SEND Mediation and Disagreement Resolution Service (MDRS)

Cheshire East Council is seeking a provider to deliver its Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Mediation and Disagreement Resolution Service, with an estimated contract value of £440,000 excluding VAT.

The service will help parents, young people and professionals resolve disagreements concerning special educational needs and disability provision, including education, health and care needs assessments and Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).

Service Requirements

The service will provide mediation and disagreement resolution for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities and their families.

Key service objectives include:

• Mediation: Helping parents, young people and professionals resolve disagreements about education, health and care needs assessments and EHCPs.
• Disagreement resolution: Supporting the resolution of other issues relating to a child’s special educational needs.
• Early resolution: Encouraging open communication and person-centred decision-making to prevent disagreements from escalating.
• Relationship building: Helping parties communicate more effectively and rebuild relationships that have broken down.
• Alternative to tribunal: Providing a quicker, less formal alternative to tribunal proceedings where appropriate.

Parents and young people must consider mediation before registering an appeal with the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability). Mediation can also address disagreements concerning the health and social care elements of an EHCP.

Contract Information

• Buyer: Cheshire East Council
• Deadline: 20 November 2026, 12:00pm (noon)
• Contract Value: £440,000 excluding VAT (£528,000 including VAT)
• Delivery Length: Three years, from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2030, with two optional 12-month extensions, potentially extending the contract to 31 March 2032
• Tender Reference: DN830939
• Tender Link: The Chest – Procurement Portal
• Submission Method: Electronic submission through The Chest, Project ID DN830939
• Award Method: Below-threshold open competition

Supplier Requirements

The opportunity is suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs).

Suppliers must register for free on The Chest and express an interest in Project ID DN830939 to access the tender documents and submit a quotation.

The evaluation process includes a mandatory Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) and an RFQ award assessment covering financial and qualitative evaluation questions. Only quotations meeting the PSQ qualifying criteria will progress to the award assessment stage.

Evaluation Criteria

The Council will assess submissions through two stages:

• Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ): Mandatory qualifying assessment.
• RFQ Award Assessment: Financial evaluation and qualitative evaluation questions.

Specific percentage weightings are not disclosed in the supplied notice. The Council is not obliged to accept the lowest-priced quotation or any quotation submitted and reserves the right to accept all or part of a quotation.

This opportunity may be relevant to organisations specialising in SEND support, mediation, family services and dispute resolution. The contract offers an initial three-year term, with the possibility of two additional years, to deliver mediation and disagreement resolution services for children, young people and families across Cheshire East.

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