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KMMH, KCHFT, DGT - Freedom To Speak Up Services

Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

Award

21 May 2026 at 10:30

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

06 Feb 2026 at 23:08

UK4 - Tender Notice
PlanningUpdate

29 Aug 2025 at 16:41

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

28 Aug 2025 at 16:28

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process for Freedom to Speak Up Services was initiated by Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust, Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust, and Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust. These public authorities sought to enhance workplace safety and organisational culture by providing confidential and impartial mechanisms for staff to raise concerns. The tender, conducted through an open procedure under the Procurement Act 2023, included three lots, with The Guardian Service Ltd awarded the contracts for each. The contracts will commence on various dates in 2026, with a potential extension until 2031. The procurement aligns with enhancing leadership behaviours, organisational responsiveness, and fostering an innovative, learning environment across participating trusts in regions UKJ45 and UKJ43.

This tender presents substantial opportunities for businesses in the business and management consultancy sector, particularly those offering guidance and counselling services. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are encouraged to participate, as the procurement structure, which divided the contracts into three lots, allows for scalable participation. Companies specialising in staff development and human resources management consultancy services, especially those accredited as Freedom to Speak Up Guardians, are well-suited to compete. The focus on confidential and impartial staff support in healthcare settings underscores the importance of experienced providers that can contribute to promoting transparency and continuous improvement within these organisations.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

KMMH, KCHFT, DGT - Freedom To Speak Up Services

Notice Description

Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust, Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust and Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust (the "Contracting Authorities") are each awarding a contract for the provision of Freedom to Speak Up (FTSU) Services. The FTSU Services will provide staff across the participating Contracting Authorities with a confidential, impartial, and accessible mechanism for raising concerns relating to workplace issues. These may include (though are not limited to) matters of patient care and safety, bullying, harassment, discrimination, unfair treatment, and other concerns regarding conduct, safety, culture, or working practices. The Services will support the Contracting Authorities in delivering their strategic organisational aims by: * empowering staff to speak up safely and confidently through impartial support; * strengthening leadership behaviours and approaches; * Enhancing organisational responsiveness; and * promoting innovation, learning, and continuous improvement through a transparent and responsive organisational culture. This procurement was conducted in accordance with the Open Procedure under the Procurement Act 2023, alongside the Contracting Authorities' respective Standing Financial Instructions. The opportunity was divided into three Lots, as follows: * Lot 1: Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust * Lot 2: Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust * Lot 3: Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust A single Contract is being awarded for each Lot, covering the full scope of Services as defined in the Specification. Please note that the contract values included within this notice are estimates only, and do not take into account: (i) the application of indexation; or (ii) potential increases or decreases in the demand for services during the Contract term as detailed within the tender documents.

Lot Information

Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust

Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust invites tenders for the provision of Freedom to Speak Up services, providing its staff with a confidential, impartial, and accessible mechanism for raising concerns relating to workplace issues, behaviour, service quality, safety and/or organisational culture The Contracting Authority is a large Mental Health NHS Trust, providing a full range of adult mental health and learning disability services to our local population of 1.8 million people across Kent and Medway, as well as specialist services for adults in Sussex and Surrey. Each year we care for over 2,000 people in our hospitals and 54,000 people in the community. The Contracting Authority will award one Contract for the provision of all services detailed in the Specification.

Options: During the Contract Term, the Supplier and the Contracting Authority may explore alternative service availability models based on a standard core hours (08:00 - 18:00, Monday to Friday) approach, as opposed to the current 24/7/365 continuous availability arrangement. Any agreed modifications to the delivery model will be subject to the Contract Change Control Process and will require a comprehensive review of related requirements, including key performance indicators, the impact of the changes on the service, and an assessment of commercial viability and value for money.

Renewal: The Term may be extended provided that the duration of this Contract shall be no longer than five (5) years and one (1) month in total from the Services Commencement Date.

Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust

Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust invites tenders for the provision of Freedom to Speak Up services, providing its staff with a confidential, impartial, and accessible mechanism for raising concerns relating to workplace issues, behaviour, service quality, safety and/or organisational culture The Contracting Authority is one of the largest NHS community health providers in England, serving a population of about 3.6million across Kent, East Sussex and parts of London. The trust has over 70 clinical services, and has achieved the highly coveted 'Outstanding' CQC rating. The Trust provides wide-ranging NHS care for people in the community, in a range of settings including people's own homes, nursing homes, health clinics, community hospitals, schools, urgent treatment centres and mobile units. The Contracting Authority will award one Contract for the provision of all services detailed in the Specification.

Options: During the Contract Term, the Supplier and the Contracting Authority may explore alternative service availability models based on a standard core hours (08:00 - 18:00, Monday to Friday) approach, as opposed to the current 24/7/365 continuous availability arrangement. Any agreed modifications to the delivery model will be subject to the Contract Change Control Process and will require a comprehensive review of related requirements, including key performance indicators, the impact of the changes on the service, and an assessment of commercial viability and value for money.

Renewal: The Term may be extended provided that the duration of this Contract shall be no longer than five (5) years in total from the Services Commencement Date.

Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust

Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust invites tenders for the provision of Freedom to Speak Up services, providing its staff with a confidential, impartial, and accessible mechanism for raising concerns relating to workplace issues, behaviour, service quality, safety and/or organisational culture The Contracting Authority is one of the largest hospital trusts in North Kent, with services at four sites serving a local population of over 500,000 people. The Trust's vision is to be an outstanding hospital Trust providing the best possible care for patients that is safe, well-coordinated, in the right place and designed around the patient's needs. The Contracting Authority will award one Contract for the provision of all services detailed in the Specification.

Options: During the Contract Term, the Supplier and the Contracting Authority may explore alternative service availability models based on a standard core hours (08:00 - 18:00, Monday to Friday) approach, as opposed to the current 24/7/365 continuous availability arrangement. Any agreed modifications to the delivery model will be subject to the Contract Change Control Process and will require a comprehensive review of related requirements, including key performance indicators, the impact of the changes on the service, and an assessment of commercial viability and value for money.

Renewal: The Term may be extended provided that the duration of this Contract shall be no longer than four (4) years and eleven (11) months in total from the Services Commencement Date.

Planning Information

This engagement is intended to gather valuable feedback from potential providers to help shape the Trusts’ procurement strategy. In particular, the Trusts are seeking insights into viable delivery models, approaches to risk mitigation, appropriate contract structures, and the scalability of services across multiple organisations. The exercise also aims to assess the level of market interest and the capacity of providers to deliver a collaborative, multi-Trust solution, while exploring opportunities for achieving efficiencies and cost savings through a joint procurement approach. Providers who express an interest will be invited to complete a structured questionnaire to share their insights, capabilities, and recommendations. They will also be invited to attend a virtual market engagement presentation at 14:00 on Friday 5th September 2025, during which the Trusts will outline their objectives, anticipated timelines, and expectations for both the procurement process and the future service. Suppliers wishing to participate are invited to contact Jake Fisher, Procurement and Contracts Manager, via email at kmpt.procurement@nhs.net Upon registration of interest, further details (including the questionnaire and presentation invitation) will be provided.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-058fbe
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/046854-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

79400000 - Business and management consultancy and related services

79414000 - Human resources management consultancy services

79633000 - Staff development services

85312300 - Guidance and counselling services

85312310 - Guidance services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,430,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£1,430,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
£504,750 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 May 20264 months ago
Submission Deadline
13 Mar 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
22 Sep 2025Expired
Award Date
20 May 20264 months ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
2031-01-03

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Pending
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust
Additional Buyers

Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust

Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust

Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
MAIDSTONE
Postcode
ME16 9PH
Postcode Area
Rochester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ4 Kent
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ45 Mid Kent
Delivery Location
TLJ4 Kent
Local Authority
Maidstone
Electoral Ward
Barming Heath & Teston
Westminster Constituency
Maidstone and Malling

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

The Guardian Service

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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