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All Age Service Substance Misuse

Medway Council

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

AwardUpdate

21 Sep 2026 at 14:16

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

08 Sep 2026 at 18:11

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

27 Mar 2026 at 16:19

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Medway Council commissioned an all-age drugs and alcohol prevention, treatment and recovery service for children, young people and adults in Medway. The service covers harm reduction, clinical and psychosocial treatment, one-to-one and group support, outreach, recovery services, education and Individual Placement Support to help people gain and sustain employment. It is intended to replace separate young people’s and adult services with an integrated model led by a single provider. The scope includes prevention and early intervention, trauma-informed and person-centred care, smooth transitions between age groups, safeguarding, lived-experience involvement, co-production and partnership working. Delivery is through community locations, outreach, digital and blended face-to-face and online support. This is a health service procurement, classified under CPV 85100000.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded following an open competitive procedure under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. The tender closed on 8 May 2026, after enquiries closed on 17 April 2026. The award was made to THE FORWARD TRUST on 25 August 2026; two bids were received and one reached the final stage. The awarded value is £25,874,899.03 excluding VAT, or £31,049,878.84 including VAT. The contract runs from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2030, with two possible 24-month extensions, giving a maximum end date of 31 March 2034. Evaluation was based on quality and innovation (75%), price (20%) and social value (5%). The single lot was suitable for SMEs. The scheduled signature date is 16 October 2026.

This award shows demand for a large, integrated substance misuse service combining prevention, treatment, recovery and employment support for all ages. A credible future competitor would need strong clinical and outreach capability, seven-day provision, flexible pathways, digital and self-help interventions, and the ability to deliver across community locations. Evidence of trauma-informed, age-appropriate and person-centred practice would be important, alongside effective safeguarding, clinical governance, auditing and performance management. The selected model also demonstrates the value of partnership working across statutory, voluntary and community organisations, coordinated transitions, co-located services and peer-led support. Relevant strengths include lived-experience involvement, co-production, women-only and targeted outreach, data dashboards, continuous improvement, workforce development, succession planning and Individual Placement Support. Providers should also be able to deliver social value and maintain service quality while working within a defined financial envelope.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

All Age Service Substance Misuse

Notice Description

This is a Corrigendum to Contract Award notice issued 08/09/26, confirming the end of the standstill period and formal award. This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) confirmation of contract award notice. This contract has been awarded under 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. This contract has now been formally awarded using the competitive process. Medway Council looking to commission an effective, accessible and equitable All-Age Drugs and Alcohol Prevention, Treatment and Recovery Service. The service will support children, young people and adults to access full range of interventions (including harm-reduction, clinical and psychosocial treatment, one to one and group support, outreach, recovery services and education). A comprehensive Health Needs assessment has highlighted gaps in the local system, including challenges in transitions between young people's and adult services, unmet need in both children and adults, the need for trauma informed approaches to engagement and treatment and co-production and lived experience informed service delivery. Whilst improvements have been made within the existing contract term, Medway wishes to commission a fully integrated all-age model that will remove barriers between services and ensure smooth transitions for service users. Currently, young people's and adult substance misuse services operate as separate contracts, commissioned at different times and under different arrangements. This new commissioning arrangement is a major step towards aligning contracts, pathways, governance and workforce under single lead provider model as Medway develops its full all age service. The core principles for the new contract are focused on: *Tailored, Person-Centred and Age-Appropriate Care *Prevention and Early Intervention *Recovery-Focused Support *Accessible and Flexible Services *Partnership and Integrated Working *Lived Experience and Co-Production *Safeguarding and Safety *Evidence-Based Innovation and Accountability *Staff Wellbeing and Development The Provider will also be required to deliver a successful Individual Placement Support (IPS) programme, ensuring people using the service have access to evidence-based employment support to help them gain and sustain meaningful employment as part of their recovery journey. The All-Age Treatment, Prevention and Recovery contract will run for an initial term of 36 months, with the option for two further extensions of 24 months each, subject to mutual agreement. 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 standstill period begins on the day after the publication of this notice. Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority by 18/09/2026. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award a contract under the competitive process of the PSR.' Written representation can be made to graham.thomas1@Medway.gov.uk This is an Existing service with an existing Provider. The contract award criteria are specified in the procurement documents. Award Decision Makers: Claire Hurcum, Senior Public Health Manager, claire.hurcum@medway.gov.uk Svajune Ulinskiene, Health Improvement Programme Manager, svajune.ulinskiene@medway.gov.uk Steve Chevis, Head of Public Health Programmes, steve.chevis@medway.gov.uk Aeilish Geldenhuys, Public Health Principal and Strategic Head of Public Health Programmes, aeilish.geldenhuys@medway.gov.uk No Conflicts of interest. Key criteria summary SECTION 1: Quality and Innovation (25%) The provider demonstrated a comprehensive, high-quality service model that incorporates prevention, treatment, recovery and employment support within an integrated all-age framework. The submission clearly described governance arrangements, leadership responsibilities, clinical oversight, safeguarding and auditing processes, providing confidence in the safe and effective delivery of services. The model detailed clearly described the interventions delivered across all ages and stages of recovery. This included: seven-day clinical and outreach offer, flexible support pathways, self-help and digital interventions, and tailored support for individuals across different age groups and needs. The provider evidenced a strong commitment to innovation through the use of lived experience in service design and delivery, dedicated innovation/learning approaches, and peer-led initiatives. Innovation was specific to Medway and embedded into staff performance and development. The proposal demonstrated how continuous improvement, collaboration with partner organisations, workforce development and evidence-based practice would be used to enhance outcomes and ensure services remain responsive to emerging needs. SECTION 2: Integration, collaboration and service sustainability (25%) The provider presented a clear and credible approach to integrating services across the local treatment and recovery system. The proposal demonstrated strong partnership working with statutory, voluntary and community sector organisations. Including arrangements to support children and young people, transitions between services, coordinated care planning, and co-located delivery models designed to improve access and referral pathways. The provider placed lived experience at the centre of service development and recovery support, with a strengthened peer mentoring model, recovery-focused community activities and mechanisms for ongoing service improvement informed by service users. Effective approaches to continuity of care, workforce development and succession planning were evidenced, including clear pathways for individuals with lived experience to progress into training, volunteering and employment opportunities. The overall model demonstrated a sustainable approach to service delivery, informed by data, and a person-centred "team around the person" approach. SECTION 3: Improving access, reducing health inequalities, and facilitating choice (20%) The provider outlined a flexible service offer delivered through multiple community locations, outreach provision, digital interventions, blended face-to-face and online support, and clinical model. Particular consideration and examples were given to engage underserved populations and ensuring services are taken to where people are. The provider evidenced a trauma-informed, person-centred approach that takes account of the wider determinants of health and the needs of priority groups. The service model included targeted outreach, women-only provision, collaborative working with partner organisations and mechanisms to reduce barriers to access. Living expertise was embedded throughout service design, delivery, research and evaluation, along with willingness to work with a LERO for independent reviews. The provider also demonstrated a strong commitment to using qualitative and quantitative data to monitor performance, address inequalities (with links to Marmot principles) and continuously improve outcomes for local communities. The provider also gave assurance of transparency through the use of live data systems and dashboards that provide up-to-date performance information. Social Value 5% - The provider has set out social value commitments in accordance with the Council's Social Value requirements. Price 20% - The provider confirmed delivery of the service within the financial envelope.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-067702
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/089201-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
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
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85100000 - Health services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£26,011,695 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£26,011,695 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
£25,874,899 £10M-£100M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Sep 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
8 May 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
25 Aug 20261 months ago
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 1 Apr 2030 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Medway Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
CHATHAM
Postcode
ME4 4TR
Postcode Area
Rochester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ4 Kent
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ41 Medway
Delivery Location
TLJ41 Medway
Local Authority
Medway
Electoral Ward
Chatham Central & Brompton
Westminster Constituency
Rochester and Strood

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

The Forward Trust

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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