SC240063 -Parent Infant Mental Health Service (PIMHS)

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 standstill period begins on the day after the publication of this notice. Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority by 11.59pm 25 February 2026. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award a contract under the competitive process of the PSR.

Parent infant relationships are prerequisite to an infant’s development in the first 1001 days from conception and a time of rapid brain development. Our experiences in this period lay the foundations for a wide range of future health outcomes. Having warm, consistent, and loving care, helps promote good social and emotional development. Additional information: 5/9/2026 – 31/08/2028

There is the potential for a contract extension of 2 x 1 year(s) (24 months), depending on both the success in achieving the required outcomes and the availability of further funding.

The Providers were asked quality questions against the 5 key criteria, with a scoring criteria between A-F. The Key Criteria were then assessed across the questions below: 1. Please detail how your organisation will manage and deliver the specialist Parent Infant Mental Health (PIMH) team and how this team will deliver the Service as described in the Specification. Relates to key criteria value, integration collaboration, improving access, reducing health inequalities, 2.Please detail how someone would experience a PIMH Service from your organisation? 3.Please describe how you will ensure the new service will be mobilised quickly and effectively following contract award? 4.How will your organisation manage triage and assessment? 5.Please describe how you will ensure a high-quality service is delivered that is able to meet the targets outlined? 6.Developing the skills of the workforce in Kent in Parent Infant Relationships will be a key element of this service offer. Detail the workforce training that will be designed and delivered. 7.Please detail how your organisation will manage demand for, triage, assessment and for PIMH Interventions. 8.Please describe how social value will be achieved through the life of this contract The Real Group were the provider that scored the lowest value per other key criteria score with a score of 81.5% and were therefore chosen as the preferred provider.