Planning

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Mediation and Resolution Service

Gateshead Borough Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

17 Aug 2026 at 17:17

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Gateshead Borough Council is reviewing arrangements for a Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Mediation and Resolution Service. The service will support children and young people with SEND, their parents and carers, and the local authority to resolve disputes and disagreements concerning education, health and care matters. This is a public service contract in the health and social work services category, with delivery in the Gateshead area. The procurement is planned as one service lot and is subject to the light-touch regime. The council is considering future commissioning options and is using market engagement to understand available service models, delivery approaches, innovation opportunities and provider capacity.

This procurement is at the planning stage: the council has stated an intention to procure but has not issued an invitation to tender. It is conducting preliminary market engagement, including an online Teams event planned for 14 September 2026 at 14:00 and a market engagement questionnaire on the OPEN platform. The council expects the service contract to run from 1 April 2027 to 1 April 2030, with a possible extension until 1 April 2032. The process is planned as a single-lot, below-threshold services procurement under the light-touch regime. The council is still considering its future commissioning options, so the eventual procedure and procurement arrangements may develop through engagement.

The engagement will suit organisations experienced in resolving disputes involving children and young people with SEND, and in supporting parents, carers and local authorities around education, health and care matters. Relevant providers are likely to include specialist mediation, dispute resolution, advocacy, advice or related health and social care organisations. The council is seeking practical information from potential providers about service models, delivery approaches, innovation and the capacity of the market. Small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprises are identified as suitable for the planned service. Organisations with demonstrable SEND expertise, a credible approach to impartial resolution and the capacity to deliver locally should prepare to contribute.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Mediation and Resolution Service

Notice Description

Gateshead Council (the Council) is reviewing its arrangements for the provision of a Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Mediation and Resolution Service, which supports children and young people with SEND, parents, carers and the Local Authority in resolving disputes and disagreements relating to education, health and care matters. The Council is considering future commissioning options for this service. As part of this process, the Council is undertaking a Market Engagement Exercise to establish the level of market interest, gather intelligence from potential providers, and improve its understanding of available service models, innovation opportunities, delivery approaches, and market capacity. Gateshead Council is exploring the market for SEND Mediation and Resolution Service and is therefore engaging with the market to establish interest and understand current provider capacity, expertise and innovative approaches to service delivery. Online Market Engagement Event to be held on Teams 14th September 2026 at 14:00

Planning Information

Online Market Engagement Event to be held on teams Monday 14th September 2026 at 14:00. Please search 'Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Mediation and Resolution Service' on the OPEN portal : https://www.open-uk.org/ for further information. Please complete and submit the Market Engagement Questionnaire on the OPEN Platform.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e606
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078299-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
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

85000000 - Health and social work services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
14 Sep 20263 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 1 Apr 2030 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Gateshead Borough 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
GATESHEAD
Postcode
NE8 1HH
Postcode Area
Newcastle upon Tyne
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC43 Tyneside
Delivery Location
TLC2 Northumberland, and Tyne and Wear
Local Authority
Gateshead
Electoral Ward
Bridges
Westminster Constituency
Gateshead Central and Whickham

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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.

Loading OCDS record...