Official UK procurement notice
KMMH, KCHFT, DGT - Freedom To Speak Up Services
Authority: Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust (Central government)·Consortium: 3 public authorities
What is being bought3 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionKent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust, Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust and Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust (the "Contracting Authorities") are each awarding a contract for the provision of Freedom to Speak Up (FTSU) Services.
The FTSU Services will provide staff across the participating Contracting Authorities with a confidential, impartial, and accessible mechanism for raising concerns relating to workplace issues. These may include (though are not limited to) matters of patient care and safety, bullying, harassment, discrimination, unfair treatment, and other concerns regarding conduct, safety, culture, or working practices.
The Services will support the Contracting Authorities in delivering their strategic organisational aims by:
- empowering staff to speak up safely and confidently through impartial support;
- strengthening leadership behaviours and approaches;
- Enhancing organisational responsiveness; and
- promoting innovation, learning, and continuous improvement through a transparent and responsive organisational culture.
This procurement was conducted in accordance with the Open Procedure under the Procurement Act 2023, alongside the Contracting Authorities’ respective Standing Financial Instructions.
The opportunity was divided into three Lots, as follows:
- Lot 1: Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust
- Lot 2: Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust
- Lot 3: Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust
A single Contract is being awarded for each Lot, covering the full scope of Services as defined in the Specification.
Please note that the contract values included within this notice are estimates only, and do not take into account:
(i) the application of indexation; or
(ii) potential increases or decreases in the demand for services during the Contract term as detailed within the tender documents.
- The authority expects to re-tender this requirement around 3 Jan 2031, 23:59 GMT.
CPV: Business and management consultancy and related services · Guidance and counselling services · Guidance services · Human resources management consultancy services · Staff development services
Lots and requirements (3)Procurement structure
3 lots · all with a published value (£1,430,000 together) · same evaluation weights on every lotLot #1Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS TrustAwardedRenewalPublished value£463,000
Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust invites tenders for the provision of Freedom to Speak Up services, providing its staff with a confidential, impartial, and accessible mechanism for raising concerns relating to workplace issues, behaviour, service quality, safety and/or organisational culture
The Contracting Authority is a large Mental Health NHS Trust, providing a full range of adult mental health and learning disability services to our local population of 1.8 million people across Kent and Medway, as well as specialist services for adults in Sussex and Surrey. Each year we care for over 2,000 people in our hospitals and 54,000 people in the community.
The Contracting Authority will award one Contract for the provision of all services detailed in the Specification.
Lot #2Kent Community Health NHS Foundation TrustAwardedRenewalPublished value£500,000
Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust invites tenders for the provision of Freedom to Speak Up services, providing its staff with a confidential, impartial, and accessible mechanism for raising concerns relating to workplace issues, behaviour, service quality, safety and/or organisational culture
The Contracting Authority is one of the largest NHS community health providers in England, serving a population of about 3.6million across Kent, East Sussex and parts of London. The trust has over 70 clinical services, and has achieved the highly coveted ‘Outstanding’ CQC rating. The Trust provides wide-ranging NHS care for people in the community, in a range of settings including people’s own homes, nursing homes, health clinics, community hospitals, schools, urgent treatment centres and mobile units.
The Contracting Authority will award one Contract for the provision of all services detailed in the Specification.
Lot #3Dartford and Gravesham NHS TrustAwardedRenewalPublished value£467,000
Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust invites tenders for the provision of Freedom to Speak Up services, providing its staff with a confidential, impartial, and accessible mechanism for raising concerns relating to workplace issues, behaviour, service quality, safety and/or organisational culture
The Contracting Authority is one of the largest hospital trusts in North Kent, with services at four sites serving a local population of over 500,000 people. The Trust’s vision is to be an outstanding hospital Trust providing the best possible care for patients that is safe, well-coordinated, in the right place and designed around the patient’s needs.
The Contracting Authority will award one Contract for the provision of all services detailed in the Specification.
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Published sub-criteria (3)
- Technical Quality: 50%
- Price: 40%
- Net Zero and Social Value: 10%
Published award criteria (3)
- Net Zero and Social Value
- Price
- Technical Quality
- Price carries 40 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 4 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Open procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- Yes · next expected 3 Jan 2031
- First published
- 28 Aug 2025, 16:28 BST
- Last source update
- 21 May 2026, 10:30 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 9 Apr 2026
- Authority reference
C385777- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-011191- Latest notice
- Contract award notice (UK6)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-058fbeFind a Tender
- Risks
Contract Performance:
The Contracting Authorities have identified the following risks as risks that satisfy the criteria of Schedule 8 sub-paragraph (6)(a) of the Procurement Act 2023 i.e. that the risk/s could jeopardise the satisfactory performance of the contract but, because of its/their nature, cannot be addressed in the contract as awarded:
(i) Increased demand for the services during the Contract term due to changes to the organisational structure, or services offered by, any of the Contracting Authorities.
(ii) Any national or NHS policy or regulatory amendments concerning Freedom to Speak Up and related services that necessitate adjustments to the Contract requirements to ensure compliance.
The Contracting Authorities has concluded that there is a possibility that the contract may have to be modified as a result of a materialisation of the known risk at a later date in accordance with Schedule 8 paragraph 5 of the Procurement Act 2023
Exclusions:
If at any time during the procurement, or post award, it comes to the attention of the Contracting Authorities, by whatever means, that a Supplier has become 'excluded' or 'excludable' as per Sec 57 of the PA2023, the Contracting Authorities, after compliance with its obligations under the PA 23, reserves the right to exclude said Supplier from the procurement procedure or terminate any contract they have been awarded.
Reservations of rights and disclaimers of liability:
The Contracting Authorities expressly reserves the right:
(i). not to award any contract as a result of the procurement process commenced by publication of this notice;
(ii). to make whatever changes it may see fit to the content and structure of the tendering Competition; and
(iii). in no circumstances will the Contracting Authorities be liable for any costs incurred by candidates
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 13 Mar 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Clarification deadline
- 13 Mar 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
The Contracting Authorities are utilising an electronic Tendering system ("E-Tendering Portal") to manage this procurement and communicate with Tenderers. Accordingly, there will be no hard copy documents issued to Tenderers and all communications with the Contracting Authorities, including the submission of Tender responses will be conducted solely via the following link: health-family.force.com/s/Welcome ↗
A user guide can be found at the following link: services.atamis.co.uk/docs/Supplier_User_G… ↗
For any technical queries, please contact support-health@atamis.co.uk or via telephone on 0800 995 6035 (08:00-18:00 Monday-Friday excluding public holidays).
Timeline
28 Aug 2025 → 9 Jun 2026 · 11 dates- Planning notice published28 Aug 2025, 16:28 BST
- Market engagement5 Sept 2025, 23:59 BST
This engagement is intended to gather valuable feedback from potential providers to help shape the Trusts’ procurement strategy. In particular, the Trusts are seeking insights into viable delivery models, approaches to risk mitigation, appropriate contract structures, and the scalability of services across multiple organisations. The exercise also aims to assess the level of market interest and the capacity of providers to deliver a collaborative, multi-Trust solution, while exploring opportunities for achieving efficiencies and cost savings through a joint procurement approach.
Providers who express an interest will be invited to complete a structured questionnaire to share their insights, capabilities, and recommendations. They will also be invited to attend a virtual market engagement presentation at 14:00 on Friday 5th September 2025, during which the Trusts will outline their objectives, anticipated timelines, and expectations for both the procurement process and the future service.
Suppliers wishing to participate are invited to contact Jake Fisher, Procurement and Contracts Manager, via email at kmpt.procurement@nhs.net Upon registration of interest, further details (including the questionnaire and presentation invitation) will be provided.
- Next notice expected400 days ago22 Sept 2025, 23:59 BST
- Tender notice published263 days ago6 Feb 2026, 23:08 GMT
- Clarification questions by229 days ago13 Mar 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Submission deadline229 days ago13 Mar 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Award decision expected by201 days ago9 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
- Assessment summaries sent161 days ago20 May 2026, 00:00 BST
- Latest notice published160 days ago21 May 2026, 10:30 BST
- Standstill ends147 days ago2 Jun 2026, 23:59 BST
- Contract starts141 days ago9 Jun 2026, 00:00 BST
Notice history
12 events · 4 releases on Find a Tender · since 28 Aug 2025- Preliminary market engagement notice published28 Aug 2025, 16:28 BSTUK2
- Preliminary market engagement notice published29 Aug 2025, 16:41 BSTUK2
- Tender notice published6 Feb 2026, 23:08 GMTUK4
- Published value updated to £1,430,0006 Feb 2026, 23:08 GMTwas £1,674,790
- Status changed to active6 Feb 2026, 23:08 GMT
- Procurement method changed6 Feb 2026, 23:08 GMT
- Deadline published: 13 Mar 2026, 12:00 GMT6 Feb 2026, 23:08 GMT
- Contract award notice published21 May 2026, 10:30 BSTUK6
- Status changed to complete21 May 2026, 10:30 BST
- Contract signature expected5 Jun 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
- Contract signature expected17 Jun 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
- Contract signature expected1 Jul 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
Published amendments (1)
Reference to incorrect date for virtual market engagement presentation.
Routine re-releases (4)
- 2025-08: 1 release · 28 Aug 2025
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lot 1 · Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust1 award | |||
| The Guardian Service LtdSME9 Jun 2026 – 30 Jun 2029 · up to 30 Jun 2031Extensions: The Term may be extended provided that the total duration of this Contract (including any extensions) shall not exceed 30 June 2031. · Options: During the Contract Term, the Supplier and the Contracting Authority may explore alternative service availability models as set out in the published UK4: Tender Notice (2026/S 000-011191) | £504,750 | 20 May 2026standstill to 2 Jun 2026 | Standstill |
| Lot 2 · Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust1 award | |||
| The Guardian Service LtdSME1 Jul 2026 – 30 Jun 2029 · up to 30 Jun 2031Extensions: The Term may be extended provided that the total duration of this Contract (including any extensions) shall not exceed 30 June 2031. · Options: During the Contract Term, the Supplier and the Contracting Authority may explore alternative service availability models as set out in the published UK4: Tender Notice (2026/S 000-011191) | £504,750 | 20 May 2026standstill to 2 Jun 2026 | Standstill |
| Lot 3 · Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust1 award | |||
| The Guardian Service LtdSME13 Aug 2026 – 30 Jun 2029 · up to 30 Jun 2031Extensions: The Term may be extended provided that the total duration of this Contract (including any extensions) shall not exceed 30 June 2031. · Options: During the Contract Term, the Supplier and the Contracting Authority may explore alternative service availability models as set out in the published UK4: Tender Notice (2026/S 000-011191) | £504,750 | 20 May 2026standstill to 2 Jun 2026 | Standstill |
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Lot | Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust | 2final-stage tenders | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2 · Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust | 2final-stage tenders | 2 | 0 | — |
| 3 · Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust | 2final-stage tenders | 2 | 0 | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
3 public bodies on the noticeConsortium members and other public bodies
- Dartford and Gravesham NHS TrustContracting authorityPublic authority - central government
- Kent Community Health NHS Foundation TrustContracting authorityPublic authority - central government
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- The Guardian Service LtdAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (6)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender