Tender for the Contract for the Provision of a mild to moderate perinatal mental health and parent-infant relationship support service

Hartlepool Borough Council is inviting suitably qualified providers to tender for a perinatal infant mental health support service for Hartlepool parents with mild to moderate mental health needs, or who are vulnerable to perinatal infant mental health issues. The service will support families individually and in groups from pre-birth until the child's second birthday.

It must include work with mothers and fathers, including non-biological stepparents and same-sex partners, and seek to improve babies' health and wellbeing and parent-baby relationships. This is one active lot with a gross value of £200,000. The council's buyer page also states a maximum contract value of £100,000 per annum.

The two-year contract is scheduled to run from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2029, aligned with Best Start Family Hubs grant funding. The official notice marks the opportunity as suitable for SMEs and VCSEs. Bids are weighted on quality at 70%, price at 20% and social value at 10%.

The provider must have experience and skills in assessment and intervention where mild to moderate mental or emotional health issues are present or there is an evident risk. Delivery must work collaboratively with maternity services, health visiting and Best Start Family Hubs, reduce barriers to support, and help families build confidence, resilience, social connections and self-management strategies. The public notice does not state a separate professional registration requirement.

Providers must check the tender documents on the portal for the full conditions of participation and evidence requirements. The UK4 tender notice was published on 27 October 2026 at 5:38pm. Completed submissions must be uploaded through the NEPO E-Procurement Portal by 2pm on Wednesday 18 November 2026, using reference OPEN PR 27102026170815133.

A separate clarification deadline is not publicly stated in the official sources reviewed, so bidders should check the live portal for current clarification arrangements. Care Sync advice: register on the NEPO portal early, locate the opportunity using the exact reference, read every procurement document and allow time for upload checks before the official deadline. This is Care Sync's practical advice, not a requirement stated by the buyer.