NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group, the Commissioner, is seeking to commission an Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) service across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. The Commissioner is taking an innovative and positive new approach that locates the mandated clinical IAPT interventions within the wider socio-economic context. It is expected that this will maximize the effectiveness of the clinical IAPT interventions and improve service user outcomes. Refer to the service specification within the procurement documentation for the full service description, Commissioner approach and service outcomes. The contract duration will be for 10 years from 1.9.2019, with a break clause after 3 years. The Commissioner has an annual budget of up to 8 240 000 GBP per annum. This procurement is being carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioner.

NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (BNSSG CCG), the Commissioner, is seeking to commission an Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) service across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. The causal connection between poverty, unemployment and social isolation and common mental health difficulties is well evidenced. The Commissioner has therefore taken an innovative and positive new approach that locates the mandated clinical IAPT interventions within the wider socio-economic context in which the service and its users exist. It is expected that, through a strong outward-focus and the establishment of formal referral connections to and from a wide range of existing external (largely local authority funded) provision across the area, within limited resources, the clinical IAPT interventions will be better supported to maximize their effectiveness and sustainability and improve service user outcomes. The outward-looking ethos of this service will require a holistic assessment that understands psychological issues in the wider context in which they exist. A wholly clinical assessment will not be sufficient to gain such an understanding of each person and could lead to failure to pick up on important factors that cause or influence the presenting issue. Refer to the service specification within the procurement documentation for the full service description, Commissioner approach and service outcomes. The contract duration will be for 10 years from 1.9.2019, with a break clause after 3 years. The Commissioner has an annual budget of up to 8 240 000 GBP per annum. It is the Bidder’s sole responsibility to determine whether or not Value Added Tax ("VAT") should apply to their bid. In the event that VAT does apply, all prices shown must be inclusive of this within the bid. The commissioners will accept no liability for any additional costs incurred by bidders associated with VAT, which is not already included in the bid price. This procurement is being carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners.