Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Hertfordshire County Council
County Hall
Hertford
SG138DQ
strategic.procurement@hertfordshire.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKH23 - Hertfordshire
Justification for not providing organisation identifier
Not on any register
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk
Buyer's address
https://in-tendhost.co.uk/supplyhertfordshire/aspx/Home
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
one.5) Main activity
General public services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
The Provision of a Mental Health Service for Children and Young People (CYP) with Learning Disability and/or Autism, including Mental Health Support Teams (MHST) Supporting CYP with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
Reference number
HCC2617441
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Specialist Mental Health Service for Children & Young People (CYP) with a Learning Disability and/or who are autistic.
The service supports the mental health needs of CYP who have complex needs and present with significant communication challenges, as a result of their Learning Disability and or autism that require specialist approaches to mental health support. These often do not appear in isolation and many of CYP will experience co-occurring difficulties, such as:
• Emotional dysregulation
• Behaviours of concern[2] (includes CYP with LD and/or ASD that may show behaviours of concern that seem unrelated to mental health at first but underlying mental health needs often become clearer once support begins)
• Sleep difficulties, feeding difficulties, and toileting difficulties
• Withdrawal from usual activities significantly impacting activities of daily living (ADL)
• Sensory processing difficulties
In addition, Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) provide early help mental health support for pupils (reception to year 13*) with mild to moderate difficulties who are on roll at education settings within Hertfordshire.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £20,871,012
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85100000 - Health services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH23 - Hertfordshire
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Council is intending to award this contract to our existing provider following Direct Award Process C under the Provider Selection Regime (PSR.)
The contract will commence on 1st April 2026 until 31st March 2028 with the option to extend for 2 years up until 31st March 2030. (Maximum 4 years total.)
The approximate life time value of this contract is stated in II.1.7 above and includes the value of any possible extensions.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: The existing provider is satisfying the original contract and will likely satisfy the proposed contract to a sufficient standard / Weighting: 100
Price - Weighting: 0
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
There is the option to extend the contract for two (2) years subject to available funding and satisfactory performance at the discretion of the Council.
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below
- The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations
Explanation:
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 publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period.
Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority by 11th February 2026.
This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
Section five. Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
26 January 2026
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust (HCT)
14 Tewin Road
Welwyn Garden City
AL7 1BW
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKH23 - Hertfordshire
NHS Organisation Data Service
RY4
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £20,871,012
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
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 publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period.
Representations must be made to decision makers by 11th February 2026.
The contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice services as an intention to award under the PSR.
Written representations should be sent to:
strategic.procurement@hertfordshire.gov.uk
Details of individuals making the award decision:
CYPMHS Senior Commissioning Manger
Herts & West Essex MHST Commissioning Manager
Deputy Head of Service IHCCT: CYPMHS Commissioning and Design
The existing provider is satisfying the existing contract and will likely satisfy the proposed new contract. The provider has been assessed against the relevant 5 key criteria and has passed the requirements.
There were no conflicts of interest identified.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Independent Choice and Procurement Panel
Wellington House
London
SE1 8UG
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
The Council will enter into an 8 working day standstill period following publication of this Contract Award Notice before officially awarding the contract in line with the requirements under PSR.