SOL30199 SOL Enablement and Mental Health Drop-in Services 2026

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council is seeking a provider to deliver Enablement and Mental Health Drop-in Services supporting people living with mental ill health across Solihull.

The prevention and early intervention services are intended to help reduce the risk of mental health needs escalating into longer-term difficulties, while supporting people to maintain independence and improve their overall wellbeing.

The Council’s objectives include reducing unnecessary early access to social care services, preventing hospital admissions and long-term care requirements, strengthening independence and self-reliance, improving financial resilience, promoting choice and control, and supporting carers and families where appropriate.

Enablement Service

The Enablement Service will provide short-term, targeted one-to-one support through a 12-week programme.

Support will typically involve a minimum of five hours per week and will focus on helping individuals develop daily living skills, confidence and independence.

Access to the service has been widened to include people with:

• Learning disabilities
• Physical disabilities
• Acquired brain injuries

The service is intended to support the Council’s prevention and wellbeing responsibilities under the Care Act 2014.

Mental Wellbeing Drop-In Service

The Mental Wellbeing Drop-In Service will provide open-access, community-based mental wellbeing support.

The service will operate six days per week from multiple community venues across North, South and Central Solihull.

Provision will focus on low-level mental wellbeing support and will also operate as a preventative and step-down service for people accessing statutory provision.

The Council intends to appoint either a single provider or a lead provider working with partners or subcontractors across both services.

The Enablement Service will operate through a cost-and-volume arrangement, while the Mental Wellbeing Drop-In Service will operate through a block arrangement. The combined approach is intended to support seamless movement between the two forms of provision for service users.

Contract Information

Buyer: Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council

Deadline: 9 October 2026, 12:00pm

Contract Value: £2,215,980 excluding VAT (£2,659,176 including VAT)

Delivery Length: 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2032, with an option to extend for up to four further years to 31 March 2036

Tender Link: Online via Atamis – Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council procurement portal

The deadline for supplier enquiries is 25 September 2026 at 12:00pm.

The estimated award decision date is 7 December 2026.

Participation Requirements

Organisations participating in the procurement must have a minimum annual turnover of £500,000.

The opportunity is identified as particularly suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs).

The procurement is being conducted through an Open Procedure under the Light Touch regime.

Evaluation Criteria

Tenders will be evaluated using the following criteria:

• Technical Quality – 95%
• Social Value – 5%

No separate price weighting is disclosed within the award criteria provided.

Contract Performance and Mobilisation

The Council has identified a number of potential risks associated with the procurement, including the maturity and competitiveness of the provider market, engagement with people using existing services, lessons identified through current provision and successful implementation of the new services.

Market engagement and service user surveys have been undertaken, alongside a review of existing provision and the development of new service specifications.

The Council also intends to use a mobilisation plan to manage implementation issues, including the potential transfer of staff under TUPE where applicable.

Payment will be made in arrears within 30 days of receipt of undisputed invoices.

The opportunity represents a substantial long-term commissioning arrangement for organisations delivering preventative mental health, enablement and community wellbeing support. With a potential nine-year delivery period, the contract provides an opportunity for providers capable of supporting people to maintain independence while reducing escalation into statutory health and social care services.

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If you want to advertise your opportunity, please contact Jamie Peacock, Tender Specialist at advertising@dailyround.news