Planning

CN260642 Mental Health Assessment and Mental Capacity Assessment Service

KENT COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

22 May 2026 at 13:27

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Kent County Council is in the planning stage for a procurement titled "CN260642 Mental Health Assessment and Mental Capacity Assessment Service," which falls under the Health and Social Work Services industry category. The service will operate within the UKJ4 region in the United Kingdom, targeting individuals in residential and nursing homes or hospital environments. This initiative aims to support the statutory obligations under the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. A virtual Market Engagement Event is scheduled for 10 June 2026, from 11:00 to 13:00, addressing service overview, key elements of specification, procurement approach, and proposed pricing, as part of the planning phase. Interested parties are required to register through the provided MS Form link by 12 June 2026.

This procurement process presents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in health and social work services to supply Kent County Council with the necessary expertise in conducting mental health and capacity assessments. The contract, valued at approximately £3,000,000 gross, will commence in February 2027, potentially extending to January 2032. Companies experienced in delivering health assessments and with professionals such as Section 12 doctors and psychiatrists on staff will be particularly well-suited to compete for this opportunity. Additionally, businesses offering innovative solutions and efficient management of assessment processes are encouraged to engage with the council during the market engagement phase to explore potential collaboration avenues.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

CN260642 Mental Health Assessment and Mental Capacity Assessment Service

Notice Description

Kent County Council currently commissions a Mental Health Assessment Service, which supports the statutory requirements of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) under the Mental Capacity Act. The Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards provide additional protection for the most vulnerable people living in residential homes, nursing homes or placed in a hospital environment. There is a legal requirement that care will always be provided in a way that is consistent with the human rights of people lacking capacity, who are not otherwise protected or safeguarded through the use of the Mental Health Act or Court of Protection powers. Kent County Council as the Supervisory Body has a statutory responsibility to arrange for a best interest assessor to complete relevant assessments including Doctors who undertake the mental capacity assessment and mental health assessment as part of the overarching assessment under DoLS. Kent County Council requires a supplier, working in conjunction with Kent DoLS Service, to arrange and complete these assessments, through the delivery of a Mental Health Assessment and Mental Capacity Assessment Service. The assessments must be undertaken by Section 12 doctors, who are also full members of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and/or on the GMC Specialist Register as a specialist in psychiatry; and, where appropriate, those assessors must complete recommendations under the Mental Capacity Act. It is intended that the new Mental Health Assessment and Mental Capacity Assessment Service will ensure the Council has access to timely, high-quality Mental Health and Mental Capacity Assessments, in compliance with statutory requirements, including the Mental Capacity (Deprivation of Liberty: Standard Authorisations, Assessments and Ordinary Residence) Regulations 2008. The chosen supplier will be responsible for the efficient management of referrals and assessment processes, and the provision of suitably qualified and experienced professionals to undertake the assessments, supporting the Council in meeting its legal duties and maintaining high standards of care, transparency, and assurance for individuals and their families.

Planning Information

Kent County Council will be delivering a virtual Market Engagement Event to support the recommissioning of the Mental Health Assessment and Mental Capacity Assessment Service. The event will be held virtually on Wednesday 10 June 2026: 11:00 – 13:00 via Microsoft Teams and will cover the following topics: •Service Overview and Legislation •Specification key elements •Procurement approach •The proposed pricing approach To register your attendance at this event, please complete the MS Form via the following URL: https://forms.office.com/e/QhqX9mnvF6 Please copy and paste the full URL address above into your browser to access the Microsoft Form. Teams Meeting links will be sent to registered attendees prior to the event. Please ensure your participants have access to Microsoft Teams to attend the session. A meeting recording and slide deck will be shared following the event. If you have any questions regarding the Market Engagement Event, please send them using the Microsoft Form.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06a179
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/047981-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85000000 - Health and social work services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,500,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 May 2026Yesterday
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
12 Jun 20263 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Feb 2027 - 31 Jan 2030 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
KENT COUNTY 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
MAIDSTONE,
Postcode
ME14 1XQ
Post Town
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
Penenden Heath
Westminster Constituency
Maidstone and Malling

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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