Award

HOPE Counselling Service for Belfast A B and C

  • the Education Authority

UK6: Contract award notice - Procurement Act 2023 - view information about notice types

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-040658

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-0544d3 (view related notices)

Published 16 July 2025, 5:02pm



Scope

Reference

EDR-25-008

Description

Provision of the Holistic Options for Promoting REsilience (HOPE) Independent School Counselling and Therapy Service in Post Primary Mainstream schools in three geographical

locations across Belfast for a period of 2 years with the options to extend for any further period(s) of up to and including 24 months. Total estimated value £2,000,000 (ex VAT)


Lot Belfast A. Belfast A

Description

Belfast A covers the following schools within the geographical areaAquinas Grammar School, BelfastAshfield Boys' High School, BelfastAshfield Girls' High School, BelfastBloomfield Collegiate School, BelfastCampbell College, BelfastDundonald High School, DundonaldGrosvenor Grammar School, BelfastOur Lady & St Patrick's College, BelfastSt Joseph's College, BelfastStrathearn School, Belfast


Lot Belfast B. Belfast B

Description

Belfast B covers the following schools within the geographical areaBelfast Boys' Model School, BelfastBelfast Model School for Girls, BelfastBelfast Royal Academy, BelfastBlessed Trinty College, BelfastDominican College, Fortwilliam, BelfastMercy College, BelfastSt Malachy's College, BelfastThe Royal Belfast Academical Institution, Belfast


Lot Belfast C. Belfast C

Description

Belfast C covers the following schools within the geographical areaAll Saints College, BelfastColaiste Feirste, BelfastDe La Salle College, BelfastSt Colm's High School, DunmurrySt Dominic's High School, BelfastSt Genevieve's High School, BelfastSt Louise's Comprehensive College, BelfastSt Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School, Belfast


Contract 1. HOPE Counselling Service Belfast A

Lots

Lot Belfast A. Belfast A

Supplier

Contract value

  • £700,000 excluding VAT
  • £840,000 including VAT

Above the relevant threshold

Award decision date

16 July 2025

Date assessment summaries were sent to tenderers

16 July 2025

Earliest date the contract will be signed

25 July 2025

Contract dates (estimated)

  • 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2027
  • Possible extension to 31 August 2029
  • 4 years

Description of possible extension:

Option to extend for any periods up to and including 24 months. Prior to entering into any extension to this contract the Education Authority will assess the following.

The availability of adequate funding for the service.

Changes/increase in need in relation to the service and scope of the existing contract.

If the contract is continuing to deliver value for money.

Main procurement category

Services

Options

The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.

This service is funded by the Department of Education whereby counselling sessions are allocated to schools, based on their pupil enrolment figures. A breakdown of allocated sessions for each school is provided in the Tender documentaion. Spend will be closely monitored throughout the lifecycle of this Contract and should there be an indication that requirements and spend is likely to exceed the maximum awarded value the Buyer may, at its discretion and subject to the provisions of the Procurement Act 2023, either adjust the maximum value or terminate the Contract in line with condition 14.3 of the Mid-Tier Core Terms.

CPV classifications

  • 85312300 - Guidance and counselling services
  • 85312310 - Guidance services
  • 85312320 - Counselling services

Contract locations

  • UKN - Northern Ireland

Contract 2. HOPE Counselling Service Belfast B

Lots

Lot Belfast B. Belfast B

Supplier

Contract value

  • £690,000 excluding VAT
  • £828,000 including VAT

Above the relevant threshold

Award decision date

16 July 2025

Date assessment summaries were sent to tenderers

16 July 2025

Earliest date the contract will be signed

25 July 2025

Contract dates (estimated)

  • 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2027
  • Possible extension to 31 August 2029
  • 4 years

Description of possible extension:

Option to extend for any periods up to and including 24 months. Prior to entering into any extension to this contract the Education Authority will assess the following.

The availability of adequate funding for the service.

Changes/increase in need in relation to the service and scope of the existing contract.

If the contract is continuing to deliver value for money.

Main procurement category

Services

Options

The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.

This service is funded by the Department of Education whereby counselling sessions are allocated to schools, based on their pupil enrolment figures. A breakdown of allocated sessions for each school is provided in Appendix A. Spend will be closely monitored throughout the lifecycle of this Contract and should there be an indication that spend is likely to exceed the maximum awarded value the Buyer may, at its discretion and subject to the provisions of the Procurement Act 2023, either adjust the maximum value or terminate the Contract in line with condition 14.3 of the Mid-Tier Core Terms.

CPV classifications

  • 85312300 - Guidance and counselling services
  • 85312310 - Guidance services
  • 85312320 - Counselling services

Contract locations

  • UKN - Northern Ireland

Contract 3. HOPE Counselling Service - Belfast C

Lots

Lot Belfast C. Belfast C

Supplier

Contract value

  • £610,000 excluding VAT
  • £732,000 including VAT

Above the relevant threshold

Award decision date

16 July 2025

Date assessment summaries were sent to tenderers

16 July 2025

Earliest date the contract will be signed

25 July 2025

Contract dates (estimated)

  • 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2027
  • Possible extension to 31 August 2029
  • 4 years

Description of possible extension:

Option to extend for any periods up to and including 24 months. Prior to entering into any extension to this contract the Education Authority will assess the following.

The availability of adequate funding for the service.

Changes/increase in need in relation to the service and scope of the existing contract.

If the contract is continuing to deliver value for money.

Main procurement category

Services

Options

The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.

This service is funded by the Department of Education whereby counselling sessions are allocated to schools, based on their pupil enrolment figures. A breakdown of allocated sessions for each school is provided in the Tender Documentation. Spend will be closely monitored throughout the lifecycle of this Contract and should there be an indication that spend is likely to exceed the maximum awarded value the Buyer may, at its discretion and subject to the provisions of the Procurement Act 2023, either adjust the maximum value or terminate the Contract in line with condition 14.3 of the Mid-Tier Core Terms.

CPV classifications

  • 85312300 - Guidance and counselling services
  • 85312310 - Guidance services
  • 85312320 - Counselling services

Contract locations

  • UKN - Northern Ireland

Information about tenders

Lot Belfast A. Belfast A

  • 4 tenders received
  • 4 tenders assessed in the final stage:
    • 4 submitted by small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
    • 3 submitted by voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
  • 1 supplier awarded contracts
  • 3 suppliers unsuccessful (details included for contracts over £5 million)

Lot Belfast B. Belfast B

  • 4 tenders received
  • 4 tenders assessed in the final stage:
    • 4 submitted by small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
    • 3 submitted by voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
  • 1 supplier awarded contracts
  • 3 suppliers unsuccessful (details included for contracts over £5 million)

Lot Belfast C. Belfast C

  • 4 tenders received
  • 4 tenders assessed in the final stage:
    • 4 submitted by small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
    • 3 submitted by voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
  • 1 supplier awarded contracts
  • 3 suppliers unsuccessful (details included for contracts over £5 million)

Procedure

Procedure type

Open procedure

Special regime

Light touch


Supplier

MAKE A MELODY LTD.

  • Companies House: NI681945
  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PXMG-7436-XQZL

12 Gibsons Park

Lurgan

BT66 7XE

United Kingdom

Region: UKN07 - Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon

Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes

Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No

Supported employment provider: No

Public service mutual: No

Contract 1. HOPE Counselling Service Belfast A

Contract 2. HOPE Counselling Service Belfast B

Contract 3. HOPE Counselling Service - Belfast C


Contracting authority

the Education Authority

  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PPHJ-6982-JPXY

40 Academy Street

Belfast

BT1 2NQ

United Kingdom

Region: UKN06 - Belfast

Organisation type: Public authority - central government

Devolved regulations that apply: Northern Ireland