Early intervention service to CYP

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust has recently finalised a procurement process for providing an early intervention service targeting the mental and emotional wellbeing of young people. The contract has been awarded under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 through a direct award process, with the legal work not covered by the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The awarded contract, valued at £288,126, will span from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026 and is specifically in the health and social work services category (CPV: 85000000).

The process was confined to existing providers familiar with the current service framework, leading to the contract's direct awarding without prior competition notice. The initiative is set in the UKD7 region, with Kooth Digital Health Limited identified as the supplier. This procurement offers significant business opportunities, especially for companies specialising in health and social services, focusing on mental health and wellbeing.

The choice of a direct award highlights the importance of maintaining service continuity and quality, favouring entities with a proven track record with the NHS or equivalent organisations. Companies poised to offer innovative solutions tailored to young people's psychological needs could explore similar upcoming opportunities by establishing collaborative pathways with existing providers or entering consortia to enhance service delivery and user experience. This can potentially drive growth for businesses with the capacity to meet public sector demands efficiently and innovatively.