Provision of an Early Attachment Service

CPV: Health services

Procedure method

Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition

Legal basis

CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)

Procurement category

Services

Notice status

Awarded without competition

Procurement threshold

Unspecified in notice

Regulatory regime

Standard

Commercial structure

Stand-alone contract (no framework)

Competition type

Direct award (no call for competition)

GPA / WTO covered

Yes (GPA)

Recurring procurement

Unspecified in notice

First published

11 May 2026, 13:01 BST

Last source update

11 May 2026, 13:01 BST

FTS notice number

2026/S 000-042976

Classification (CPV)

Health services

Delivery area

North East (UKC)

Official registry OCID

ocds-h6vhtk-0695ab Find a Tender

Why no open competition

The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator due to absence of competition for technical reasons; New works/services, constituting a repetition of existing works/services and ordered in accordance with the strict conditions stated in the directive

Published justification

Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust was commissioned by Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council (TMBC) to deliver the mild to moderate needs expansion of the Parent Infant Mental Health Service. The contract commenced in February 2024 and is funded through the national Family Hubs and Healthy Babies grant funding. The current contract is due to end on the 28 February 2026.

In November 2025, the Government announced further Family Hubs funding was available. The council then had to await the official award letter before going through an internal governance process to accept and award the funding. In these circumstances an Executive Decision is required, this process takes time. The process has commenced, the timescale for approval is 29 April 2026.

As the contract is due to expire on 28 February and approval to accept and award the grant funding cannot be obtained until 29 April 2026 there will be a 9-week gap in service provision. Due to the nature of the service and the vulnerability of the families accessing the service a gap in service provision is not an option.

Direct Award Process A was considered the best option in these circumstances due to the following reasons:

• Pennine Care are the existing provider of the health care services to which the proposed contracting arrangements relate
• Tameside Council are satisfied that the health care services to which the proposed contracting arrangements relate can only be provided by the existing provider (or group of providers) due to the nature of the health care services.
• Nature of the Service: The service is a Parent Infant Mental Health Service, the families accessing the service are vulnerable
• Accessibility of the service - The service is based in Tameside and delivered to local residents who live in Tameside.
• Performance - The service is subject to quarterly contract performance reviews and has been assessed by the council as having a good performance track record
• Risks - Families are currently accessing the service, a break in service could result in people dropping out of the service/safeguarding issues.
• Direct award process A is not being used to conclude a framework agreement.

• Pennine Care NHS FoundationAwarded supplier Ashton-under-Lyne, UK

No document links were published on the notice.