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CN260642 - Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) Mental Health Assessment Service

Kent County Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

09 Oct 2026 at 14:17

Planning Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Kent County Council intends to procure a Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) mental health assessment service across Kent. The supplier will work with the Kent DoLS Service to manage referrals and assessment processes, arrange and complete assessments, and provide timely, high-quality assessments that meet statutory requirements. Assessors will consider whether recommendations under the Mental Capacity Act are appropriate. The service is intended to support the Council in meeting its legal duties and maintain care, transparency and assurance for individuals and their families. This is community health work focused on specialist mental health assessments, rather than a general health-service contract.

This is at the planning stage: the Council has expressed an intention to procure, but has not issued an invitation to tender. It anticipates launching the tender in November 2026, although this is not guaranteed; the next notice is forecast for 15 February 2027. The proposed service start is 1 May 2027. The expected contract term is two years, with a possible extension of up to two further years. The stated estimated value is £1,095,970. The procurement is presented as a single lot. No procedure, bid evaluation basis or supplier eligibility rules are set out at this stage.

The service is suited to providers able to manage a steady flow of referrals and deliver specialist mental health assessments across Kent in coordination with the Council’s DoLS service. It requires access to appropriately qualified and experienced professionals: assessments must be carried out by Section 12 doctors who are full members of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and/or doctors on the GMC Specialist Register as specialists in psychiatry. Where appropriate, assessors must also be able to make recommendations under the Mental Capacity Act. Suppliers should be prepared to demonstrate efficient referral handling, reliable assessment delivery and the ability to meet statutory requirements while maintaining high standards of care, transparency and assurance for individuals and families. The planning description does not state other required accreditations or capacity thresholds.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

CN260642 - Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) Mental Health Assessment Service

Notice Description

DoLS Mental Health Assessment. This is not a call for competition, this is to express interest in this opportunity. Kent County Council (KCC) are anticipating procuring a DoLS Mental Health Assessment with the tender anticipated to launch in November 2026; Kent County Council does not guarantee this. The opportunity that launches will seek a supplier, working in conjunction with Kent DoLS Service, to arrange and complete these assessments, through the delivery of a Mental Health 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. KCC propose a Service Commencement date of 1 May 2027. The Service Contract is expected to be for 2 years, with a possible extension of up 2 years.

Lot Information

Lot 1

DoLS Mental Health Assessment. This is not a call for competition, this is to express interest in this opportunity. Kent County Council (KCC) are anticipating procuring a DoLS Mental Health Assessment with the tender anticipated to launch in November 2026; Kent County Council does not guarantee this. The opportunity that launches will seek a supplier, working in conjunction with Kent DoLS Service, to arrange and complete these assessments, through the delivery of a Mental Health 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. KCC propose a Service Commencement date of 1 May 2027. The Service Contract is expected to be for 2 years, with a possible extension of up 2 years. It is intended that the Mental Health Assessment Service will ensure the Council has access to timely, high-quality Mental Health 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. To express your interest in this opportunity, please visit: https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/respond/D9B842CKSY If you experience any technical difficulties from accessing the above url, then please contact the Delta eSourcing Helpdesk on call 0800 923 9236 or email helpdesk@delta-esourcing.com.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0784d6
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/095709-2026
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
£1,095,970 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
9 Oct 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
15 Feb 20275 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
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
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
Penenden Heath
Westminster Constituency
Maidstone and Malling

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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