Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
BLACK COUNTRY HEALTHCARE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST
Civic Centre, St Peter's Square
Wolverhampton
WV11SH
UK
E-mail: bchft.contractinfo@nhs.net
NUTS: UKG39
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.blackcountryhealthcare.nhs.uk/
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.1.1) Title
Digital Counselling Service for Young People
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85100000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Digital counselling service provision to improve young people's wellbeing and prevent mental health problems in young people, by providing a safe online counselling and support service.
Increase early detection of mental health problems so they can be addressed promptly, preventing problems from getting worse and requiring a more specialist response.
• Live chat function for a young person to converse with a qualified counsellor.
• Messaging function for the young person to contact the service, these are monitored and managed by counsellors, emotional wellbeing practitioners and media workers.
• Static and live topic-focused forums; forums encourage the development of a peer- supported community online.
• Access to quality, clinically safe, online resources for mental health specific topics to more general subjects such as holidays, family, and relationships.
• Crisis information, and self-help resources.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
300 511.79
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKG36
UKG37
UKG38
UKG39
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
This is an intention to award a contract to an existing provider following Direct Award Process C.
Approx lifetime value of the contract is £300,511.79 (6 months with the option to extend for a further 6 months).
Digital counselling service provision to improve young people's wellbeing and prevent mental health problems in young people, by providing a safe online counselling and support service.
Increase early detection of mental health problems so they can be addressed promptly, preventing problems from getting worse and requiring a more specialist response.
• Live chat function for a young person to converse with a qualified counsellor.
• Messaging function for the young person to contact the service, these are monitored and managed by counsellors, emotional wellbeing practitioners and media workers.
• Static and live topic-focused forums; forums encourage the development of a peer- supported community online.
• Access to quality, clinically safe, online resources for mental health specific topics to more general subjects such as holidays, family, and relationships.
• Crisis information, and self-help resources.
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
Cost criterion: The existing provider is satisfying the original contract and will likely satisfy the proposed contract to a sufficient standard
/ Weighting: 100
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
Option to extend for 6 months.
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 by midnight 21st May 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
Title: Digital Counselling Service for young people
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
01/04/2026
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
Kooth Digital Health Limited
04154208
London
UK
NUTS: UKI
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 300 511.79
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 by providers must be made to bchft.contractinfo@nhs.net by midnight 21st May 2026. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.
The decision makers are the Commissioning Managers for CAMHS services.
No conflicts of interest have been declared.
Kooth has been assessed against the key criteria weighted as:
Quality & Innovation 20%
Integration, collaboration and service sustainability 20%
Improving access, reducing inequalities and facilitating choice 20%
Social Value 20%
Value 20%
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Wolverhampton
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
11/05/2026