Prior information notice
This notice is for prior information only
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Milton Keynes City Council
Civic Offices, 1 Saxon Gate East
Milton Keynes
MK93EJ
UK
E-mail: procurement@milton-keynes.gov.uk
NUTS: UKJ12
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/
Address of the buyer profile: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/milton-keynes/aspx/Home
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
https://in-tendhost.co.uk/milton-keynes/aspx/Home
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
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
Provision of 'Experts at Hand' Educational Psychologists, Speech and Language and Occupational Therapy Support - Market Engagement
Reference number: 2026-174
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85100000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Milton Keynes City Council (MKCC) is seeking to engage with the provider market to inform the commissioning approach for Educational Psychologists (EPs), Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) and Occupational Therapy (OT), as part of the 'Experts at Hand' programme of SEND reform.
"Experts at Hand" is a Department for Education (DfE) initiative launching in September 2026 to bring health and education specialists directly into mainstream education and early years settings. It is intended to provide support for mainstream schools to identify children's needs earlier and provide timely, time-limited support to develop inclusive practice.
This market engagement exercise forms an important step in shaping the future delivery model for 'Experts at Hand' within Milton Keynes.
We are keen to hear from providers on the questions published contained within the market engagement document on our e-tendering portal In-Tend . Please respond to the questions latest by 5pm on the 31st August via In-Tend Correspondence section/market engagement stage.
The Market Engagement document can be accessed on our e-tendering portal: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/milton-keynes/aspx/Home
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
4 500 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
85121270
85140000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKJ12
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Milton Keynes City Council (MKCC) is seeking to engage with the provider market to inform the commissioning approach for Educational Psychologists (EPs), Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) and Occupational Therapy (OT), as part of the 'Experts at Hand' programme of SEND reform.
"Experts at Hand" is a Department for Education (DfE) initiative launching in September 2026 to bring health and education specialists directly into mainstream education and early years settings. It is intended to provide support for mainstream schools to identify children's needs earlier and provide timely, time-limited support to develop inclusive practice.
This market engagement exercise forms an important step in shaping the future delivery model for 'Experts at Hand' within Milton Keynes.
We are keen to hear from providers on the questions published contained within the market engagement document on our e-tendering portal In-Tend . Please respond to the questions latest by 5pm on the 31st August via In-Tend Correspondence section/market engagement stage.
The Market Engagement document can be accessed on our e-tendering portal: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/milton-keynes/aspx/Home
II.2.14) Additional information
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) Prior Information Notice for Market Engagement. 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 or the Procurement Act 2023 do not apply to this procurement.
II.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice:
12/11/2026
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
No
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
10/08/2026