Direct Award for the Provision of Counselling, Support and Advice Services

Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition. South Lanarkshire Council's Psychological Services team have a requirement for the delivery of 1 to 1 counselling sessions for Secondary pupils (S1 to S6) at various schools as part of the Counselling Through Schools Specification - in line with the South Lanarkshire Counselling Through Schools Framework. The use of a Procurement Service Arrangement (PSA) allows Education Services providers to apply to be appointed to the PSA during the PSA period. The Council will continue to accept applications for appointment to the PSA until 31 August 2031 subject to applicants successfully submitting a completed ITT with the required supporting documentation. This approach also lends itself to the evolving educational services marketplace where new activity will be encouraged and can be adopted into the PSA in future. The ability to admit new providers to the PSA also increases competition and will result in better value for Education Resources and the Council. The procurement was a call off by direct award from the Educational Services Procured Services Arrangement (PSA) SLC/PS/EDUC/19/028. Under the Call Off Conditions of the PSA, the PSA allows for call offs in the form of Mini Competition and Direct Award. Any call off for Direct Award must have the appropriate justifications in line with the call off guidance and procedures. A Direct Award is justified under the PSA Call Off Process Conditions 2.1(a): (a) due to the specific needs of a particular individual or group, only one Provider can provide the Services The contract term will be for 2 years from 14 August 2024 to 13 August 2026 with the option to extend for a further year subject to satisfactory performance, financial standing, and available funding.