Official UK procurement notice
Contract for the provision of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS)
Authority: Gateshead Council (Local council)·Consortium: 2 public authorities
Re-procurement plannedSpecial Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Mediation and Resolution Service
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionSpecial Educational Needs and Disability Information and Advice Support Service (SENDIASS), is a statutory service, covered under legislation in the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice; 0 to 25 years. The service will deliver free, impartial, confidential, and accurate information, advice, and support concerning education, health, and social care. It will assist children, young people, and their families (CYPF) in understanding and navigating the processes associated with special educational needs and disabilities.
The Borough Council of Gateshead (the Council) is acting as lead commissioner for this Service which is being commissioned jointly with the NHS Northeast and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB)
CPV: Health and social work services
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1AwardedRenewalPublished value£400,000
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Published award criteria (2)
- Quality
- Social Value
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Below threshold - open competition
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Below threshold
- Regulatory regime
- Light touch regime
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 13 Aug 2025, 09:50 BST
- Last source update
- 22 Dec 2025, 09:25 GMT
- Authority reference
SCO14- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-063430- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0586adFind a Tender
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 7 Nov 2025, 12:00 GMT
- Clarification deadline
- 31 Oct 2025, 17:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
www.open-uk.org ↗ and search for Contract for the provision of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS)
Open reference: #OPEN20251713
Timeline
13 Aug 2025 → 1 Feb 2026 · 7 dates- Planning notice published13 Aug 2025, 09:50 BST
- Market engagement2 Sept 2025, 23:59 BST
Online Market Engagement Event to be held on Teams Tuesday 2nd September 1pm to 2pm.
Search 'Market Engagement - For the provision of Special Education Need and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS)' OPEN Ref: #OPEN20251449 to register your interest and to complete the Market Engagement Questionnaire.
- Tender notice published383 days ago8 Oct 2025, 16:19 BST
- Clarification questions by360 days ago31 Oct 2025, 17:00 GMT
- Submission deadline353 days ago7 Nov 2025, 12:00 GMT
- Latest notice published308 days ago22 Dec 2025, 09:25 GMT
- Contract starts268 days ago1 Feb 2026
Notice history
11 events · 4 releases on Find a Tender · since 13 Aug 2025- Preliminary market engagement notice published13 Aug 2025, 09:50 BSTUK2
- Tender notice published8 Oct 2025, 16:19 BSTUK4
- Published value published: £400,0008 Oct 2025, 16:19 BST
- Status changed to active8 Oct 2025, 16:19 BST
- Procurement method changed8 Oct 2025, 16:19 BST
- Deadline published: 7 Nov 2025, 12:00 GMT8 Oct 2025, 16:19 BST
- Contract award notice published9 Dec 2025, 17:02 GMTUK6
- Status changed to complete9 Dec 2025, 17:02 GMT
- Buyer details updated9 Dec 2025, 17:02 GMT
- Contract details notice published22 Dec 2025, 09:25 GMTUK7
- Contract signature expected22 Dec 2025, 23:59 GMTscheduled
Routine re-releases (4)
- 2025-08: 1 release · 13 Aug 2025
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Axis Recruitment Limited1 Feb 2026 – 1 Feb 2028 · up to 1 Feb 2030Extensions: Initial contract term 24 months with options to extend for up to 2 x 12 months | £400,000 | 9 Dec 2025 | Awarded |
Contracts
Contract 1 · Axis Recruitment Limited
- Signed
- 22 Dec 2025
- Value
- £400,000
- Period
- 1 Feb 2026 – 1 Feb 2028 · up to 1 Feb 2030 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- Initial contract duration 24 months with options to extend for up to 2 x 12 months
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3final-stage tenders · 4 at stage one | 2 | 1 | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
2 public bodies on the noticeBidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- AXIS RECRUITMENT LIMITEDAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (4)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender