Contract

Qwell online mental health counselling platform in St Helens

  • NHS CHESHIRE AND MERSEYSIDE INTEGRATED CARE BOARD

F03: Contract award notice

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-016444

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-050623

Published 23 April 2025, 11:13am



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

NHS CHESHIRE AND MERSEYSIDE INTEGRATED CARE BOARD

1 Lakeside 920, Centre Park Square

Warrington

WA1 1QY

Contact

Mervyn Kennedy

Email

mervyn.kennedy@cheshireandmerseyside.nhs.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKD61 - Warrington

NHS Organisation Data Service

QYG

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://cheshireandmerseyside.nhs.uk/

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Body governed by public law

one.5) Main activity

Health


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Qwell online mental health counselling platform in St Helens

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 85100000 - Health services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

Qwell is an online mental health counselling platform, available 24/7 and 365 days a year providing free, safe and anonymous mental health and wellbeing support for adults in St Helens.

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: £105,000

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 85100000 - Health services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKD71 - East Merseyside
Main site or place of performance

The services is available to adults resident across the St Helens borough council area.

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICB - St Helens Place intend to award a 28 month contract via Direct award C to the incumbent provider to deliver the Qwell online mental health counselling platform in St Helens. The contract will start on the 8th of May 2025, expire on 31st August 2027 and has an annual contract value of £45,000.

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: 99

Price - Weighting: 1

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: No


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 within 8 working days. 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

Title

Qwell online mental health counselling platform in St Helens

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

29 August 2024

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

Kooth Digital Health Ltd

5 Merchant Square

London

W2 1AY

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UK - United Kingdom
Companies House

04154208

Internet address

https://connect.kooth.com/

The contractor is an SME

No

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)

Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £105,000

Total value of the contract/lot: £105,000


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 by providers must be made to decision makers by 8 working days. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.'

On the 29th August 2024 St Helens Place Leadership Team approved this decision and no conflicts of interested were declared.

The following criteria informed the decision:

Social Value: 10%

Improving access, reducing health inequalities, and facilitating choice: 25%

Value: 20%

Integration, collaboration and service sustainability: 20%

Quality and innovation: 25%

Representations by providers must be made to mervyn.kennedy@cheshireandmerseyside.nhs.uk within 8 working days from the publication date of this notice. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the Provider Selection Regime (2023).

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

Cheshire & Merseyside Integrated Care Board

1 Lakeside 920, Centre Park Square

Warrington

WA1 1QY

Country

United Kingdom

Internet address

https://cheshireandmerseyside.nhs.uk/