Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
Kent County Council
Sessions House
Maidstone
ME14 1XQ
UK
Contact person: Alison Newman
Telephone: +44 3000413221
E-mail: alison.newman@kent.gov.uk
NUTS: UKJ4
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
I.5) Main activity
Health
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
SC240063 -Parent Infant Mental Health Service (PIMHS)
Reference number: SC240063
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85323000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award. The standstill period begins on the day after the publication of this notice. Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority by 11.59pm 25 February 2026. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award a contract under the competitive process of the PSR.
Parent infant relationships are prerequisite to an infant’s development in the first 1001 days from conception and a time of rapid brain development. Our experiences in this period lay the foundations for a wide range of future health outcomes. Having warm, consistent, and loving care, helps promote good social and emotional development.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
2 160 529.46
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
85323000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKJ4
Main site or place of performance:
Kent
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award. The standstill period begins on the day after the publication of this notice. Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority by 11.59pm 25 February 2026. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award a contract under the competitive process of the PSR.
Parent infant relationships are prerequisite to an infant’s development in the first 1001 days from conception and a time of rapid brain development. Our experiences in this period lay the foundations for a wide range of future health outcomes. Having warm, consistent, and loving care, helps promote good social and emotional development.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
II.2.14) Additional information
5/9/2026 – 31/08/2028
There is the potential for a contract extension of 2 x 1 year(s) (24 months), depending on both the success in achieving the required outcomes and the availability of further funding.
The Providers were asked quality questions against the 5 key criteria, with a scoring criteria between A-F. The Key Criteria were then assessed across the questions below: 1. Please detail how your organisation will manage and deliver the specialist Parent Infant Mental Health (PIMH) team and how this team will deliver the Service as described in the Specification. Relates to key criteria value, integration collaboration, improving access, reducing health inequalities, 2.Please detail how someone would experience a PIMH Service from your organisation? 3.Please describe how you will ensure the new service will be mobilised quickly and effectively following contract award? 4.How will your organisation manage triage and assessment? 5.Please describe how you will ensure a high-quality service is delivered that is able to meet the targets outlined? 6.Developing the skills of the workforce in Kent in Parent Infant Relationships will be a key element of this service offer. Detail the workforce training that will be designed and delivered. 7.Please detail how your organisation will manage demand for, triage, assessment and for PIMH Interventions. 8.Please describe how social value will be achieved through the life of this contract The Real Group were the provider that scored the lowest value per other key criteria score with a score of 81.5% and were therefore chosen as the preferred provider.
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
No
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2025/S 000-061874
Section V: Award of contract
Contract No: SC240063
Title: Parent Infant Mental Health Service
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
02/02/2026
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 2
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 2
Number of tenders received from tenderers from EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 2
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Real Group Ltd
06556128
4 Victoria Parade, New Capital Quay
Greenwich
SE10 9FR
UK
NUTS: UKJ4
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 2 160 529.46
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
Name of Award Decision Maker(s) •Public Health Specialist – Abenaa Gyamfuah-Assibey •Public Health Consultant – Wendy Jeffreys •Commissioner - Tracy Weight •Alison Newman – Senior Commercial and Procurement Officer (Moderator) No declared conflicts of interest Standstill period; 16/2/2026 and concludes 25/2/2026.
To view this notice, please click here:
https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=1014865494 GO Reference: GO-2026216-PRO-34740625
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Kent County Council
Maidstone
ME14 1XQ
UK
Internet address(es)
URL: www.kent.gov.uk
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
16/02/2026