SEND Mediation

The London Borough of Hounslow is seeking a provider to deliver Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) mediation and disagreement resolution services.

The contract, valued at an estimated £280,000 excluding VAT, will provide mediation and resolution support for disagreements relating to SEND. The opportunity is open to a range of providers, with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs) specifically identified as suitable potential suppliers.

The initial contract will run for two years, with the possibility of a further two-year extension.

Service Requirements

The contract covers SEND mediation and disagreement resolution services for the London Borough of Hounslow.

The notice provides limited detail about the specific service delivery requirements, with the full scope and expectations set out in the Invitation to Tender (ITT) documentation.

Providers should consult the procurement documents for details of:

• The mediation and disagreement resolution services required.
• The expected delivery model and service arrangements.
• The service standards and contractual requirements.
• The information and evidence required as part of a tender submission.

Contract Information

• Buyer: London Borough of Hounslow
• Estimated contract value: £280,000 excluding VAT (£336,000 including VAT)
• Initial contract period: 2 years
• Contract start date: 1 April 2027
• Initial end date: 31 March 2029
• Extension option: Up to 2 additional years
• Maximum contract duration: 4 years, potentially running until 31 March 2031
• Location: Hounslow and Richmond upon Thames
• Contract type: Services
• Procurement procedure: Open procedure
• Enquiry deadline: 20 November 2026, 12:00pm
• Tender submission deadline: 7 December 2026, 12:00pm
• Estimated award decision date: 5 February 2027
• Contract reference: DN835283
• Notice reference: 2026/S 000-106795

Tender documents and submission portal: ProContract – Due North

Suppliers must access the portal to view the full ITT documentation and submit their tender electronically.

Find a Tender notice: SEND Mediation

Supplier Requirements

The Council has identified SMEs and VCSEs as particularly suitable potential suppliers.

The notice sets out several conditions of participation covering legal, financial and technical capacity.

Legal and financial requirements:

• Meet the required insurance levels.
• Demonstrate compliance with UK GDPR.

Technical requirements:

• Provide evidence of relevant experience and contract examples.
• Address modern slavery in supply chains.
• Demonstrate consideration of Net Zero requirements.

Further details of the required insurance levels, supporting evidence and assessment arrangements are available in the ITT documentation.

Tenders must be submitted electronically through the ProContract portal, in English.

Evaluation Criteria

Tenders will be assessed against two weighted criteria:

• Quality: 70%
• Price: 30%

Quality carries the greatest weighting, accounting for 70% of the overall evaluation. Price makes up the remaining 30%.

The notice confirms that the detailed quality requirements are set out in the ITT documentation, while the pricing assessment is explained in the accompanying pricing schedule.

Commercial Relevance

This opportunity may interest organisations specialising in SEND mediation, disagreement resolution, advocacy and support services for children, young people and families navigating special educational needs and disabilities processes.

The Council’s explicit identification of SMEs and VCSEs as suitable potential suppliers makes this an opportunity worth exploring for smaller specialist organisations and community-based providers.

With an estimated value of £280,000 excluding VAT and a potential four-year contract period, the opportunity offers scope for an organisation with relevant experience to deliver a longer-term service.

The 70% quality weighting means bidders should pay particular attention to demonstrating their relevant experience, proposed approach and ability to meet the Council’s requirements, alongside providing a competitive price.

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If you want to advertise your opportunity, please contact Jamie Peacock, Tender Specialist at advertising@dailyround.news