Tender

BSP-24-005 Independent Mediation and Dispute, Avoidance Resolution Service for Children and Young People who have or may have Special Educational Needs

  • the Education Authority

F02: Contract notice

Notice identifier: 2024/S 000-020080

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-047909

Published 2 July 2024, 11:53am



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

the Education Authority

40 Academy Street

Belfast

BT1 2NQ

Email

Business.procure@eani.org.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UK - United Kingdom

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps

Buyer's address

https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps

one.2) Information about joint procurement

The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body

one.3) Communication

The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at

https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via

https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps

Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted to the above-mentioned address

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Body governed by public law

one.5) Main activity

Education


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

BSP-24-005 Independent Mediation and Dispute, Avoidance Resolution Service for Children and Young People who have or may have Special Educational Needs

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 80340000 - Special education services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

The Education Authority in Northern Ireland is seeking to work with a Contractor for the provision of an Independent Mediation and Dispute Avoidance Resolution Service (DARS) for children and young people who have or may have a special educational need and/or disability and who are resident in Northern Ireland.

two.1.5) Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: £3,535,000

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 79100000 - Legal services
  • 79111000 - Legal advisory services
  • 79131000 - Documentation services
  • 79140000 - Legal advisory and information services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKN - Northern Ireland

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

The Education Authority in Northern Ireland is seeking to work with a Contractor for the provision of an Independent Mediation and Dispute Avoidance Resolution Service (DARS) for children and young people who have or may have a special educational need and/or disability and who are resident in Northern Ireland.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents

two.2.6) Estimated value

Value excluding VAT: £3,535,000

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: Yes

Description of options

after the initial contract period, the option to extend up to and including 24 months with a maximum of two extension points

two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No

two.2.14) Additional information

The value of this Contract is estimated to be £3,535,000.00 over the lifetime of the contract including optional extension periods. There is no guarantee that the total spend on this forthcoming contract will be up to this value, as this contract is demand driven and dependent on uptake of usage.


Section three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information

three.1) Conditions for participation

three.1.3) Technical and professional ability

Selection criteria as stated in the procurement 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

5 August 2024

Local time

3:00pm

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: 3 November 2024

four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders

Date

5 August 2024

Local time

3:30pm


Section six. Complementary information

six.1) Information about recurrence

This is a recurrent procurement: Yes

six.3) Additional information

Tenderers should ensure they read and understand the documentation found in the CFT documents area of eTendersNI. . As a Public Sector Procurement organisation, EA must adhere to the Procurement Policy Notes, https://www.finance-ni.gov.uk/articles/procurement-policy-notes-ppns. . This tender includes requirements relating to Human Rights, Modern Slavery, Supply Chain Resilience and Social Value and all tenders must meet the requirements detailed in the tender documentation to be compliant. . EA reserves the right to: . 1. Not to award any contract as a result of the procurement process commenced by publication of this notice.. 2. To make whatever changes it may see fit to the content and structure of the tendering competition.. 3. To award (a) contract(s) in respect of any part(s) of the [services] covered by this notice..

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

The UK does not have any such bodies with responsibility for appeal/mediation procedures. Instead; any challenges are dealt with by the High Court, Commercial Division, to which proceedings may be issued regarding alleged breaches of the PCR 2015 as amended.

The UK does not have any such bodies with responsibility for appeal/mediation procedures. Instead;

Country

United Kingdom