Occupational Health Services
Framework Description
ESPO's Occupational Health Services framework (reference 985B_23) supplies occupational health services and employee assistance programmes that help public sector employers meet their duty of care for staff health, safety and welfare. The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 governed its procurement, and it is a two-lot framework agreement, not a DPS. It started on 1 July 2023 and ends on 30 June 2027, with no extension option.
Context & Use Case
Councils, schools, academy trusts and other public employers use 985B_23 to buy occupational health support, such as health assessments, health surveillance and absence management support, or an employee assistance programme giving staff confidential counselling and wellbeing support. Buyers sign ESPO's Access & Confidentiality Agreement to view the call-off documents and supplier details.
Scope of Services
Lot 1: General Occupational Health Services Lot 2: Employee Assistance Programmes
Lots
Lot 1 – General Occupational Health Services; Lot 2 – Employee Assistance Programmes
Who Can Apply
Suits occupational health providers and EAP providers with clinical governance in place and public sector references. 985B_23 is closed to new applications. Because it ends on 30 June 2027 with no extension, a replacement procurement is likely to be the next chance to get on.
Buyer Benefits
Buyers get a quick way to put occupational health or EAP cover in place for their staff without writing a specification from scratch or advertising a tender. Having general occupational health and employee assistance in separate lots means they can buy one service or both, and compare providers on the same terms when competing a requirement.
Next Steps
With fewer than nine months left and no extension, watch ESPO's frameworks pages and Find a Tender for a replacement procurement. Prepare now: clinical governance policies, information governance evidence, staff qualifications and case studies of public sector occupational health or EAP contracts. Appointed suppliers should still bid for call-offs to June 2027, as contracts placed now can outlast the framework.
How Athena Can Help
With 985B_23 ending on 30 June 2027, Athena would start your preparation for the replacement now. Our framework registration team can answer the selection questions, write the quality responses on clinical governance and service delivery, and compliance-check the full application before it goes in.
If you are already appointed, our bid writers can help you win the remaining call-offs, and we offer public sector bidding advice on pricing occupational health and EAP services so they win and still return a profit.
