Contract award notice

Results of the procurement procedure

Section I: Contracting entity

I.1) Name and addresses

I.4) Type of the contracting authority

Body governed by public law

I.5) Main activity

Health

Section II: Object

II.1) Scope of the procurement

II.2) Description

Section IV: Procedure

IV.1) Description

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

04/03/2026

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

V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)

Total value of the contract/lot: : 202 350.00  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 under Direct Award Process C 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 and the Procurement Act 2023 do not apply to this award.

The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be submitted to the relevant authority via email to robert.kitt1@nhs.net by

midnight (23:59 hrs) on 20/03/2026.

This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.

Decision maker: Deputy Chief Delivery and Strategy Officer, and Director of Strategic Commissioning.

No conflicts of interest were declared.

The service evaluation was reviewed against the 5 key criteria and weighted as follows:

• Quality & Innovation (25%) - The opportunity to support people in a timely way and reduce risk of harm relies on a quality, flexible service

• Value (20%) - To deliver maximum service benefits

• Integration, collaboration & service sustainability (25%) - This service relies on collaboration with partners such as Police, NHS Urgent Care and Mental Health colleagues.

• Improving access, reducing health inequalities and facilitating choice (20%) - Equal access and removing barriers to support is a key part of this service

• Social value (10%) - The service works with family, friends and anyone affected by a suicide.

The existing provider was assessed against key criteria which were weighted according to importance in terms of service delivery and scored satisfactorily against the assessed criteria.

Quality & Innovation:

Rethink's Performance dashboard incorporates client feedback for 24/25 and reflects the significant positive impact the service delivers, helping people affected by suicide'.

Quality and innovation:

• Rethink provides a flexible service from initial bereavement to inquest, with clients determining when they are ready to end support, rather than traditional bereavement services which offer a fixed number of support sessions

• Rethink acts as an advocate for clients by writing letters of support to client's employers to get the time off work beyond their organisation's bereavement policies due to the significant mental health impact

• Rethink help clients prepare for the inquest including what to expect, how to manage potential media involvement and offering to attend the Inquest with clients.

Value:

The service supports the long-term recovery of people affected by bereavement by suicide, which enables them to avoid severe episodes of mental ill health. This therefore reduces the impact on primary and secondary mental health services and the ongoing costs this would generate. The long- term benefits also include people being enabled to return to work sooner following their experiences. This contract does not represent a cost pressure.

Integration, Collaboration, and Service Sustainability:

The service works closely and in an integrated fashion with colleagues in suicide bereavement services in East and West Sussex and a range of external mental health agencies in Brighton and Hove.

This bereavement support service has a number of existing strong working relationships with the suicide prevention partnership across Brighton and Hove. The Sussex Police RTS (Real Time Surveillance System) notification to the Cruse Bereavement Single Point of Access alerts the Rethink Service after a suspected suicide.

Rethink Mental Illness Brighton and Hove works with a number of other providers in the city and beyond. They work in partnership with, and signpost, and refer onto wider support services in the community based on the individual's wider needs e.g. housing, substance use support, finance advice, safeguarding, social care etc.

This service supports all adults living in Brighton and Hove and offers flexible psychosocial support including face to face, telephone and/or group support and ensures that any resources are accessible in a variety of formats suitable for marginalised communities.

Rethink Mental Illness provides quarterly updates to the Commissioner on the agreed KPIs within a performance dashboard which includes client feedback.

Integration is positively supported by the network of providers and the inclusion into the urgent care RTS system.

This service is a key part of the Sussex wide response to suicide, aiming to decrease the risk of harm to those affected by suicide.

Improving Access, Reducing Health Inequalities, and Facilitating Choice:

Rethink Mental Illness delivers accessible, inclusive, and choice-driven suicide bereavement support to adults aged 18+. The service is open to self-referrals and professional referrals, ensuring broad accessibility. It tackles health inequalities by offering psychosocial support tailored to individual needs, including 1:1 emotional support, safety planning, and signposting to local services. The team works to challenge stigma around suicide by promoting open conversations about suicide and grief, and raising awareness through webinars and involvement in local partnerships, such as UOK Brighton and Hove. The service empowers individuals by offering a recovery-focused approach, allowing clients to choose the type of support that works best for their mental health journey.

Social Value:

The service is delivered locally in existing community spaces, as well as digital options. This reduces travel-related emissions and promotes efficient use of existing infrastructure, minimising waste and water consumption.

The service includes two qualified psychologists and one who is a trained social worker. This creates specialist roles, boosting employment in the mental health and social care sectors, including for those with lived experience.

By improving mental health outcomes, the service helps reduce economic losses linked to absenteeism and long-term unemployment. Local residents are more productive and resilient as a result, contributing to sustainable economic development.

Suicide bereavement support fosters shared empathy and solidarity in local communities affected by loss. The service design is inclusive and respects cultural, gender and identity differences related to grief and suicide. Group-based interventions and local awareness campaigns promote conversations and destigmatisation.

The service addresses key social determinants such as mental health, social isolation, and access to support by providing free support and signposting to housing, employment, and financial advice services as needed.

VI.4) Procedures for review

VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice

09/03/2026