R/WP – 26/27 – Adult MH - Crisis Alternative (Safe Haven) Oxfordshire

What the buyer is asking for

1.1 National/local context and evidence base This service specification sets out the principles and values by which the Oxfordshire Non-Clinical Crisis Alternative will meet the ambitions from NHS England (NHSE) and the NHS Long Term Plan for Mental Health. As part of the Urgent Care Pathway, it will meet the ambitions of NHS England as articulated in Fit for the Future: The 10-Year Health Plan for England and the NHS Medium Term Planning Framework 2026/27 to 2028/29. These strategic documents establish the expectation of neighbourhood health services operating as alternatives to hospital centred crisis response and integration across health and social care. In the context of this specification, a mental health crisis is when someone is experiencing a period of acute psychological distress, or an acute mental health problem which may or may not have been given a formal diagnosis. The crisis may be a sudden deterioration of an existi

How this is scored

Published by the buyer. A winning response is written to these weightings, not to the question.

• 70%qualityQuality and InnovationExperience and Innovation in delivery of services
• 20%priceCost of ServicesCost of front line staff, cost of back office staff and management, contribution to SGA
• 10%qualitySocial ValueDelivery of social value

How contested is this?

Buyers publish how many bids they received. Across 186 comparable procurements we can tell you the typical field size, how often one of these goes uncontested, and whether the buyer awards on price or on quality.

Timeline

4 published dates · Europe/London

1. Tender notice published7 days ago

   15 Sept 2026, 12:21 BST
2. Clarification questions byin 6 days

   28 Sept 2026, 12:00 BST
3. Submission deadlinein 27 days

   19 Oct 2026, 12:00 BST
4. Award decision expected byin 84 days

   14 Dec 2026, 23:59 GMT

Commercial outcome and contract awards

Nothing awarded yet

Notice history

3 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender

1. Pipeline or early engagement notice27 Jul 2026, 10:44 BST070649-2026
2. Tender notice14 Sept 2026, 17:20 BST087060-2026
3. Tender updated15 Sept 2026, 12:21 BST087260-2026

Documents

• To express interest and participate in the tender, please register and apply via Atamis e-sourcing portal
• Tender notice on Find a Tender