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Independent Mediation Service for Education Health and Care Assessments and Reviews and Disagreement Resolution Service for SEND.

Durham County Council

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

21 Oct 2025 at 09:09

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Tender

04 Sep 2025 at 15:06

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Durham County Council has completed an open tender process for an Independent Mediation Service related to Education, Health and Care Assessments and Reviews, along with a Disagreement Resolution Service for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Designated to enhance mediation services as mandated by the SEND Code of Practice, this initiative aimed to resolve issues prior to families lodging appeals with the Tribunal. The service provider, WHY MEDIATE LIMITED, was awarded the contract, effective from 20 October 2025 to 19 October 2027, with options for extension due to potential demand and legislative changes. This contract, valued at up to £300,000, falls within the education, training, health, and social work services categories, serving the UKC14 region.

This tender provides significant growth opportunities for SMEs specialising in mediation and advisory services within the education and health sectors. Businesses with expertise in handling disagreement resolutions in educational settings or those with capabilities to adapt to policy changes, such as the upcoming White paper, will find this contract particularly valuable. The open competition procurement method indicates a competitive environment yet assures impartiality, thus encouraging participation from small to medium-sized enterprises that can meet the essential criteria and price requirements set forth by Durham County Council.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Independent Mediation Service for Education Health and Care Assessments and Reviews and Disagreement Resolution Service for SEND.

Notice Description

This contract is for Independent Mediation Service for Education, Health and Care Assessments and Reviews and Disagreement Resolution Service for Special Education Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND). Durham County Council is looking for a single provider to deliver this service. It is a requirement of the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Code of Practice: 0 to 25 years that all local authorities must have in place a mediation information and advice service which is independent of the local authority. This service will offer independent mediation to families and will provide an opportunity to resolve issues linked to requests for an Education, Health and Care Assessment and the outcome of Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan Assessments / Reviews prior to families lodging an appeal with a Tribunal.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Options: Permitted changes that may occur: The contract has a potential to be increased due to demand. Any consequences of the White paper that is due to be released in Autumn 2025 that may have impact.

Renewal: The Contract period is two years with the options to extend for up to three periods of up to twelve months each from the contract end date.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-059447
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/066948-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
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
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

80000000 - Education and training services

85000000 - Health and social work services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£250,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£250,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£250,000 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Oct 202510 months ago
Submission Deadline
29 Sep 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
17 Oct 202510 months ago
Contract Period
20 Oct 2025 - 19 Oct 2027 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
Durham County 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
DURHAM
Postcode
DH1 5WB
Postcode Area
Durham
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC41 Durham
Delivery Location
TLC14 Durham
Local Authority
County Durham
Electoral Ward
Framwellgate & Newton Hall
Westminster Constituency
City of Durham

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

WHY MEDIATE LIMITED

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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