Voluntary ex ante transparency notice
Directive 2014/24/EU
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
West Berkshire Council
Council Office
NEWBURY
RG145LD
UK
E-mail: rebecca.page1@westberks.gov.uk
NUTS: UKJ11
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.westberks.gov.uk
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.westberks.gov.uk
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
I.5) Main activity
Education
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Bespoke SEMH Provision for Pupils with EHC Plans (13-19 years)
II.1.2) Main CPV code
80000000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
This service is for an independent school to provide alternative educational packages for fourteen young people in Key Stage 3 to 5. Students supported at the school are those who have EHC Plans for social, emotional and mental health difficulties and whose needs cannot be met in any other provision. This can include young people who have been excluded from specialist SEMH schools. 1:1 staffing ratio is required and will need to be maintained at all times to effectively manage pupil vulnerability and mitigate risks to staff and other pupils. Flexible education plans will need to be designed and delivered that are tailored specifically to the complex and evolving needs of young people with severe SEMH difficulties.
This notice serves to inform the intention of West Berkshire Council to award a public contract for the continued provision of highly specialised alternative education services for young people with severe and enduring social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) difficulties under Regulation 32(2)(b)(ii) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
3 503 210.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
80200000
80310000
80340000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKJ11
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
This service is for an independent school to provide alternative educational packages for fourteen young people in Key Stage 3 to 5 with complex needs. Students supported at the school have EHC Plans for social, emotional and mental health difficulties and whose needs cannot be met in any other provision. This can include young people who have been excluded from specialist SEMH schools.
This notice serves to inform the intention of West Berkshire Council to award a public contract for the continued provision of highly specialised alternative education services for young people with severe and enduring social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) difficulties under Regulation 32(2)(b)(ii) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The proposed contract will be for a period of 3 years with the option to extend for a further 2 years. The current contract expires on 31st August 2025.
The council issued a Prior Information Notice (PIN) in October 2024 to advertise and seek expressions of interest for the delivery of highly specialised education packages for young people with severe and enduring social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) difficulties. The council has received no expressions of interest from any other provider in the service currently provided by Engaging Potential Limited in the four months since the PIN was published. When the contract was last tendered there were no other suitable providers.
The Council therefore believes Engaging Potential Limited are the only organisation able to deliver the requirements of the Service; these being the specialist nature of the therapeutic provision which supports very complex and challenging pupils with the recognition of the relationship and in-depth understanding of the current cohort of 14 pupils currently managed by the Provider.
If the contract is not awarded, the Council will have no suitable placements for these students which would lead to costly additional placements on the high needs block. It could be detrimental to the students, taking them out of their local area and enduring travel times of 2 hours plus and additional costs on the home to school transport budget.
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
There is an option to extend the initial 3 year term for another 2 years.
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 will be awarded under Regulation 32(2)(b)(ii) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. A PIN was published in October 2024 to seek expressions of interest in the service, to date no expressions of interest have been received. The Council therefore believes Engaging Potential Limited are the only organisation able to deliver the requirements of the Service. If the contract is not awarded, the Council will have no suitable placements for these students which would lead to costly additional placements on the high needs block. It could be detrimental to the students, taking them out of their local area and enduring travel times of 2 hours plus as well as additional costs on the home to school transport budget.
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
Section V: Award of contract/concession
V.2 Award of contract/concession
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract/concession
21/02/2025
V.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Engaging Potential Limited
06504396
Bristol
UK
NUTS: UKK11
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.4) Information on value of the concession and main financing terms (excluding VAT)
Total value of the concession/lot:
3 503 210.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
The High Court Royal Court of Justice
London
WC2A 2LL
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
21/02/2025