Tender

Regional SEND Mediation Advice, Mediation and Disagreement Resolution Services

  • Lincolnshire County Council

F02: Contract notice

Notice identifier: 2023/S 000-016683

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-03b756

Published 13 June 2023, 11:12am



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Lincolnshire County Council

County Offices, Newland

Lincoln

LN1 1YL

Contact

Mrs Chelsea Wheeler

Email

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