Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
Essex County Council
County Hall, Market Road
Chelmsford
CM11QH
UK
E-mail: rizwan.sher@essex.gov.uk
NUTS: UKH36
Internet address(es)
Main address: www.essex.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
F015PS - SEND Integrated Therapy Service 0-25
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85323000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Under the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice, Essex County Council has a statutory duty to secure the special educational provision specified in Section F of education, health and plans for children (EHCPs). This includes access to Speech and Language Therapy (SaLT), Occupational Therapy (OT) and Physiotherapy. These services are critical to the educational outcomes, safeguarding and wider wellbeing for children and young people. A new contract is required to ensure the continued delivery of these services.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
Yes
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
6 396 000.00
GBP
II.2) Description
Lot No: 1
II.2.1) Title
SEND Therapies - Mid and South Essex
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
85323000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKH3
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Under the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice, Essex County Council has a statutory duty to secure the special educational provision specified in Section F of education, health and plans for children (EHCPs). This includes access to Speech and Language Therapy (SaLT), Occupational Therapy (OT) and Physiotherapy. These services are critical to the educational outcomes, safeguarding and wider wellbeing for children and young people.
Following the conclusion of the internal governance process, Essex County Council ("the Council") is due to award a contract to deliver the SEND Therapies service to the incumbent provider under the Direct Award Process C of the Provider Selection Regime. Please note that the award of the contract for this service remains subject to the successful conclusion of the standstill period as detailed within section IV of this notice.
This service is being commissioned under a term of three (3) years. The commencement date of this contract will be 27 August 2026 with an expiry date of 26 July 2029.
The contract value for Lot 1 is £4,211,000.
Following the Council's assessment of the incumbent provider's delivery of the current service against the key criteria within the Provider Selection Regime as outlined below, the Council is assured that the provider is delivering the current SEND Therapies contract to a sufficient standard. Furthermore, the Council is satisfied that the provider will satisfy the proposed new contract to a sufficient standard following a review of the following key criteria:
1. Quality and Innovation (22.5%)
2. Value (22.5%)
3. Integration, collaboration and service sustainability (22.5%)
4. Improving access, reducing health inequality and facilitating choice (22.5%)
5. Social Value (10%)
II.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion: The existing providers are satisfying the original contract and are likely to satisfy the proposed contract to a sufficient standard
/ Weighting: 100
Price
/ Weighting:
0
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
Lot No: 2
II.2.1) Title
SEND Therapies - NE Essex
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
85323000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKH3
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Under the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice, Essex County Council has a statutory duty to secure the special educational provision specified in Section F of education, health and plans for children (EHCPs). This includes access to Speech and Language Therapy (SaLT), Occupational Therapy (OT) and Physiotherapy. These services are critical to the educational outcomes, safeguarding and wider wellbeing for children and young people.
Following the conclusion of the internal governance process, Essex County Council ("the Council") is due to award a contract to deliver the SEND Therapies service to the incumbent provider under the Direct Award Process C of the Provider Selection Regime. Please note that the award of the contract for this service remains subject to the successful conclusion of the standstill period as detailed within section IV of this notice.
This service is being commissioned under a term of three (3) years. The commencement date of this contract will be 27 August 2026 with an expiry date of 26 July 2029.
The contract value for Lot 2 is £2,185,000.
Following the Council's assessment of the incumbent provider's delivery of the current service against the key criteria within the Provider Selection Regime as outlined below, the Council is assured that the provider is delivering the current SEND Therapies contract to a sufficient standard. Furthermore, the Council is satisfied that the provider will satisfy the proposed new contract to a sufficient standard following a review of the following key criteria:
1. Quality and Innovation (22.5%)
2. Value (22.5%)
3. Integration, collaboration and service sustainability (22.5%)
4. Improving access, reducing health inequality and facilitating choice (22.5%)
5. Social Value (10%)
II.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion: The existing providers are satisfying the original contract and are likely to satisfy the proposed contract to a sufficient standard
/ Weighting: 100
Price
/ Weighting:
0
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 is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. 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 do not apply to this award. The standstill period begins on the day after the publication of this notice. Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority by 26 August 2026. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
Section V: Award of contract
Lot No: 1 and 2
Title: SEND Integrated Therapy Service
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
13/08/2026
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Provide CIC
07320006
900 The Crescent, Colchester Business Park, Colchester, Essex, CO4 9YQ
Colchester
UK
NUTS: UKH3
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
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:
: 6 396 000.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. 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 do not apply to this contract. The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to the decision-makers in writing by 26th August 2026 at midnight via the following e-mail address:
rizwan.sher@essex.gov.uk
This contract has not been formally awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.
Award decision-makers: Cabinet Member for Education, SEND and Skills in consultation with the Head of SEND Strategy and Innovation.
No conflicts of interest, or potential conflicts of interest, were declared by any decision makes.
Please be advised that four of the above noted key criteria were assigned an equal weighting of 22.5%, while social value is assigned a weighting of 10%. The authority has undertaken an assessment of the incumbent provider, Provide Community Interest Company (CIC), against the key criteria set out within the Provider Selection Regime.
The assessment concluded that Provide CIC continues to satisfy the basic selection criteria, including maintaining the professional, technical, financial and organisational capacity required to deliver the SEND Therapy Service. No mandatory or discretionary exclusion grounds apply.
In relation to Quality and Innovation, the provider demonstrated sustained high-quality service delivery, supported by an overall Care Quality Commission rating of Outstanding. The assessment identified strong performance in delivering statutory SEND therapy services, service resilience during periods of workforce pressure, and a proven commitment to innovation through the Link Therapy model, which supports earlier intervention, improved access to specialist advice and alignment with national SEND reforms.
For Value, the provider has delivered the service within the agreed financial envelope despite increasing demand and national workforce challenges. Effective workforce deployment, management of brokerage arrangements and alignment with wider community therapy services have supported efficiency, continuity of provision and value for money.
Against the criterion of Integration, Collaboration and Service Continuity, the assessment found that Provide CIC is deeply embedded within the local SEND system and plays a key role in the SET Therapies Transformation Programme. The provider has established strong partnerships with schools, NHS organisations, Local Authority teams and community services, creating a highly integrated model of delivery. The Authority considered that changing provider would present a significant risk to service continuity and wider system stability.
For Improving Access, Reducing Inequalities and Facilitating Choice, the provider demonstrated a service model that increases access to support through school-based and community-based interventions, promotes earlier identification of need and reduces reliance on formal statutory pathways. This approach supports equitable access to services and improved outcomes for children and young people with SEND.
In respect of Social Value, the provider has demonstrated wider community benefits through workforce development, community engagement and support for children and young people with SEND. In addition, the provider has submitted measurable social value commitments which will be incorporated into the contract and monitored through key performance indicators.
Having considered all relevant PSR key criteria, the Authority concluded that Provide CIC remains best placed to continue delivering the SEND Therapy Service and that awarding the contract through Direct Award Process C represents the most appropriate option to maintain quality, continuity and value for service users.
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Independent patient choice and procurement panel
England
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
14/08/2026