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Disagreement Resolution and Mediation Services (DRMS)

Liverpool City Council

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

Award

09 Feb 2026 at 10:24

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

16 Jan 2026 at 10:30

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

01 Oct 2025 at 13:21

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

13 Aug 2025 at 09:39

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Liverpool City Council, based in the United Kingdom at the Cunard Building, Liverpool, has recently completed a procurement process for the provision of Disagreement Resolution and Mediation Services (DRMS). This procurement falls under the services category and is part of the Council's statutory obligations under the Children and Families Act 2014. The contract with WHY MEDIATE LIMITED, a Bromborough-based SME supplier, was signed on 28th January 2026 and will run from 1st February 2026 to 31st January 2028, with a possible extension of six months based on performance. The procurement method was an open competition, and the procurement was conducted using a "Below threshold" approach. The services aim to resolve disputes early, avoiding legal proceedings related to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) within the UKD72 region.

This tender provides substantial opportunities for businesses specialising in legal advisory and representation services, specifically involving mediation and resolution services for SEND-related disputes. Companies capable of offering independent, impartial, and confidential services can benefit significantly from such contracts, especially SMEs that can cater to the requirements set by local authorities. Given the demand for early dispute resolution to prevent costly legal actions, businesses in this sector can expand their service offerings and enhance their industry footprint by participating in similar future procurement opportunities. This contract also demonstrates a potential for growth through the provision of continual service improvements and compliance with statutory requirements.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Disagreement Resolution and Mediation Services (DRMS)

Notice Description

Liverpool City Council is required to provide disagreement resolution and mediation services in accordance with its statutory duties under the Children and Families Act 2014. These services include disagreement resolution, mediation advice, and mediation, each serving a distinct role within the legal framework. The services are delivered independently of the Council, ensuring impartiality and confidentiality. They offer families and young people an opportunity to resolve disputes at an early stage, helping to avoid formal legal proceedings and reducing the need for time consuming and costly appeals to the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Tribunal.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: The contract includes an option to extend for a further six months, subject to satisfactory performance and agreement by both parties.

Planning Information

Pre-Procurement Consultation Questionnaire published via ProContract: link https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=518b4d7d-8f77-f011-813a-005056b64545&p=e0cc5631-4690-e511-80fb-000c29c9ba21

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0586ac
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/011268-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

79110000 - Legal advisory and representation services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£425,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£425,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
£410,750 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
£410,750 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
9 Feb 20266 months ago
Submission Deadline
3 Nov 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
8 Sep 2025Expired
Award Date
15 Jan 20267 months ago
Contract Period
1 Feb 2026 - 31 Jan 2028 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Liverpool City Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LIVERPOOL
Postcode
L3 1DS
Postcode Area
Liverpool
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD7 Merseyside
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD72 Liverpool
Delivery Location
TLD72 Liverpool
Local Authority
Liverpool
Electoral Ward
Waterfront South
Westminster Constituency
Liverpool Riverside

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

WHY MEDIATE LIMITED

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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