Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
Hertfordshire County Council
County Hall
Hertford
SG138DQ
UK
E-mail: strategic.procurement@hertfordshire.gov.uk
NUTS: UKH23
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk
Address of the buyer profile: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/supplyhertfordshire/aspx/Home
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
I.5) Main activity
General public services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
The Provision of a Mental Health Service for Children and Young People (CYP) with Learning Disability and/or Autism, including Mental Health Support Teams (MHST) Supporting CYP with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
Reference number: HCC2617441
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85000000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Specialist Mental Health Service for Children & Young People (CYP) with a Learning Disability and/or who are autistic.
The service supports the mental health needs of CYP who have complex needs and present with significant communication challenges, as a result of their Learning Disability and or autism that require specialist approaches to mental health support. These often do not appear in isolation and many of CYP will experience co-occurring difficulties, such as:
• Emotional dysregulation
• Behaviours of concern[2] (includes CYP with LD and/or ASD that may show behaviours of concern that seem unrelated to mental health at first but underlying mental health needs often become clearer once support begins)
• Sleep difficulties, feeding difficulties, and toileting difficulties
• Withdrawal from usual activities significantly impacting activities of daily living (ADL)
• Sensory processing difficulties
In addition, Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) provide early help mental health support for pupils (reception to year 13*) with mild to moderate difficulties who are on roll at education settings within Hertfordshire.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
20 871 012.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
85100000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKH23
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Council is intending to award this contract to our existing provider following Direct Award Process C under the Provider Selection Regime (PSR.)
The contract will commence on 1st April 2026 until 31st March 2028 with the option to extend for 2 years up until 31st March 2030. (Maximum 4 years total.)
The approximate life time value of this contract is stated in II.1.7 above and includes the value of any possible extensions.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion: The existing provider is satisfying the original contract and will likely satisfy the proposed contract to a sufficient standard
/ Weighting: 100
Price
/ Weighting:
0
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
There is the option to extend the contract for two (2) years subject to available funding and satisfactory performance at the discretion of the Council.
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition
Justification for selected award procedure:
The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the Directive
Explanation
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 publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period.
Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority by 11th February 2026.
This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
No
Section V: Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
26/01/2026
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust (HCT)
RY4
14 Tewin Road
Welwyn Garden City
AL7 1BW
UK
NUTS: UKH23
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 20 871 012.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
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 publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period.
Representations must be made to decision makers by 11th February 2026.
The contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice services as an intention to award under the PSR.
Written representations should be sent to:
strategic.procurement@hertfordshire.gov.uk
Details of individuals making the award decision:
CYPMHS Senior Commissioning Manger
Herts & West Essex MHST Commissioning Manager
Deputy Head of Service IHCCT: CYPMHS Commissioning and Design
The existing provider is satisfying the existing contract and will likely satisfy the proposed new contract. The provider has been assessed against the relevant 5 key criteria and has passed the requirements.
There were no conflicts of interest identified.
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Independent Choice and Procurement Panel
Wellington House
London
SE1 8UG
UK
VI.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:
The Council will enter into an 8 working day standstill period following publication of this Contract Award Notice before officially awarding the contract in line with the requirements under PSR.
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
30/01/2026