Find a TenderPast planning noticePreliminary market engagement notice
Published 4 Aug 2025, 15:43 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Mediation and Disagreement Resolution Service (MDRS)

Official notice

Authority: Cheshire East Council (Local council)

ServicesBelow thresholdLight touch regimeSME suitableVCSE suitable
Planned pipeline valueValue not publishedpipeline notice, not a live tender
Tender notice expected 1 Oct 2025from the planned procurement notice
Contract term 3 yrsends 31 Mar 2029 · up to 31 Mar 2031 with extensions · starts 1 Apr 2026

What is being bought

Published requirement description

Mediation service to support children, young people and their parent/carers with mediation and dispute resolution in relation to special education needs (SEN) issues, including where Education, Health and Care Plans assessed by the Council and its key partners are contested by the young person and their parent/carer.

Cheshire East Council is conducting a soft market testing survey to gauge interest from providers in delivering our Mediation and Disagreement Resolution Service (MDRS), a statutory requirement under the Children and Families Act 2014.

Cheshire East Council has successfully commissioned a Mediation and Dispute Resolution Service (MDRS) since 2015. We are now exploring options for potential recommissioning and invite feedback from the market through this soft market testing survey. While no final decision has been made regarding the timing or progression of the procurement, your input will be valuable in shaping our approach.

Please note that participation in this survey does not imply any commitment from either party, and the procurement may be delayed or terminated depending on future developments. However, gathering insights now will provide a strong foundation should we proceed at a later stage.

This questionnaire aims to gather the thoughts and experiences of providers who may be interested in our proposed recommissioning.

The deadline for questionnaire responses is: Friday 22nd August 2025. Please upload your response to the Chest by the specified deadline.

Chest Ref: DN785358

You can access and provide your feedback using the link below

procontract.due-north.com/RFx/RFxSummary ↗

CPV: Social work and related services

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published
Lot #1PlannedRenewal 3 yrsSMEVCSE
Contract period: 1 Apr 2026 – 31 Mar 2029 (3 yrs) · up to 31 Mar 2031 with extensions
Delivery: North WestEligibility: SME eligibleVCSE eligible
Extensions: Extension options published

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Legal basis
UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Procurement category
Services
Notice status
Past planning notice
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
4 Aug 2025, 15:43 BST
Last source update
4 Aug 2025, 15:43 BST
Authority reference
C4368
FTS notice number
2025/S 000-045729
Latest notice
Preliminary market engagement notice (UK2)
Classification (CPV)
Social work and related services
Delivery area
North West (UKD6)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-058083 Find a Tender

How it was run

Official notice
Submission deadline
—

Timeline

4 Aug 2025 → 1 Apr 2026 · 4 dates
  1. Planning notice published
    4 Aug 2025, 15:43 BST
  2. Market engagement
    22 Aug 2025, 23:59 BST

    Cheshire East Council is conducting a soft market testing survey to gauge interest from providers in delivering our Mediation and Disagreement Resolution Service (MDRS), a statutory requirement under the Children and Families Act 2014.

    Cheshire East Council has successfully commissioned a Mediation and Dispute Resolution Service (MDRS) since 2015. We are now exploring options for potential recommissioning and invite feedback from the market through this soft market testing survey. While no final decision has been made regarding the timing or progression of the procurement, your input will be valuable in shaping our approach.

    Please note that participation in this survey does not imply any commitment from either party, and the procurement may be delayed or terminated depending on future developments. However, gathering insights now will provide a strong foundation should we proceed at a later stage.

    This questionnaire aims to gather the thoughts and experiences of providers who may be interested in our proposed recommissioning.

    The deadline for questionnaire responses is: Friday 22nd August 2025. Please upload your response to the Chest by the specified deadline.

    procontract.due-north.com ↗

    Chest Ref: DN785358

  3. Tender notice expected393 days ago
    1 Oct 2025, 23:59 BST
  4. Contract starts212 days ago
    1 Apr 2026, 00:00 BST

Notice history

1 event · 1 release on Find a Tender
  1. Preliminary market engagement notice published
    4 Aug 2025, 15:43 BST
    UK2

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Pipeline notice
Awards (0)
No award published
Contracts (0)
No contract published
Bid statistics
No aggregate bid statistics published

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Cheshire East Council

Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government GB-PPON: PTWR-7124-XZXQ Delamere House, Delamere Street, Crewe, North West, CW12JZContact email

Official documents & specifications (1)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure