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Mental Health Community Step Down Facility

NHS Kent & Medway Integrated Care Board

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

14 Aug 2026 at 10:55

Planning Notice
Summary of the contracting process

NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board intends to commission a community mental health step-down facility in Kent and Medway. The service will provide self-contained accommodation for nine adults aged 18 and over with severe mental health needs who are ready to leave acute inpatient care but need further assessment and support outside hospital. It will support timely discharge, reduce delayed discharges and inpatient stays, and help people move towards independent or supported community living. The model is recovery-focused, promotes independence and social inclusion, and provides care in the least restrictive environment. Requirements include 24-hour on-site staffing and support, with integrated working across NHS services, local authorities and community partners. Typical stays will be approximately 14 to 16 weeks. This is a community health service.

This procurement is at the planning stage: the buyer has announced an intention to use the Most Suitable Provider process under Regulation 10 of the Provider Selection Regime, rather than issuing an invitation to tender. Interested providers are expected to be able to express interest within 14 days of publication, after which the Commissioner will identify and assess potential providers. A subsequent opportunity is expected on 10 October 2026, with service commencement anticipated in January 2027. The initial contract is for 12 months, with an optional further 12-month extension. Its value is £1,000,000 for the initial period and £2,000,000 including the extension, excluding VAT. Assessment will consider quality and innovation, value, integration and sustainability, access and health inequalities, choice, and social value, alongside basic selection criteria.

The service will suit established mental health, supported accommodation and community care providers able to operate a nine-bed facility for adults with severe mental health needs. The Commissioner strongly prefers a provider that can fully mobilise within 12 weeks of contract award and can present a credible plan covering premises, workforce, governance and operational infrastructure. Relevant organisations should be ready to provide 24-hour on-site staffing, recovery-focused support and coordinated care with NHS, local authority and community partners. Providers should be able to demonstrate safe transition from acute inpatient services, support for discharge and recovery, and delivery in the least restrictive setting. Assessment will favour evidence of quality, innovation, value, integrated and sustainable services, improved access, reduced health inequalities, facilitated choice and wider social value. Preparatory work should focus on mobilisation and partnership arrangements.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Mental Health Community Step Down Facility

Notice Description

NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (the Commissioner) is publishing this notice to inform the market of its intention to follow the Most Suitable Provider (MSP) process for the award of a contract for a Mental Health Community Step-Down Facility. The service will provide a 9-bed, community-based step-down facility for adults with severe mental health needs who are ready for discharge from acute inpatient services and require further assessment and support in a non-hospital setting. The Commissioner has a strong preference for providers that can demonstrate their ability to fully mobilise the service within twelve weeks of contract award. Providers should be able to evidence a credible mobilisation plan, including arrangements for premises, workforce, governance, and operational infrastructure necessary to deliver the service from the contract commencement date. Providers who believe they are capable of delivering this service are invited to express their interest within 14 days of publication of this notice. The Commissioner will not begin identifying or assessing potential providers until after this period, in accordance with the Provider Selection Regime The contract duration is 12-months with an optional extension of a further 12-months. The anticipated service commencement date is January 2027. The contract value for the initial 12-month contract is PS1,000,000 and the total contract value including the optional 12-month extension period is PS2,000,000 excluding VAT This exercise is being carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioner.

Lot Information

Lot 1

NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (the Commissioner) is publishing this notice to inform the market of its intention to follow the Most Suitable Provider (MSP) process in accordance with Regulation 10 of the Provider Selection Regime (PSR) for the award of a contract for a Mental Health Community Step-Down Facility. The service will provide a 9-bed community-based step-down facility for adults (18+) with severe mental health needs who are ready for discharge from acute inpatient services but require a period of further assessment and support in a non-hospital setting. The service aims to: * Facilitate timely discharge from acute mental health services * Reduce delayed discharges and inpatient length of stay * Support transition to independent or supported community living * Promote recovery, independence and social inclusion * Deliver care in the least restrictive environment The service will include: * Self-contained accommodation within Kent and Medway * 24-hour on-site staffing and support * A recovery-focused model of care * Integrated working with NHS, local authority, and community partners * A typical length of stay of approximately 14-16 weeks The anticipated contract start date is January 2027. The Initial contract duration is 12 months with the option to extend up to a further 12 months. The contract value for the initial 12-month contract is PS1,000,000 and the total contract value including the optional 12-month extension period is PS2,000,000 excluding VAT TUPE is unlikely to apply to this procurement. This exercise is being carried out by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioner.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e45b
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/077569-2026
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

85323000 - Community health services

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
14 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
10 Oct 20262 months 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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NHS Kent & Medway Integrated Care Board
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
Not specified
Postcode Area
Not specified
Country
Not specified
Major Region (ITL 1)
Not specified
Basic Region (ITL 2)
Not specified
Small Region (ITL 3)
Not specified
Delivery Location
TLJ4 Kent
Local Authority
Not specified
Electoral Ward
Not specified
Westminster Constituency
Not specified

Further Information

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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