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Educational Psychology Assessment Delivery - Purchase of Locum EPs to complete assessments

Stoke-on-Trent City Council

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

Award

02 Oct 2026 at 10:32

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

07 Aug 2026 at 11:34

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

27 Mar 2026 at 14:04

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

27 Mar 2026 at 10:16

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Stoke-on-Trent City Council bought educational psychology assessments and related advice for eligible children and young people in Stoke-on-Trent, to support its statutory duties, including Education, Health and Care needs assessments. The work includes completing assessments or parts of them, preparing psychology reports and advice, providing further psychological input and attending tribunals when required. Delivery can be face-to-face or virtual, at locations in or outside Stoke-on-Trent as directed by the Council. Referrals are allocated as needs arise, with no guaranteed minimum workload, and payment is at fixed rates for each assessment or other agreed work item. The requirement is for locum educational psychologists, rather than general recruitment or management consultancy services.

The procurement is complete and the contract was awarded on 7 August 2026 to Psychology Direct Limited, Hammond Clarke Limited and Permanent Futures Limited. The Council signed an active contract on 1 September 2026. Its value is £1,843,000 excluding VAT (£2,304,000 including VAT), for the period to 31 August 2028, with an option to extend for one 12-month period, potentially to 31 August 2029. The award followed an open procedure and a single-lot competition. Bids were assessed on commercial price (60%), quality (30%) and social value (10%). Nine bids were received and three reached the final stage. The suppliers are ranked first, second and third; referrals are prioritised by need and offered in rank order, subject to availability and ability to meet referral timescales.

This award shows demand for qualified locum educational psychologists able to deliver assessments and reports for children and young people with special educational needs. Credible suppliers need HCPC-registered professionals with appropriate qualifications and experience, Enhanced DBS checks, and the capacity to accept referrals and complete work within specified deadlines, including statutory timescales. They must provide accurate, professionally presented reports using the Council’s templates and secure communication arrangements, and meet safeguarding, data protection, health and safety and professional requirements. The delivery model suits providers able to respond flexibly to needs-based referrals, undertake face-to-face or virtual work, and support tribunal attendance when requested. The contract was shared among three suppliers through a ranked referral model, so operational capacity and dependable turnaround are central to competing for similar work from this Council.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Educational Psychology Assessment Delivery - Purchase of Locum EPs to complete assessments

Notice Description

Provision of suitably qualified and appropriately experienced Educational Psychologists to undertake educational psychology assessments and provide educational psychology reports and advice for eligible children and young people (CYP) in Stoke-on-Trent. Services will support the Council in fulfilling its statutory duties under the Children and Families Act 2014, SEND Code of Practice and associated regulations, including assessments and psychological advice for Education, Health and Care Needs Assessments (EHCNAs). Services may include educational psychology assessments (or elements thereof), preparation of educational psychology reports and advice, additional psychological advice and attendance at tribunals, as required by the Council. Assessments may be delivered face-to-face or virtually at locations within or outside Stoke-on-Trent, as specified by the Council. Professionals must be HCPC registered, appropriately qualified and experienced, hold an Enhanced DBS check and comply with applicable safeguarding, data protection, health and safety and professional requirements. Assessments and reports must be completed to the Council's required quality standards and within the timescales specified at referral, including statutory timescales where applicable. Reports must be accurate, professionally presented and submitted using the Council's prescribed templates and secure communication arrangements. Work will be allocated by the Council on an as-required basis and there is no guarantee of any minimum volume of work. Payment will be made at the fixed rates set out in the Pricing Schedule for each assessment or other agreed work item

Planning Information

Engagement process description To express your interest in engaging in this opportunity please contact Michele Perry Springer on michele.perry@stoke.gov.uk by 29/08/2025. Interested providers will have the opportunity to hear more about the proposal in a planned webinar w/c 15/09/2025. Please note market engagement was advertised on F01 Notice - Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-049617

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-067618
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/093180-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

79411000 - General management consultancy services

79600000 - Recruitment services

85121270 - Psychiatrist or psychologist services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,920,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£1,920,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
£1,920,000 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
£1,843,000 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
2 Oct 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
1 May 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
7 Aug 20262 months ago
Contract Period
1 Sep 2026 - 31 Aug 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
2028-02-01

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Stoke-on-Trent 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
STOKE-ON-TRENT
Postcode
ST4 1HH
Postcode Area
Stoke-on-Trent
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLG West Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLG2 Shropshire and Staffordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLG23 Stoke-on-Trent
Delivery Location
TLG23 Stoke-on-Trent
Local Authority
Stoke-on-Trent
Electoral Ward
Hartshill Park & Stoke
Westminster Constituency
Stoke-on-Trent Central

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
3
Supplier Names

PSYCHOLOGY DIRECT LIMITED

Hammond Clarke Limited

PERMANENT FUTURES LIMITED

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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