Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Lincolnshire County Council
County Offices, Newland
Lincoln
LN1 1YL
Contact
Mrs Chelsea Wheeler
chelsea.wheeler@lincolnshire.gov.uk
Telephone
+44 7770642414
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKF - East Midlands (England)
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk
Buyer's address
https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://procontract.due-north.com
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
https://procontract.due-north.com
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
Regional SEND Mediation Advice, Mediation and Disagreement Resolution Services
Reference number
DN663302
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 80340000 - Special education services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
On behalf of all Local Authorities in the East Midlands, Lincolnshire County Council is leading the procurement of Regional SEND Mediation Advice Services, Mediation Services and Disagreement Resolution (DR) Services.
The East Midlands Region is made up of ten (10) Local Authorities (LAs) as listed below:
• Derby City Council
• Derbyshire County Council
• Leicester City Council
• Leicestershire County Council
• Lincolnshire County Council
• North Northamptonshire Council
• West Northamptonshire Council
• Nottingham City Council
• Nottinghamshire County Council
• Rutland County Council
The Service shall consist of three (3) elements; Mediation Advice Services, Mediation Services and DR Services, and shall be delivered to CYP with SEND aged 0-25 years living within the East Midlands.
Lincolnshire County Council will act as the Lead Authority on behalf of all ten (10) LAs within East Midlands for the procurement and contract management of the service; however, the successful Supplier will enter into individual agreements with each LA to deliver the Service.
All ten LAs (“the Customer”) require the supply of unbiased Mediation Advice Services, Mediation Services and DR Services (‘The Service’) for Children and Young People (CYP) with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) and their families as part of the single route of redress from 1st November 2023. For the avoidance of doubt this means that the Service shall be fully operational from the 1st November 2023.
The Children and Families Act (2014) sets out the way in which services and provision are made for families of CYP with SEND aged 0 – 25 years. This Act, specifically Sections 51 – 57 and 60, defines the statutory duties for local authorities with regard to appeals, Mediation Advice, Mediation and DR Services, along with Chapter 11 of the associated SEND Code of Practise (COP) 2015. This service shall have due regard to relevant legislation and ensure it supports LAs to meet their statutory duty and the needs of CYP with SEND.
Mediation Advice Services and Mediation Services are in place to help settle disputes between CYP, families and LAs relating to Education, Health, and Care (EHC) Needs Assessment requests, EHC Needs Assessments or elements of content within the EHC Plan (EHCP).
DR is voluntary for all parties and complements Mediation Advice and Mediation to resolve disagreements which may be related to the fulfilment of duties, SEND provision and health and social care provision for CYP with SEND, including disagreements between health commissioners and LAs.
An online supplier briefing event will be held on Monday 26th July 2023 at 10:00am. The online event will briefly outline the requirements of the delivery of Mediation Advice Services, Mediation Services and DR Services in the East Midlands. To book into the briefing event please email fliss.christopher@lincolnshire.gov.uk.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £1,500,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 80100000 - Primary education services
- 80200000 - Secondary education services
- 85100000 - Health services
- 85300000 - Social work and related services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKF - East Midlands (England)
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
On behalf of all Local Authorities in the East Midlands, Lincolnshire County Council is leading the procurement of Regional SEND Mediation Advice Services, Mediation Services and Disagreement Resolution (DR) Services.
The East Midlands Region is made up of ten (10) Local Authorities (LAs) as listed below:
• Derby City Council
• Derbyshire County Council
• Leicester City Council
• Leicestershire County Council
• Lincolnshire County Council
• North Northamptonshire Council
• West Northamptonshire Council
• Nottingham City Council
• Nottinghamshire County Council
• Rutland County Council
The Service shall consist of three (3) elements; Mediation Advice Services, Mediation Services and DR Services, and shall be delivered to CYP with SEND aged 0-25 years living within the East Midlands.
Lincolnshire County Council will act as the Lead Authority on behalf of all ten (10) LAs within East Midlands for the procurement and contract management of the service; however, the successful Supplier will enter into individual agreements with each LA to deliver the Service.
All ten LAs (“the Customer”) require the supply of unbiased Mediation Advice Services, Mediation Services and DR Services (‘The Service’) for Children and Young People (CYP) with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) and their families as part of the single route of redress from 1st November 2023. For the avoidance of doubt this means that the Service shall be fully operational from the 1st November 2023.
The Children and Families Act (2014) sets out the way in which services and provision are made for families of CYP with SEND aged 0 – 25 years. This Act, specifically Sections 51 – 57 and 60, defines the statutory duties for local authorities with regard to appeals, Mediation Advice, Mediation and DR Services, along with Chapter 11 of the associated SEND Code of Practise (COP) 2015. This service shall have due regard to relevant legislation and ensure it supports LAs to meet their statutory duty and the needs of CYP with SEND.
Mediation Advice Services and Mediation Services are in place to help settle disputes between CYP, families and LAs relating to Education, Health, and Care (EHC) Needs Assessment requests, EHC Needs Assessments or elements of content within the EHC Plan (EHCP).
DR is voluntary for all parties and complements Mediation Advice and Mediation to resolve disagreements which may be related to the fulfilment of duties, SEND provision and health and social care provision for CYP with SEND, including disagreements between health commissioners and LAs.
An online supplier briefing event will be held on Monday 26th July 2023 at 10:00am. The online event will briefly outline the requirements of the delivery of Mediation Advice Services, Mediation Services and DR Services in the East Midlands. To book into the briefing event please email fliss.christopher@lincolnshire.gov.uk.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 60
Price - Weighting: 40
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
60
This contract is subject to renewal
No
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 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.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2023/S 000-009299
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
13 July 2023
Local time
3:00pm
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
13 July 2023
Local time
3:00pm
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
High Court of England and Wales, Royal Courts of Justice
The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom