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Special educational needs and disabilities therapy and support

Norfolk County Council

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

08 Sep 2026 at 15:05

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

02 Jun 2026 at 08:53

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Norfolk County Council intends to establish a framework for educational psychology, occupational therapy, and speech, language and communication services for children and young people aged 0 to 25. The services will support statutory duties, early intervention, inclusion and improved outcomes through evidence-based, person-centred provision. Educational psychology includes advice for Education, Health and Care needs assessments, contributions to Education, Health and Care Plans, tribunal-related work and support for Specialist Resource Bases. Occupational therapy includes similar assessment and plan support, tribunal assessments, reports and court attendance, Specialist Resource Base support, and moving and handling training for education staff. Speech, language and communication services relate specifically to tribunal assessments, reports and court attendance. Delivery will be across Norfolk, including Norwich and the wider county area.

This procurement is at the planning and preliminary market engagement stage; it is not an invitation to tender. The Council expects to hold a market engagement event on 30 September 2026, with arrangements to be confirmed through its e-procurement system. The future procurement is expected to be managed electronically and will use a framework agreement, with the detailed procedure, eligibility requirements and evaluation basis to be set out in the tender documents. The planned framework contract period is 3 May 2027 to 2 May 2032, with renewal permitted to a maximum end date of 2 May 2035. Its estimated value is £6,000,000 gross. The framework is a single planned lot and is above the applicable threshold.

The future framework will suit providers with established specialist teams able to deliver educational psychology, occupational therapy, or speech, language and communication services for children and young people. Relevant experience is likely to include Education, Health and Care needs assessments and plans, work in educational settings and Specialist Resource Bases, tribunal-related assessment and reporting, and attendance at court where required. Occupational therapy providers should also be able to deliver moving and handling training to staff in education settings. The work will favour organisations able to provide evidence-based, person-centred and outcome-focused services, meet statutory and service delivery requirements, and operate across Norfolk. The Council has identified the framework as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprises, making it relevant to both established organisations and specialist local providers preparing to compete when the tender is issued.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Special educational needs and disabilities therapy and support

Notice Description

This is a Preliminary Market Engagement Notice (PMEN). It is not a formal invitation to tender. You will need to respond to the tender notice ( when it is issued) in order to be considered for these contracts. The purpose of this PMEN is to maximise transparency and competition for the upcoming tender notice and to advertise a market engagement event. All details in this PMEN are subject to being updated or changed in the tender notice. We are publishing this notice to ensure as wider audience as possible are aware and informed of Norfolk County Council's intentions. The PMEN fulfils the requirement for a Preliminary Market Engagement Notice to be issued under the Procurement Act 2023. There are no tender documents at this stage. Norfolk County Council intends to procure a new framework for Educational Psychology, Occupational Therapy and Speech, Language and Communication services for children and young people. The framework will support statutory responsibilities, early intervention, inclusion and improved outcomes through evidence-based, person-centred and outcome-focused provision. Scope of the Future Procurement The forthcoming framework will cover the following service areas: * Educational Psychology: evidence-based psychological services for children and young people aged 0-25, including psychological advice for Education, Health and Care needs assessments, contributions to Education, Health and Care Plans, tribunal-related activity where required, and support to Specialist Resource Bases. * Occupational Therapy: evidenced based occupational therapy services within our educational settings including advice for Education, Health and Care needs assessments, contributions to Education, Health and Care Plans, tribunal-related activity including assessment, reports and attendance at court where required, support to Specialist Resource Bases and moving and handling training to staff at educational settings. * Speech, Language and Communication: specifically relating to tribunal activity including assessment, reports and attendance at court when required. The detailed requirements, eligibility criteria, referral routes, delivery standards and performance expectations for each service area will be set out in the tender documents and relevant service specifications. Market Engagement The Council intends to hold a market engagement event for prospective providers. The date and joining arrangements will be confirmed through the Council's e-procurement system. The expected date for the event is 30th September 2026. Prospective providers wishing to participate should register on In-tend, express an interest in the project and use the correspondence facility to provide the email addresses of proposed attendees when requested. This procurement will be managed electronically via the Council's e-procurement system. To participate in this procurement and gain access to documents when they are available, applicants must first be registered on the system at https://in-tendhost.co.uk/norfolkcc. Full instructions for registration and use of the system can be found at https://intendhost.co.uk/norfolkcc/aspx/BuyerProfiles. Once registered you will be able to see the procurement project under the 'tenders' section and 'express an interest' in this tender. If you encounter any difficulties whilst using the system you can contact the In-tend support team by phoning +44 8442728810 or e-mailing support@in-tend.co.uk.

Planning Information

Tender dates and the contract commencement dates will be confirmed in the tender notice. The Council intends to hold a market engagement event for prospective providers. The date and joining arrangements will be confirmed through the Council's e-procurement system. The expected date is 30th September 2026. Prospective providers wishing to participate should register on In-tend, express an interest in the project and use the correspondence facility to provide the email addresses of proposed attendees when requested. This procurement will be managed electronically via the Council`s e-procurement system. To participate in this procurement and gain access to documents when they are available, applicants must first be registered on the system at https://in-tendhost.co.uk/norfolkcc. Full instructions for registration and use of the system can be found at https://intendhost.co.uk/norfolkcc/aspx/BuyerProfiles. Once registered you will be able to see the procurement project under the `tenders` section and `express an interest` in this tender. If you encounter any difficulties whilst using the system you can contact the In-tend support team by phoning +44 8442728810 or e-mailing support@in-tend.co.uk.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06aaf2
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084992-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85300000 - Social work and related services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£6,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
8 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Sep 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
3 May 2027 - 2 May 2032 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Norfolk 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
NORWICH
Postcode
NR1 2DH
Postcode Area
Norwich
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH5 Norfolk
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH51 Norwich and East Norfolk
Delivery Location
TLH15 Norwich and East Norfolk, TLH16 North and West Norfolk, TLH17 Breckland and South Norfolk
Local Authority
Norwich
Electoral Ward
Lakenham
Westminster Constituency
Norwich South

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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