Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
West Berkshire Council
Council Office
NEWBURY
RG145LD
rebecca.page1@westberks.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKJ11 - Berkshire
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
Education
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Bespoke SEMH Provision for Pupils with EHC Plans (13-19 years)
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 80000000 - Education and training services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
This service is for an independent school to provide alternative educational packages for fourteen young people in Key Stage 3 to 5. Students supported at the school are those who have EHC Plans for social, emotional and mental health difficulties and whose needs cannot be met in any other provision. This can include young people who have been excluded from specialist SEMH schools. 1:1 staffing ratio is required and will need to be maintained at all times to effectively manage pupil vulnerability and mitigate risks to staff and other pupils. Flexible education plans will need to be designed and delivered that are tailored specifically to the complex and evolving needs of young people with severe SEMH difficulties.
This notice serves to inform the intention of West Berkshire Council to award a public contract for the continued provision of highly specialised alternative education services for young people with severe and enduring social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) difficulties under Regulation 32(2)(b)(ii) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £3,503,210
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 80200000 - Secondary education services
- 80310000 - Youth education services
- 80340000 - Special education services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKJ11 - Berkshire
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
This service is for an independent school to provide alternative educational packages for fourteen young people in Key Stage 3 to 5 with complex needs. Students supported at the school have EHC Plans for social, emotional and mental health difficulties and whose needs cannot be met in any other provision. This can include young people who have been excluded from specialist SEMH schools.
This notice serves to inform the intention of West Berkshire Council to award a public contract for the continued provision of highly specialised alternative education services for young people with severe and enduring social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) difficulties under Regulation 32(2)(b)(ii) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The proposed contract will be for a period of 3 years with the option to extend for a further 2 years. The current contract expires on 31st August 2025.
The council issued a Prior Information Notice (PIN) in October 2024 to advertise and seek expressions of interest for the delivery of highly specialised education packages for young people with severe and enduring social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) difficulties. The council has received no expressions of interest from any other provider in the service currently provided by Engaging Potential Limited in the four months since the PIN was published. When the contract was last tendered there were no other suitable providers.
The Council therefore believes Engaging Potential Limited are the only organisation able to deliver the requirements of the Service; these being the specialist nature of the therapeutic provision which supports very complex and challenging pupils with the recognition of the relationship and in-depth understanding of the current cohort of 14 pupils currently managed by the Provider.
If the contract is not awarded, the Council will have no suitable placements for these students which would lead to costly additional placements on the high needs block. It could be detrimental to the students, taking them out of their local area and enduring travel times of 2 hours plus and additional costs on the home to school transport budget.
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
There is an option to extend the initial 3 year term for another 2 years.
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 contract will be awarded under Regulation 32(2)(b)(ii) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. A PIN was published in October 2024 to seek expressions of interest in the service, to date no expressions of interest have been received. The Council therefore believes Engaging Potential Limited are the only organisation able to deliver the requirements of the Service. If the contract is not awarded, the Council will have no suitable placements for these students which would lead to costly additional placements on the high needs block. It could be detrimental to the students, taking them out of their local area and enduring travel times of 2 hours plus as well as additional costs on the home to school transport budget.
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/concession
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
21 February 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
Engaging Potential Limited
Bristol
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKK11 - Bristol, City of
Companies House
06504396
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £3,503,210
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
The High Court Royal Court of Justice
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom