Send Disagreement Resolution and Mediation Services

The London Borough of Hillingdon is seeking an experienced provider to deliver independent SEND Disagreement Resolution and Mediation Services for young people, parents and carers of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

The service will be delivered in accordance with the Children and Families Act 2014, the SEND Regulations 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice 2015, together with any relevant legislative changes, statutory guidance or recognised best practice introduced during the contract period.

The Council intends to award an eight-year contract with annual performance reviews built into the contract management arrangements. The procurement will be undertaken using the Competitive Flexible Procedure, with bidders required to successfully complete Stage 1 before progressing to Stage 2.

Contract Information

Buyer – London Borough of Hillingdon

Deadline – 3 August 2026 – 12:00pm

Contract Value – £556,800 excluding VAT (£668,160 including VAT)

Delivery Length – 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2035

Tender Link – Click here

Evaluation Criteria

Stage 2 submissions will be evaluated using the following criteria:

• Quality – 50%
• Price – 50%

Participation Requirements

To qualify for Stage 1, bidders must demonstrate the required economic and financial standing, including:

• A minimum annual turnover of £139,200 in each of the last two accounting periods.
• An Impact of Supplier Failure Score of 51 or above, as determined through a Dun & Bradstreet financial assessment.

Where these requirements are not met, the Council reserves the right to undertake a further financial assessment in accordance with the Invitation to Tender.

Bidders must also provide one recent reference demonstrating at least two years’ experience delivering services of a similar scale and nature for a local authority, involving a minimum of 100 referrals per year. The reference must be available for verification between 3 August and 16 August 2026.

The opportunity has been identified as being suitable for:

• Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
• Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises (VCSEs)

This contract provides an opportunity for experienced SEND mediation providers to deliver independent dispute resolution services that support children, young people and families while helping the Council meet its statutory duties.

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