---
title: "Mediation and Disagreement Resolution Services"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-05df23"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05df23"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05df23.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05df23.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "CUMBERLAND COUNCIL"
published: "2026-04-15"
---

# Mediation and Disagreement Resolution Services

Buyer: CUMBERLAND COUNCIL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05df23

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[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05df23.json)

## Summary

In a recent procurement process, Cumberland Council, a sub-central government public authority located in Carlisle, UK, commissioned Mediation and Disagreement Resolution Services aimed at supporting parents and carers of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The process followed an open competition procurement method under a completed award stage, with the legal framework established by the UK Children and Families Act 2014. The contract was awarded to WHY MEDIATE LIMITED with an active status, beginning on 1st April 2026 for a three-year duration, with possibilities for extension. The primary focus is on improving outcomes for children and families, promoting health and wellbeing, and addressing disagreements related to educational provisions across the UKD real estate area.

This tender offers a promising avenue for organisations skilled in social work and support services to capitalise on growing business opportunities. Companies operating as SMEs or Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises (VCSEs), specialising in mediation for SEND disputes, can leverage their expertise to meet the Council's service delivery objectives. By engaging effectively in this competitive sector, businesses can expand their profile and establish a significant foothold in the specialised service domains like education, health, and social care provision. This procurement aligns closely with the strategic priorities of the Council, potentially accommodating further contract extension contingent upon success and funding availability, opening further routes for collaboration and growth.

## Notice

Cumberland Council have commissioned a provider to deliver Mediation and Disagreement Resolution Services for parents/carers of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). These services aim to resolve disputes before an appeal is lodged with the First-tier Tribunal ("the Tribunal") about a local authority decision. Supporting outcomes in relation to this and the Council's Delivery Plan 2025-27 includes the following priorities: * Improving outcomes for children and families * Promoting health and wellbeing Disagreements can include the local authority's or an education provider's duties and provision, health and social care provision through the EHCP process and school exclusions for children with SEND.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: There is the potential for a contract extension of two x up to 12 months, depending on both the success in achieving the required outcomes and availability of further funding.

### Planning Information

We are inviting all interested organisations to attend this session on the 25th November 2025 at 13:00pm via Microsoft Teams, where there will be representatives from the Children and Family Wellbeing and Strategic Commissioning Teams. 
The agenda for the event will include:
• A short presentation
• A Q&A session
Please register your interest on the Chest and complete and return the document attached to the notice.
The Tender for the Contract is expected to be advertised towards the end of November/beginning of December, via the Chest Procurement Portal www.the-chest.org.uk

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/034213-2026 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - open competition |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Planning, Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 15 Apr 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 16 Jan 2026 |
| Future notice date | 25 Nov 2025 |
| Award date | 31 Mar 2026 |
| Contract period | 31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2029 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £205,000 |
| Lots value | £205,000 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £205,000 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | CUMBERLAND COUNCIL |
| Locality | CARLISLE |
| Post town | Carlisle |
| Postcode | CA1 1RD |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLD1 Cumbria |
| ITL 3 | TLD13 Cumberland |
| Local authority | Cumberland |
| Electoral ward | Castle |
| Westminster constituency | Carlisle |
| Delivery location | TLD1 Cumbria |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | WHY MEDIATE |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 85300000 - Social work and related services

## Release History

- 15 Apr 2026 at 12:37 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/034213-2026
- 5 Dec 2025 at 11:16 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/080059-2025
- 12 Nov 2025 at 08:31 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/072999-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/034213-2026
  15th April 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/080059-2025
  5th December 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/072999-2025
  12th November 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.the-chest.org.uk
  Registration on The Chest is Free

## Notice URLs

- http://www.mediatelegal.co.uk
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.the-chest.org.uk/

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05df23. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05df23.json.