Prior information notice
This notice is for prior information only
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Kent County Council
PLDL-8938-YGYW
Kent County Council | Sessions House, Maidstone
Maidstone
ME14 1XQ
UK
Contact person: Alison Newman
Telephone: +44 3000415807
E-mail: alison.newman@kent.gov.uk
NUTS: UKJ4
Internet address(es)
Main address: www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk
I.3) Communication
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local agency/office
I.5) Main activity
Health
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Specialist Support Service for People Bereaved by Suicide
Reference number: CN260672
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85323000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Kent County Council, on behalf of the Kent and Medway Suicide Prevention Programme and in partnership with the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board, is seeking market engagement to inform the future procurement of a Specialist Bereavement Support Service for people affected by suicide across Kent and Medway. The service will provide timely, accessible and trauma-informed emotional and practical support to individuals impacted by suicide, including family members, friends, colleagues, witnesses and professionals. The future provider will be expected to deliver a flexible countywide service through a combination of face-to-face, telephone and virtual support, working closely with health, community and voluntary sector partners. The contract is anticipated to commence on 1 April 2027 for an initial period of three years, with the option to extend for up to two further years. Kent County Council welcomes engagement from organisations interested in helping to shape the future service and deliver innovative, high-quality support for residents affected by suicide bereavement.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
650 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
85100000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKJ4
Main site or place of performance:
Kent
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Kent County Council, on behalf of the Kent and Medway Suicide Prevention Programme and in partnership with the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board, intends to procure a single provider to deliver a countywide Specialist Bereavement Support Service for people affected by suicide. The service will provide timely, trauma-informed emotional and practical support to individuals bereaved or impacted by suicide, including family members, friends, colleagues, witnesses and professionals. The provider will be required to deliver a flexible and accessible service through a combination of face-to-face, telephone and virtual support, maintain effective referral pathways with key partners across health, education, policing, coronial services and the voluntary sector, and support a minimum of 250 individuals per year. The new service will build on the strengths of the current model while strengthening accessibility, partnership working, outcomes measurement and performance reporting to ensure high-quality support is available across Kent and Medway from 1st April 2027.
II.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice:
31/08/2026
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
This is a 3 year contract with an optional extension of 2 years. GO Reference: GO-202684-PRO-37781920
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
04/08/2026