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F015PS - SEND Integrated Therapy Service 0-25

Essex County Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

14 Aug 2026 at 16:42

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Essex County Council procured an integrated SEND Therapy Service for children and young people aged 0–25. The service provides Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy required to support special educational provision in Education, Health and Care Plans, as well as educational outcomes, safeguarding and wider wellbeing. Delivery covers Mid and South Essex and North East Essex, through school-based and community-based interventions. The buyer is Essex County Council, based in Chelmsford. The procurement is for community health services. The requirement is intended to provide statutory SEND therapy, earlier identification of need, access to specialist advice and support aligned with national SEND reforms.

The contract was awarded to Provide Community Interest Company through Direct Award Process C under the Provider Selection Regime, using a procedure without prior publication of a competition. The award date was 13 August 2026. Lot 1, Mid and South Essex, was valued at £4,211,000; Lot 2, North East Essex, was valued at £2,185,000. The contract value recorded for the service is £6,396,000. The contract period runs from 27 August 2026 to 26 July 2029. Evaluation considered quality and innovation, value, integration and service continuity, improving access and reducing inequalities, and social value. The four main criteria each carried 22.5%, with social value carrying 10%; price carried no weight. One bid was recorded.

This procurement demonstrates sustained demand from Essex County Council for integrated therapy provision supporting children and young people with SEND across the county. A credible future provider would need qualified Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy capability, with sufficient professional, technical, financial and organisational capacity to deliver statutory services at county scale. Strong experience of working with schools, NHS organisations, local authority teams and community services would be important, alongside resilient workforce planning and effective brokerage management. Providers should be able to demonstrate high service quality, innovation, earlier intervention, equitable access and continuity during workforce pressure. Evidence of value for money, community engagement, workforce development and measurable social value commitments would also strengthen a competing offer.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

F015PS - SEND Integrated Therapy Service 0-25

Notice Description

Under the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice, Essex County Council has a statutory duty to secure the special educational provision specified in Section F of education, health and plans for children (EHCPs). This includes access to Speech and Language Therapy (SaLT), Occupational Therapy (OT) and Physiotherapy. These services are critical to the educational outcomes, safeguarding and wider wellbeing for children and young people. A new contract is required to ensure the continued delivery of these services.

Lot Information

SEND Therapies - Mid and South Essex

Under the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice, Essex County Council has a statutory duty to secure the special educational provision specified in Section F of education, health and plans for children (EHCPs). This includes access to Speech and Language Therapy (SaLT), Occupational Therapy (OT) and Physiotherapy. These services are critical to the educational outcomes, safeguarding and wider wellbeing for children and young people. Following the conclusion of the internal governance process, Essex County Council ("the Council") is due to award a contract to deliver the SEND Therapies service to the incumbent provider under the Direct Award Process C of the Provider Selection Regime. Please note that the award of the contract for this service remains subject to the successful conclusion of the standstill period as detailed within section IV of this notice. This service is being commissioned under a term of three (3) years. The commencement date of this contract will be 27 August 2026 with an expiry date of 26 July 2029. The contract value for Lot 1 is PS4,211,000. Following the Council's assessment of the incumbent provider's delivery of the current service against the key criteria within the Provider Selection Regime as outlined below, the Council is assured that the provider is delivering the current SEND Therapies contract to a sufficient standard. Furthermore, the Council is satisfied that the provider will satisfy the proposed new contract to a sufficient standard following a review of the following key criteria: 1. Quality and Innovation (22.5%) 2. Value (22.5%) 3. Integration, collaboration and service sustainability (22.5%) 4. Improving access, reducing health inequality and facilitating choice (22.5%) 5. Social Value (10%)

SEND Therapies - NE Essex

Under the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice, Essex County Council has a statutory duty to secure the special educational provision specified in Section F of education, health and plans for children (EHCPs). This includes access to Speech and Language Therapy (SaLT), Occupational Therapy (OT) and Physiotherapy. These services are critical to the educational outcomes, safeguarding and wider wellbeing for children and young people. Following the conclusion of the internal governance process, Essex County Council ("the Council") is due to award a contract to deliver the SEND Therapies service to the incumbent provider under the Direct Award Process C of the Provider Selection Regime. Please note that the award of the contract for this service remains subject to the successful conclusion of the standstill period as detailed within section IV of this notice. This service is being commissioned under a term of three (3) years. The commencement date of this contract will be 27 August 2026 with an expiry date of 26 July 2029. The contract value for Lot 2 is PS2,185,000. Following the Council's assessment of the incumbent provider's delivery of the current service against the key criteria within the Provider Selection Regime as outlined below, the Council is assured that the provider is delivering the current SEND Therapies contract to a sufficient standard. Furthermore, the Council is satisfied that the provider will satisfy the proposed new contract to a sufficient standard following a review of the following key criteria: 1. Quality and Innovation (22.5%) 2. Value (22.5%) 3. Integration, collaboration and service sustainability (22.5%) 4. Improving access, reducing health inequality and facilitating choice (22.5%) 5. Social Value (10%)

Procurement Information

This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award. The standstill period begins on the day after the publication of this notice. Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority by 26 August 2026. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e505
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/077841-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85323000 - Community health services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£6,396,000 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
14 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
13 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Essex 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
CHELMSFORD
Postcode
CM1 1QH
Postcode Area
Chelmsford
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH3 Essex
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH36 Heart of Essex
Delivery Location
TLH3 Essex
Local Authority
Chelmsford
Electoral Ward
Moulsham and Central
Westminster Constituency
Chelmsford

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Provide CIC

Further Information

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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