Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Kent County Council
Sessions House
Maidstone
ME14 1XQ
UK
Contact person: Ms Orla Miller
Telephone: +44 3000412878
E-mail: orla.miller@kent.gov.uk
NUTS: UKJ4
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://www.kent.gov.uk
Address of the buyer profile: http://www.kent.gov.uk
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert/Index?advertId=2eb5aecc-5ce5-ef11-8134-005056b64545
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert/Index?advertId=2eb5aecc-5ce5-ef11-8134-005056b64545
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
CN250157 - Speech, Language and Communication Needs – Delivering Inclusion within the Curriculum for Education (DICE) Service
Reference number: DN757681
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85323000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Speech, Language and Communication Needs – Delivering Inclusion within the Curriculum for Education (DICE) Service : Tender Notice
Kent County Council is seeking to commission a Speech, Language and Communication Needs – Delivering Inclusion within the Curriculum for Education (DICE) Service, that supports children and young people in mainstream schools and across community settings, such as Family Hubs, during both term time and school holiday periods.
The service will hold a key role in supporting those children and young people who are either in mainstream schools and those who for various reasons are not attending school regularly (e.g. such as those home educated, non/low-school attendance, living in Refuges, etc) and have Speech and Language needs. This will be referred to as place-based settings.
This service will initially sit alongside the wider Community Services provided by the NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB) with an ambition for the services to be seamless provision to those accessing the Services.
The Balanced System® Framework is a framework for commissioning Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) for children and young people. The aim is to use the framework to understand, plan and evaluate services to support children and young people with SLCN within place-based settings across Kent. The Framework has been developed in line with both national policy and legislation, as well as professional guidance for Speech and Language Therapists, to deliver integrated services for children and young people.
Subject to acquiring approval, it is Kent County Council’s intention to commission a Speech, Language and Communication Needs – Delivering Inclusion within the Curriculum for Education (DICE) Service, commencing 27 October 2025.
Service delivery will be in partnership and working with the wider stakeholders, including, but not limited to NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB), 12 District and Borough Councils, Medway Council.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
13 020 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKJ4
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Speech, Language and Communication Needs – Delivering Inclusion within the Curriculum for Education (DICE) Service : Tender Notice
Kent County Council is seeking to commission a Speech, Language and Communication Needs – Delivering Inclusion within the Curriculum for Education (DICE) Service, that supports children and young people in mainstream schools and across community settings, such as Family Hubs, during both term time and school holiday periods.
The service will hold a key role in supporting those children and young people who are either in mainstream schools and those who for various reasons are not attending school regularly (e.g. such as those home educated, non/low-school attendance, living in Refuges, etc) and have Speech and Language needs. This will be referred to as place-based settings.
This service will initially sit alongside the wider Community Services provided by the NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB) with an ambition for the services to be seamless provision to those accessing the Services.
The Balanced System® Framework is a framework for commissioning Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) for children and young people. The aim is to use the framework to understand, plan and evaluate services to support children and young people with SLCN within place-based settings across Kent. The Framework has been developed in line with both national policy and legislation, as well as professional guidance for Speech and Language Therapists, to deliver integrated services for children and young people.
Subject to acquiring approval, it is Kent County Council’s intention to commission a Speech, Language and Communication Needs – Delivering Inclusion within the Curriculum for Education (DICE) Service, commencing 27 October 2025.
Service delivery will be in partnership and working with the wider stakeholders, including, but not limited to NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB), 12 District and Borough Councils, Medway Council.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Key Criteria 1 - Quality and Innovation
/ Weighting: 25
Quality criterion: Key Criteria 1 - Mobilisation and Contract Resourcing
/ Weighting: 20
Quality criterion: Key Criteria 3 - Integration and Collaboration
/ Weighting: 20
Quality criterion: Key Criteria 4 - Improving access, reducing health inequalities, and facilitating choice
/ Weighting: 20
Quality criterion: Key Criteria 5 - Social Value
/ Weighting: 15
Price
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
13 020 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 60
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
Available extension up to 24 months
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
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
II.2.14) Additional information
Procured under PSR Provider Selection Regime - Competitive Process - no option to select 'Competitive Process' in drop down menu.
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
No
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2025/S 000-000743
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
04/07/2025
Local time: 12:00
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
IV.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 3 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date:
04/07/2025
Local time: 12:05
Place:
Responses received electronically - seal broken by two KCC procurement officers present.
Information about authorised persons and opening procedure:
Seal will be broke by Senior Commercial and Procurement Officer - will be witnessed by Commercial and Procurement Officer
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
No
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Kent County Council
Maidstone
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
06/06/2025