Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Kent County Council
County Hall
Maidstone
ME141XQ
Contact
Edward Dews
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKJ4 - Kent
Justification for not providing organisation identifier
Not on any register
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
one.5) Main activity
Other activity
Local Authority
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
CN220350 - Therapies: SEN, Adoption Support Service and VSK (previously SC21032)
Reference number
CN220350 (previously SC21032)
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
SEN Therapies (Lot 1)
The Council recognises that SEN therapy service providers have an important role in improving a child or young person's (CYP's) participation in learning experiences and access to curriculum opportunities and outcomes for our children who have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan. The Council aims to establish a relational contracting approach with providers on the Qualified Provider List (QPL) that will:
• recognise the interdependencies between local authorities, service providers, Ofsted and other stakeholders;
• facilitate co operation, shared learning and improvement;
• enable the Council to anticipate and respond quickly to the changing needs of CYP with an EHC plan;
• support joint working between the Council's education services and therapy service providers to help improve outcomes for CYP with an EHC plan;
• help ensure sufficiency and suitability of therapy provision tailored to the current and anticipated needs of CYP with an EHC plan; and
• ensure fairness in commercial arrangements between commissioners and providers, with transparency of prices.
Adoption Support Service (Lot 2)
The Adoption Support Fund (ASF) has been established to help adoptive families access the services they need more easily. The ASF provides funds to local authorities (LAs) and Regional Adoption Agencies (RAAs) to pay for essential therapeutic services for eligible adoptive families and families with a Special Guardianship Order (SGO). The aim of the ASF and the support it funds is to:
• improve outcomes for young people and families;
• improve the core adoption/SGO support offered to families; and
• build the evidence base so that interventions demonstrate their effectiveness and value for money.
Virtual Schools Kent (Lot 3)
Virtual School Head Teachers (VSHs) are responsible for promoting the educational achievement of children looked after by the local authority. For some young people, a therapeutic approach or intervention may be required to support access to, or engagement with, education.
Kent Children in Care (CiC), aged 3 to 18, are supported by Virtual School Kent (VSK). Pupil Premium Plus (PP+), Post 16 Pupil Premium Plus (P16PP+), or Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) funding can be used to pay for activities that:
a) improve the learning targets in children's Personal Education Plans (PEPs); and
b) encourage CiC to be more involved in and interested in their education.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: Yes
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Lowest offer: £1 / Highest offer: £1,000,000 taken into consideration
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
SEN Therapies Lot 1
Lot No
1
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 80000000 - Education and training services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKJ4 - Kent
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Successful bidders shall be invited to sign the Framework Agreement and join the QPL for the appropriate lots they have bid for ("Framework Agreement"). Entry into this contract does not guarantee that the Council will purchase Therapy Services from any bidder, but it will ensure that the successful bidder is included on the Council's QPL.
As and when the Council requires specific Therapy Services, the Council shall:
1. review the QPL and select providers that have the professional qualifications to deliver the required services;
2. start a mini competition by submitting a call off request to those selected providers in accordance with the Framework Agreement (Order Form or request for service from the relevant service - SEN Therapies (Lot 1) or Adoption Support Service (Lot 2));
3. request a final price for the relevant Therapy Services; and
4. decide whether to proceed with the required Therapy Services at the price stated, based on the award criteria set out in the Framework Agreement.
Where, in the reasonable professional opinion of the Council, there is only one provider with the relevant expertise to provide the required Therapy Services to a particular CYP, the Council may approach a single provider on the QPL.
No call off and/or contract for any requested Therapy Services shall be deemed to have taken place or been formed until the Council formally accepts the price quoted by the chosen provider in accordance with the Framework Agreement.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Name / Weighting: 100
Price - Weighting: 0
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Adoption Support Service Lot 2
Lot No
2
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 80000000 - Education and training services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKJ4 - Kent
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Successful bidders shall be invited to sign the Framework Agreement and join the QPL for the appropriate lots they have bid for ("Framework Agreement"). Entry into this contract does not guarantee that the Council will purchase Therapy Services from any bidder, but it will ensure that the successful bidder is included on the Council's QPL.
As and when the Council requires specific Therapy Services, the Council shall:
1. review the QPL and select providers that have the professional qualifications to deliver the required services;
2. start a mini competition by submitting a call off request to those selected providers in accordance with the Framework Agreement (Order Form or request for service from the relevant service - SEN Therapies (Lot 1) or Adoption Support Service (Lot 2));
3. request a final price for the relevant Therapy Services; and
4. decide whether to proceed with the required Therapy Services at the price stated, based on the award criteria set out in the Framework Agreement.
Where, in the reasonable professional opinion of the Council, there is only one provider with the relevant expertise to provide the required Therapy Services to a particular CYP, the Council may approach a single provider on the QPL.
No call off and/or contract for any requested Therapy Services shall be deemed to have taken place or been formed until the Council formally accepts the price quoted by the chosen provider in accordance with the Framework Agreement.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Name / Weighting: 100
Price - Weighting: 0
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Virtual School Kent Lot 3
Lot No
3
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 80000000 - Education and training services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKJ4 - Kent
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Virtual School Head Teachers (VSHs) are responsible for promoting the educational achievement of all children looked after by the local authority. For some young people, a therapeutic approach or intervention may be required in order to support access to, or engagement with, education.
Kent Children in Care (CiC), aged 3 to 18 years, are supported by Virtual School Kent (VSK). Pupil Premium Plus (PP+), Post 16 Pupil Premium Plus (P16PP+) or Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) funding may be used to pay for activities that:
a) improve the learning targets set out in children's Personal Education Plans (PEPs); and
b) encourage CiC to be more involved in and motivated by their education.
Therapeutic support provided under this lot should not be regarded as an alternative health provision or a replacement for therapy services that may be commissioned through the NHS. Services provided to support PEP targets often involve intensive specialist interventions or approaches required to maintain educational placements and promote progress.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Name / Weighting: 100
Price - Weighting: 0
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 notice does not concern a new procurement procedure. It publishes the admission of additional providers to an existing Qualified Provider List established under the Light Touch Regime in accordance with Regulations 74-77 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The original QPL was openly advertised and awarded under contract reference SC21032, with Contract Award Notices published on 11 August 2023 and 3 September 2024. The QPL allows for continuous admission of providers during its term. As such, no new call for competition is required and this transparency notice is lawful.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
Section five. Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
23 January 2026
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 12
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Oak Therapies CIC
Ashford
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
Companies House
12843751
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Restoring Hope Therapies Limited
Maidstone
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
Companies House
13763682
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Alison Cloud
Folkestone
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
Justification for not providing organisation identifier
Sole trader
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Rainbow Family Therapy Services Limited
Brighton
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
Companies House
08479307
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Crisp and Crane Training Limited
Spalding
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
Companies House
08312994
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Elaine Dunne T/A Hopeville Therapeutic Services
St. Peters
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
Justification for not providing organisation identifier
Sole trader
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Horse 4 Thought Limited
Sidcup
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
Companies House
12986639
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Dr Katie Snow Clinical Psychology
Canterbury
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
Justification for not providing organisation identifier
Sole trader
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust (KCHFT)
Ashford
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
NHS Organisation Data Service
RYY
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
PartnershipProjects UK Limited
Pershore
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
Companies House
05741447
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Sarah Jane Hudson
Tonbridge
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
Justification for not providing organisation identifier
Sole trader
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Shortland Psychology Associates Limited
Gerrards Cross
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
Companies House
07991058
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Lowest offer: £1 / Highest offer: £1,000,000 taken into consideration
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Kent County Council
Sessions House
Maidstone
ME14 1XQ
Country
United Kingdom