Dorset Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS)

Dorset Council in partnership with the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is seeking tenders from suitably

experienced and capable service providers for the Dorset SENDIASS Service.

Access to SEND Information, Advice and Support (IAS) is a statutory requirement (Children & Families Act

2014). SENDIAS must be available and accessible for Dorset children, young people and young adults (0 to 25

years) with Special Educational Needs, and their parents and carers.

Dorset SENDIASS currently offers a service to parents and carers developed from the existing (and renamed)

Parent Partnership Service. The offer for children and young people is minimal. Revised National Minimum

Standards Guidance (2014) applies to SENDIAS services across the country.

The expectation is for the provider to deliver SENDIAS in the Dorset Council area to:

• Meet statutory requirements including the minimum standards
• Deliver an equivalent service for children and young people
• Improve capacity to intervene earlier

This tender relates to provisions for children, young people, adults and their families.

The contract will commence from 1st May 2021 and will be a long-term contract and bids will be invited for

• 5 years + 2-year possible extensions. A maximum of 7 years.
• 7 years + 3-year possible extensions. A maximum of 10 years.

The Contract Value is approximately £170,900 per annum and Total Contract Value equating to between

£1,196,300 (7 years) and £1,709,000 (10 years), depending which option represents best value following tender

evaluation. The maximum amount that can be submitted is £170,900 per year and any bids above this figure will

be non-compliant and will result in a failed tender bid.

This Tender is being advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union.

The Open Tender process which been adapted under the Light Touch Regime by adding an extra pricing

evaluation in order to be able to gain best value.