---
title: "CON_22626 - Cath Hitchen - project_8448 - DPS (ECSC) Preferred Supplier List for SEND and AP Advisory Services for the DfE High Needs Support and Intervention Programmes"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-87fa3729-494a-400f-88bb-7cfea023640a"
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markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-87fa3729-494a-400f-88bb-7cfea023640a.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-87fa3729-494a-400f-88bb-7cfea023640a.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION"
published: "2024-01-31"
---

# CON_22626 - Cath Hitchen - project_8448 - DPS (ECSC) Preferred Supplier List for SEND and AP Advisory Services for the DfE High Needs Support and Intervention Programmes

Buyer: DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-87fa3729-494a-400f-88bb-7cfea023640a

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## Summary

The Department for Education has awarded a contract for Education and training services under the title "CON_22626 - Cath Hitchen - project_8448 - DPS (ECSC) Preferred Supplier List for SEND and AP Advisory Services for the DfE High Needs Support and Intervention Programmes". The contract, valued at £54,000 GBP, will run from October 1, 2023, to March 31, 2025. It was procured through a selective procurement method, specifically a call-off from a dynamic purchasing system. The procurement process concluded on September 29, 2023.

This opportunity is suitable for SMEs and VCSEs. Businesses in the education and training services industry, especially those with expertise in advising local authorities on improving SEND and AP services, are well-suited to compete. The contract presents an opportunity to work closely with the Department for Education on various high needs support and intervention programmes, contributing to the improvement of services for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

## Notice

As part of this contract, the supplier will be required to provide advice to the Department in association with the delivery of the Safety Valve programme, Delivering Better Value in SEND programme, Education and Skills Funding Agency activity, or other work to support the high needs financial sustainability agenda. This could include: - provide high quality experience and expertise to advise, challenge and support at risk or poor performing local authorities in continuing to develop and implement robust and achievable plans to improve their SEND and AP services; - provide advice to the Department regarding the pace of improvement in local authorities, providing assurance that it is appropriate and that improvements to the SEND and AP system are sustainable; - provide advice to the Department regarding local authority activity to ensure plans remain focused on outcomes for children and young people with SEND; - apply expertise and experience to advise the local authority's senior leadership and SEND management team in addressing areas of weakness. We expect this will require you to engage with local authorities at both strategic and operational level; - work closely with financial advisors appointed by DfE to work with the same local authority. These advisors provide the same service to the Department for the Safety Valve programme from a financial perspective, and the Department will seek your expertise in assuring the join up between the financial and educational functions in an local authority; - have an awareness of the proposed SEND/AP system and Children's Social Care reforms including the Change Programme and work closely with relevant colleagues in supporting and challenging local authorities; Arrangements will be made with the relevant programme team regarding the local authorities and programmes you will be asked to work on. There may also be a requirement that advisors allocated to a particular local authorities work in conjunction with another SEND Advisor allocated to a local authority by Regions Group for general improvement work.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/de3eec7d-f4ad-44ce-b1d2-475377dc6cf3 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Dynamic |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Call-off from a dynamic purchasing system |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 31 Jan 2024 |
| Submission deadline | 11 Aug 2023 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 28 Sep 2023 |
| Contract period | 30 Sep 2023 - 31 Mar 2025 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £54,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £54,000 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Post town | South West London |
| Postcode | SW1P 3BT |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West |
| ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London |
| Local authority | Westminster |
| Electoral ward | St James's |
| Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | CATH HITCHEN CONSULTANCY |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 80 - Education and training services

### Codes

- 80000000 - Education and training services

## Release History

- 31 Jan 2024 at 17:01 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/de3eec7d-f4ad-44ce-b1d2-475377dc6cf3

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/de3eec7d-f4ad-44ce-b1d2-475377dc6cf3
  31st January 2024 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/3e01b80e-77ee-4361-bf12-f96c96542137
  n/a

## Provenance

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