Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
City of York Council
West Offices, Station Rise
York
YO16GA
Contact
Mark Woolford
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKE21 - York
Justification for not providing organisation identifier
Not on any register
Internet address(es)
Main address
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
12-21 Counselling Service
Reference number
57028
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85312320 - Counselling services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The Council intends to apply a short term extension to its existing contract for the provision of counselling services for young people aged 12-21 living in York. This extension is required to maintain continuity of provision while the Council undertakes a full review of children and young people's counselling services and aligns future commissioning with the Humber and North Yorkshire Mental Health Strategic Transformation Plan 2025-2030.
The current service was originally awarded in 2019 to York Mind following a competitive procurement for a 16-25 counselling service. A subsequent service level agreement piloted counselling for 12-15 year olds, including 1 1 art therapy. The contracting authority intends to award a contract for 12-21 Counselling Service.
The Contracting Authority is not awarding a new contract. This VEAT notice is in respect of a proposed short-term extension to the term of its contract for the provision of 12-21 counselling service. See sections 2.2.3 for further details.
The contract was varied to incorporate the 12-15 service and extend the 16-25 service for a further year, creating a unified 12-21 counselling service, supported by a £10k contribution from the ICB.
The proposed extension will allow sufficient time for:
• a full review of CYP counselling provision
• alignment with statutory duties and system wide responsibilities
• development of an integrated commissioning model with the ICB
• a robust procurement process and evaluation for a longer term solution
The contract extension period: is 12 months beyond the extension period originally set out in the contract.
The indicative procurement timetable for the new service is as follows:
Write draft specification Oct-Nov 2026
Write Contract, Tender documents with Legal / Procurement support: Oct-Nov 2026
Preliminary Market Engagement phase starts: Early Nov 2026
Draft Invitation to Tender documentation, draft applicable Notices: Mid Nov - Dec 2026
Invitation to Tender Period (30 days): 4th Jan 2027
Invitation to Tender return deadline date: 4th Feb 2027
Tender evaluation: Early Feb 2027
Standstill (8 working days from date of Contract Award Notice publication): Mid Feb 2027
Approval to award: Late Feb 2027
Contract Mobilisation / Implementation Process (6 weeks): March 2027
New Contract starts: 1st April 2027
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: £285,324
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85312320 - Counselling services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKE21 - York
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Council intends to apply a short term extension to its existing contract for the provision of counselling services for young people aged 12-21 living in York. This extension is required to maintain continuity of provision while the Council undertakes a full review of children and young people's counselling services and aligns future commissioning with the Humber and North Yorkshire Mental Health Strategic Transformation Plan 2025-2030.
The current service was originally awarded in 2019 to York Mind following a competitive procurement for a 16-25 counselling service. A subsequent service level agreement piloted counselling for 12-15 year olds, including 1 1 art therapy. The contracting authority intends to award a contract for 12-21 Counselling Service.
The Contracting Authority is not awarding a new contract. This VEAT notice is in respect of a proposed short-term extension to the term of its contract for the provision of 12-21 counselling service. See sections 2.2.3 for further details.
The contract was varied to incorporate the 12-15 service and extend the 16-25 service for a further year, creating a unified 12-21 counselling service, supported by a £10k contribution from the ICB.
The proposed extension will allow sufficient time for:
• a full review of CYP counselling provision
• alignment with statutory duties and system wide responsibilities
• development of an integrated commissioning model with the ICB
• a robust procurement process and evaluation for a longer term solution
The contract extension period: is 12 months beyond the extension period originally set out in the contract.
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:
The Council considers that the extension may be lawfully applied under Regulation 32 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.
Justification;
• The service can only be delivered by the current provider, York Mind, without causing disruption to vulnerable service users and continuity of care.
• No reasonable alternative provider could mobilise the service within the required timescales without significant risk to service users.
• A change of supplier at this point would create disproportionate operational and safeguarding risks and interrupt ongoing therapeutic relationships.
• Extending the contract ensures continuity, stability, and value for money while the Council undertakes a strategic review and prepares a compliant procurement process.
The extension is also permitted under Contract Procedure Rule 26.2.5, which allows extension with an existing provider where there is significant benefit and no unacceptable risk to the Council.
This VEAT notice is published voluntarily to ensure transparency prior to applying the contract extension. The Council will observe a voluntary standstill period of 30 days from the date of publication. The contract variation will only be executed following the standstill period, subject to no legal challenge being received.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
Section five. Award of contract/concession
Contract No
DN77739/1172
Title
12-21 Counselling Service
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
1 April 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
York Mind
Highcliffe House, Highcliffe Court
York
YO30 6BP
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKE21 - York
Companies House
2659442
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot/concession: £285,324
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £285,324
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
The High Court of Justice
The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom