Award

Speech Bubbles

  • KENT COUNTY COUNCIL

F15: Voluntary ex ante transparency notice

Notice identifier: 2022/S 000-027630

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-037240

Published 3 October 2022, 9:30am



Section one: Contracting authority/entity

one.1) Name and addresses

KENT COUNTY COUNCIL

Sessions House, County Road

Maidstone

ME14 1XQ

Contact

Sam Wright

Email

sam.wright@kent.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKJ4 - Kent

Kent County Council

Local Authority

Internet address(es)

Main address

www.kent.gov.uk

Buyer's address

https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk

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

Speech Bubbles

Reference number

SC220276

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 80100000 - Primary education services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

a drama-led intervention aimed at improving speech, language and communication (SLC) in selected school children in Key Stage 1 (five and seven-year-olds). Language is clearly a major vehicle for learning and critical to children's mental, social, emotional and intellectual development (Communication Trust, 2010). If SLC needs are not tackled in the early years, these issues can become increasingly difficult to address and are strongly linked in later life with mental illness, unemployment, relationship breakdowns, and offending.

It is a whole-body approach to learning, recognising that body language, gesture, facial expression, eye contact, sounds, humour and words are all part of communication and that children learn best when they're in a positive state of mind. It promotes social and personal wellbeing through story and play, using theatre skills to encourage children to express themselves.

Speech Bubbles is a drama-led intervention aimed at improving speech, language and communication (SLC) in selected school children in Key Stage 1 (five and seven-year-olds). Language is clearly a major vehicle for learning and critical to children's mental, social, emotional and intellectual development (Communication Trust, 2010). If SLC needs are not tackled in the early years, these issues can become increasingly difficult to address and are strongly linked in later life with mental illness, unemployment, relationship breakdowns, and offending.

It is a whole-body approach to learning, recognising that body language, gesture, facial expression, eye contact, sounds, humour and words are all part of communication and that children learn best when they're in a positive state of mind. It promotes social and personal wellbeing through story and play, using theatre skills to encourage children to express themselves.

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: £171,211

two.2) Description

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKJ4 - Kent
Main site or place of performance

The County of Kent

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

In the light of the Covid-19 outbreak, there are serious concerns about the high demand for Speed and Language services. Disrupting the current provision and creating a gap in service provision due to mobilisation would further exacerbate this situation.

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: No

two.2.14) Additional information

Whilst this service will not be extended, there is a possibility that this service could be recommissioned.


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:

On the 21 July 2022, The Kent County Council Cabinet, approved a decision to extend the Reconnect Programme to 31 March 2023 for specific areas of need, including School Readiness and Language Development. Trinity Theatre & Arts Centre are the only partner of Speech Bubbles in Kent. To become a certified Speech Bubbles partner providers are required to undertake training, and place-based assessment of the curriculum in practice in schools. To engage in a procurement Commissioners would not be able to complete a tender process for such a short-term contract.

Regulation 32(2)(c) of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 Negotiated Procedure without prior publication of a Contract Notice insofar as is strictly necessary where, for reasons of extreme urgency brought about by events unforeseeable by the contracting authority, the time limits for the open or restricted procedures or competitive procedures with negotiation cannot be complied with.

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes


Section five. Award of contract/concession

Contract No

SC220276

Title

Speech Bubbles

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract/concession

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

3 October 2022

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

Trinity Theatre and Arts Centre

Church Road

Tunbridge Wells

TN1 1JP

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKJ4 - Kent
Justification for not providing organisation identifier

Not on any register

The contractor/concessionaire is an SME

Yes

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)

Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot/concession: £171,211

Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £171,211


Section six. Complementary information

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

Kent County Council

Sessions House, County Road

Maidstone

ME14 1XQ

Country

United Kingdom

Internet address

www.kent.gov.uk