Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council has secured the services of an experienced and suitably qualified organisation to deliver a digital mental health support service for young people (10-25).

This is a 39 month contract with two 12-month optional extensions.

Contract start: 1st January 2025

Contract end (initial term): 31st March 2028

This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) contract award notice in line with Direct Award Process C (award to the incumbent). The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 (PSR). For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award.

Description of the service:

Online Mental Health Support Services for Children & Young People in Sefton aged 10-25. A digital mental health platform that gives children and young people (CYP) immediate access to an online community of peers and a team of experienced, accredited counsellors.

Award decision-makers:

The Cabinet Members of Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council

Conflicts or potential conflicts of interest and how they were managed:

The assessment of the incumbent’s performance in relation to the five key criteria was undertaken by a panel of members with expertise in public health.

Kooth’s current Relationship Manager is known to Sefton’s Public Health Team, having worked within Sefton’s Public Health Team until November 2023 and remains in touch with two of the officers that have participated in the assessment of the Key Criteria.

Two additional officers were invited to participate in the assessment of the key criteria, so that a range of views and perspectives were represented. Additionally, the process was overseen by Sefton’s Procurement Team and a Category Manager chaired the moderation of scores.