This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

04 Aug 2026 at 11:18

Summary of the contracting process

Kent County Council, in conjunction with the Kent and Medway Suicide Prevention Programme and the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board, is in the planning stage to procure a Specialist Support Service for individuals bereaved by suicide. The procurement, which lies within the community health services industry category, will cover the Kent and Medway regions (UKJ4). The initial contract period is anticipated to start on 1 April 2027, lasting for three years with a possible two-year extension. Interested parties are invited to engage in the market discussions prior to the formal procurement process, which is expected to be published shortly after the future notice date of 31 August 2026. Led by a regional local agency, Kent County Council, this tender is valued at £650,000 and aims to provide comprehensive support through face-to-face, telephone, and virtual means.

This tender presents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in trauma-informed community health services to expand their reach within the public sector. The contract's requirements for a flexible and dynamic service, capable of supporting at least 250 individuals annually, make it particularly suited for organisations experienced in delivering health and social services. Companies that excel in forming robust partnerships with health, education, policing, coronial services, and voluntary sectors will likely find this tender advantageous for growth. The selected provider will have a platform to innovate by delivering sustainable, high-quality support systems for those impacted by suicide across Kent and Medway, making it an impactful and rewarding opportunity for growth-oriented service providers.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Specialist Support Service for People Bereaved by Suicide

Notice Description

Kent County Council, on behalf of the Kent and Medway Suicide Prevention Programme and in partnership with the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board, is seeking market engagement to inform the future procurement of a Specialist Bereavement Support Service for people affected by suicide across Kent and Medway. The service will provide timely, accessible and trauma-informed emotional and practical support to individuals impacted by suicide, including family members, friends, colleagues, witnesses and professionals. The future provider will be expected to deliver a flexible countywide service through a combination of face-to-face, telephone and virtual support, working closely with health, community and voluntary sector partners. The contract is anticipated to commence on 1 April 2027 for an initial period of three years, with the option to extend for up to two further years. Kent County Council welcomes engagement from organisations interested in helping to shape the future service and deliver innovative, high-quality support for residents affected by suicide bereavement.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Kent County Council, on behalf of the Kent and Medway Suicide Prevention Programme and in partnership with the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board, intends to procure a single provider to deliver a countywide Specialist Bereavement Support Service for people affected by suicide. The service will provide timely, trauma-informed emotional and practical support to individuals bereaved or impacted by suicide, including family members, friends, colleagues, witnesses and professionals. The provider will be required to deliver a flexible and accessible service through a combination of face-to-face, telephone and virtual support, maintain effective referral pathways with key partners across health, education, policing, coronial services and the voluntary sector, and support a minimum of 250 individuals per year. The new service will build on the strengths of the current model while strengthening accessibility, partnership working, outcomes measurement and performance reporting to ensure high-quality support is available across Kent and Medway from 1st April 2027.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06db1c
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/073653-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Planning 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

85100000 - Health services

85323000 - Community health services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£650,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
4 Aug 2026Yesterday
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
30 Aug 20264 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

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

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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.

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-06db1c-2026-08-04T12:18:38+01:00",
    "date": "2026-08-04T12:18:38+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-06db1c",
    "description": "This is a 3 year contract with an optional extension of 2 years. GO Reference: GO-202684-PRO-37781920",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "tender": {
        "id": "CN260672",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "32014L0024",
            "scheme": "CELEX"
        },
        "title": "Specialist Support Service for People Bereaved by Suicide",
        "status": "planned",
        "classification": {
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "id": "85323000",
            "description": "Community health services"
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "description": "Kent County Council, on behalf of the Kent and Medway Suicide Prevention Programme and in partnership with the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board, is seeking market engagement to inform the future procurement of a Specialist Bereavement Support Service for people affected by suicide across Kent and Medway. The service will provide timely, accessible and trauma-informed emotional and practical support to individuals impacted by suicide, including family members, friends, colleagues, witnesses and professionals. The future provider will be expected to deliver a flexible countywide service through a combination of face-to-face, telephone and virtual support, working closely with health, community and voluntary sector partners. The contract is anticipated to commence on 1 April 2027 for an initial period of three years, with the option to extend for up to two further years. Kent County Council welcomes engagement from organisations interested in helping to shape the future service and deliver innovative, high-quality support for residents affected by suicide bereavement.",
        "value": {
            "amount": 650000,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "description": "Kent County Council, on behalf of the Kent and Medway Suicide Prevention Programme and in partnership with the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board, intends to procure a single provider to deliver a countywide Specialist Bereavement Support Service for people affected by suicide. The service will provide timely, trauma-informed emotional and practical support to individuals bereaved or impacted by suicide, including family members, friends, colleagues, witnesses and professionals. The provider will be required to deliver a flexible and accessible service through a combination of face-to-face, telephone and virtual support, maintain effective referral pathways with key partners across health, education, policing, coronial services and the voluntary sector, and support a minimum of 250 individuals per year. The new service will build on the strengths of the current model while strengthening accessibility, partnership working, outcomes measurement and performance reporting to ensure high-quality support is available across Kent and Medway from 1st April 2027.",
                "status": "planned"
            }
        ],
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "85100000",
                        "description": "Health services"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UKJ4"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryLocation": {
                    "description": "Kent"
                },
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "communication": {
            "futureNoticeDate": "2026-08-31T00:00:00+01:00"
        },
        "coveredBy": [
            "GPA"
        ]
    },
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-FTS-185544",
            "name": "Kent County Council",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Kent County Council",
                "id": "PLDL-8938-YGYW"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Kent County Council | Sessions House, Maidstone",
                "locality": "Maidstone",
                "region": "UKJ4",
                "postalCode": "ME14 1XQ",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "name": "Alison Newman",
                "telephone": "+44 3000415807",
                "email": "alison.newman@kent.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "http://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "REGIONAL_AGENCY",
                        "scheme": "TED_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Regional or local agency/office"
                    },
                    {
                        "id": "07",
                        "scheme": "COFOG",
                        "description": "Health"
                    }
                ]
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-FTS-185544",
        "name": "Kent County Council"
    },
    "language": "en"
}