Contracting authority

Contracting authority:

Kent County Council

Public Procurement Organisation Number:

PLDL-8938-YGYW

Address:

Sessions House, County Hall,
Maidstone,
ME14 1XQ
UK

Contact name:

Not provided

Email:

cpd-peopleteam@kent.gov.uk

Telephone:

Not provided

Website:

Not provided

Organisation type:

REGIONAL_AUTHORITY

Devolved regulations that apply:

None

Procedure

Procedure type:

Open procedure

Preliminary market engagement conducted:

Not provided

Tenders received:

0

Tenders assessed:

0

Tenders from SMEs:

0

Tenders from VCSEs:

0

Special regime:

Light touch

Scope

Title:

CN260642 Mental Health Assessment and Mental Capacity Assessment Service

Reference number:

CN260642

Main category:

SERVICES

Description:

Kent County Council currently commissions a Mental Health Assessment Service, which supports the statutory requirements of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) under the Mental Capacity Act.

The Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards provide additional protection for the most vulnerable people living in residential homes, nursing homes or placed in a hospital environment. There is a legal requirement that care will always be provided in a way that is consistent with the human rights of people lacking capacity, who are not otherwise protected or safeguarded through the use of the Mental Health Act or Court of Protection powers.

Kent County Council as the Supervisory Body has a statutory responsibility to arrange for a best interest assessor to complete relevant assessments including Doctors who undertake the mental capacity assessment and mental health assessment as part of the overarching assessment under DoLS.

Kent County Council requires a supplier, working in conjunction with Kent DoLS Service, to arrange and complete these assessments, through the delivery of a Mental Health Assessment and Mental Capacity Assessment Service. The assessments must be undertaken by Section 12 doctors, who are also full members of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and/or on the GMC Specialist Register as a specialist in psychiatry; and, where appropriate, those assessors must complete recommendations under the Mental Capacity Act.

It is intended that the new Mental Health Assessment and Mental Capacity Assessment Service will ensure the Council has access to timely, high-quality Mental Health and Mental Capacity Assessments, in compliance with statutory requirements, including the Mental Capacity (Deprivation of Liberty: Standard Authorisations, Assessments and Ordinary Residence) Regulations 2008.

The chosen supplier will be responsible for the efficient management of referrals and assessment processes, and the provision of suitably qualified and experienced professionals to undertake the assessments,
supporting the Council in meeting its legal duties and maintaining high standards of care, transparency, and assurance for individuals and their families.
To view this notice, please click here:
https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=1037395317

Total value (estimated):

GBP 2,500,000 excluding VAT

GBP 3,000,000 including VAT

Contract dates (estimated):

01/02/2027 to 31/01/2030

CPV classifications:

85000000 - Health and social work services.

Delivery regions:

UKJ4 - Kent

Participation

Suitable for SMEs:

Yes

Suitable for VCSEs:

Yes

Engagement

Engagement deadline:

12/06/2026

Engagement status:

The engagement has not yet been carried out.

Engagement process description:

Kent County Council will be delivering a virtual Market Engagement Event to support the recommissioning of the Mental Health Assessment and Mental Capacity Assessment Service.

The event will be held virtually on Wednesday 10 June 2026: 11:00 – 13:00 via Microsoft Teams and will cover the following topics:
•Service Overview and Legislation
•Specification key elements
•Procurement approach
•The proposed pricing approach

To register your attendance at this event, please complete the MS Form via the following URL:
https://forms.office.com/e/QhqX9mnvF6

Please copy and paste the full URL address above into your browser to access the Microsoft Form. Teams Meeting links will be sent to registered attendees prior to the event.

Please ensure your participants have access to Microsoft Teams to attend the session. A meeting recording and slide deck will be shared following the event.

If you have any questions regarding the Market Engagement Event, please send them using the Microsoft Form.

Submission

Other organisations

Not provided