mental health support services through a contract worth an estimated £3.955 million, covering therapeutic and recovery services alongside community-based arts, music and nature therapies.

The services are jointly funded with the Integrated Care Board through pooled budget arrangements and have been divided into two complementary lots.

The Council intends the two services to operate as a coordinated prevention and recovery offer while retaining their distinct approaches. Organisations bidding for both lots will be expected to maintain this distinction while coordinating access, pathways and learning.

Contracts are expected to commence on 1 April 2027 for an initial three-year period, with two potential 24-month extensions providing a maximum contract term of seven years.

Lots Available

Lot 1 – Therapeutic and Recovery Services

This lot covers structured, evidence-informed therapeutic and recovery-focused support.

The service will have a particular role in:

• Early intervention
• Recovery
• Self-management
• Appropriate step-up and step-down pathways

The estimated annual value is £400,000, equivalent to £1.2 million over the initial three-year term and up to £2.8 million over the maximum seven-year period.

Lot 2 – Arts, Music and Nature Based Therapies

This lot covers non-clinical, community-based mental health support using nature, arts, music and other creative approaches.

Services will be expected to help people improve their wellbeing, reduce social isolation, strengthen confidence and resilience, and maintain participation within their communities.

The estimated annual value is £165,000, equivalent to £495,000 over the initial three-year term and up to £1.155 million over the maximum seven-year period.

Contract Information

Buyer: Swindon Borough Council

Deadline: 25 September 2026 at 12:00pm for requests to participate

Contract Value: £3,955,000 excluding VAT

Delivery Length: 3 years, with two optional 24-month extensions providing a maximum term of 7 years

Tender Link: Click here

Reference: DN828440

Procurement Process

The opportunity is being procured under the light touch regime using a Competitive Flexible Procedure in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023.

The Council is operating a two-stage tender process. Initial submissions will be assessed against the conditions of participation, with successful bidders invited to progress and submit tenders.

Following evaluation, the highest-scoring compliant tender or tenders will be recommended for contract award.

Suppliers must register with ProContract through the Supplying the South West portal and register an interest in project DN828440 to access the relevant procurement documents and submit a response.

Evaluation Criteria

Both lots will be evaluated using the same overall weightings:

• Engagement, coproduction and access – 20%
• Outcomes and performance measurement – 15%
• System working and co-ordination – 15%
• Mobilisation – 10%
• Workforce – 10%
• Service development and delivery – 10%
• Social value – 10%
• Price – 10%

Quality and social value therefore account for 90% of the evaluation, with price representing 10%.

TUPE

The Council anticipates that the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE) may apply to this procurement.

Relevant TUPE information will be made available within the procurement documentation. Suppliers are responsible for obtaining their own professional advice regarding the application of TUPE.

Regulatory and Compliance Requirements

Specific CQC or other care-sector regulatory registration requirements are not disclosed in the information provided.

The opportunity represents a significant long-term commissioning programme for organisations delivering adult mental health support in Swindon, spanning both structured therapeutic and recovery provision and non-clinical community approaches designed to promote wellbeing, resilience and social participation.

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