Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
Bristol City Council
City Hall, College Green
Bristol
BS15TR
UK
Contact person: Gabriel McEvoy
E-mail: gabriel.mcevoy@bristol.gov.uk
NUTS: UKK11
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.bristol.gov.uk/
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
I.5) Main activity
General public services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
EHCP Process Improvement
Reference number: DN813656
II.1.2) Main CPV code
80340000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
The Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) Safety Valve Programme is a key priority for the Council. Under its statutory duties in the Children and Families Act 2014, the Council must ensure the timely delivery of high-quality Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). Improving EHCP timeliness and addressing the current backlog of assessments are therefore central commitments within the Council's Safety Valve Improvement Plan.
Educational Psychology (EP) advice is a mandatory component of the EHCP assessment process. Current internal capacity is insufficient to meet the required volume of statutory advice within prescribed timescales. Additional EP resource is therefore required to ensure compliance with statutory duties and to support delivery of the Safety Valve commitments.
To address this need, the Council intends to commission a managed service from an agency provider for a fixed period of eight months. The service will provide additional EP capacity to support EHCP assessments and reduce the existing backlog. The arrangement will include provider management oversight and quality assurance to ensure consistency and effective delivery.
The eight-month contract period is considered the minimum necessary to deliver a meaningful reduction in the backlog while stabilising ongoing assessment throughput. The service is required urgently and delaying procurement would risk the Council failing to meet Safety Valve conditions.
The proposed procurement route is a direct award to Constellia through the SEWTAP (South East Wales Technical and Professional Services) framework, with delivery of services through Sanctuary Personnel Limited.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
495 000.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKK11
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) Safety Valve Programme is a key priority for the Council. Under its statutory duties in the Children and Families Act 2014, the Council must ensure the timely delivery of high-quality Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). Improving EHCP timeliness and addressing the current backlog of assessments are therefore central commitments within the Council's Safety Valve Improvement Plan.
Educational Psychology (EP) advice is a mandatory component of the EHCP assessment process. Current internal capacity is insufficient to meet the required volume of statutory advice within prescribed timescales. Additional EP resource is therefore required to ensure compliance with statutory duties and to support delivery of the Safety Valve commitments.
To address this need, the Council intends to commission a managed service from an agency provider for a fixed period of eight months. The service will provide additional EP capacity to support EHCP assessments and reduce the existing backlog. The arrangement will include provider management oversight and quality assurance to ensure consistency and effective delivery.
The eight-month contract period is considered the minimum necessary to deliver a meaningful reduction in the backlog while stabilising ongoing assessment throughput. The service is required urgently and delaying procurement would risk the Council failing to meet Safety Valve conditions.
The proposed procurement route is a direct award to Constellia through the SEWTAP (South East Wales Technical and Professional Services) framework, with delivery of services through Sanctuary Personnel Limited.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition
Justification for selected award procedure:
The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the Directive
Explanation
This contract has been directly award to Constellia via the SEWTAPS Framework, therefore prior notification of this award was not required.
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
No
Section V: Award of contract
Lot No: 1
Contract No: 1
Title: EHCP Process Improvement
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
31/03/2026
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 0
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 0
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Constellia Public Ltd
08664789
London
UK
NUTS: UKI
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot:
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 495 000.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Bristol Magistrates' Court
Bristol
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
21/04/2026