Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Scottish Borders Council
Council Headquarters
Newtown St Boswells
TD6 0SA
Contact
Procurement
procurement@scotborders.gov.uk
Telephone
+44 1835824000
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKM91 - Scottish Borders
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00394
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Default.aspx
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Default.aspx
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
one.5) Main activity
General public services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
School Counselling Service
Reference number
1001384
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85312300 - Guidance and counselling services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Scottish Borders Council (the Council) is seeking Bidder responses to this Invitation to Tender (ITT) to appoint an external Service Provider who is experienced and appropriately qualified to deliver a School Counselling Service for children and young people aged 10 years and over (up to and including young people aged 18 years).
This procurement is being carried out in accordance with the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 under the “Light Touch Regime”.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85312300 - Guidance and counselling services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM91 - Scottish Borders
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Scottish Borders Council (the Council) is seeking Bidder responses to this Invitation to Tender (ITT) to appoint an external Service Provider who is experienced and appropriately qualified to deliver a School Counselling Service for children and young people aged 10 years and over (up to and including young people aged 18 years).
This procurement is being carried out in accordance with the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 under the “Light Touch Regime”.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 90
Price - Weighting: 10
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start date
1 August 2025
End date
31 March 2028
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
There is the option to review and extend on a 3-x rolling 12-month contract basis until 31st March 2031. Extension of the contract beyond the initial contract term will be dependent on achieving satisfactory performance against the KPIs, subject to continued funding being available and positive evaluation.
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
Section three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information
three.1) Conditions for participation
three.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
List and brief description of conditions
Please refer to SPD and tender documents.
three.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
three.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
three.2) Conditions related to the contract
three.2.1) Information about a particular profession
Execution of the service is reserved to a particular profession
Reference to the relevant law, regulation or administrative provision
Please refer to SPD and tender documents.
three.2.2) Contract performance conditions
Contract performance will be managed using a Performance Management Plan, further details are included within the tender documents.
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
22 April 2025
Local time
12:00pm
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Tender must be valid until: 20 June 2025
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
22 April 2025
Local time
1:00pm
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
six.3) Additional information
This procurement is being carried out in accordance with the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 under the “Light Touch Regime”.
NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Public Contracts Scotland Web Site at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=791355.
The buyer has indicated that it will accept electronic responses to this notice via the Postbox facility. A user guide is available at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx.
Suppliers are advised to allow adequate time for uploading documents and to dispatch the electronic response well in advance of the closing time to avoid any last minute problems.
A sub-contract clause has been included in this contract. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2363
(SC Ref:791355)
Download the ESPD document here: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/ESPD/ESPD_Download.aspx?id=791355
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Jedburgh Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
Castlegate
Jedburgh
TD8 6AR
Telephone
+44 1835863231
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
The contracting authorities will incorporate a minimum 10 day standstill period at the point of information on the award of the contract is communicated to tenderers. The Public Contract (Scotland) Regulations 2015 (SSI,2015 No446) provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or at risk of harm by a breach of the rule to take action in the Sherriff Court or Court of Session. A claim for an ineffectiveness order must be made within 30 days of the award being published on the Find a Tender service (FTS) or within 30 days of the date to those who expressed an interest in or otherwise bid for the contract were informed of the conclusion of the contract or in any other case within six months from the date on which the contract was entered into.