Scope
Procurement reference
CN250240
Procurement description
The Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) has launched a new national supported employment programme called 'Connect to Work' (C2W). Connect to Work is a key part of the Government's new 'Get Britain Working Strategy' and its commitment to supporting the 1.8m people in the UK who would like to work but are not currently participating in the labour market.
The programme aims to support 81,000 individuals per year overall nationally. Connect to work will be delivered by 43 accountable bodies across the UK. Kent County Council (KCC) are one of 43 Accountable bodies and will be delivering the programme on behalf of Kent and Medway.
The "Connect to Work" programme is an initiative aimed at providing employment support to individuals with disabilities or long-term health conditions, or other disadvantaged groups. The programme offers targeted interventions, job coaching, workplace support, and other support to ensure that individuals facing challenges can participate in and retain employment.
The majority of participants on the programme (75%) will be supported using the Individual Placement Support (IPS) fidelity model. This opportunity relates to the IPS intervention only.
For this procurement exercise, KCC are including the following contract areas in the competitive tender process:
Lot 1 - North Kent (IPS) (comprising the Gravesham and Medway districts)
Lot 2 - Mid Kent (IPS) (comprising the Swale, Ashford and Canterbury districts)
Lot 3 - East Kent (IPS) (comprising the Shepway, Dover and Thanet Districts)
A Contract Lotting Map has been provided within the procurement documents, to provide a visual representation of contract lotting and geographical boundaries for the service.
Delivery regions
- UKJ - South East (England)
Total value (estimated, excluding VAT)
15977975 GBP to 15977975GBP
Contract dates (estimated)
01 April 2026, 00:00AM to 31 March 2028, 23:59PM
Extension end date (if all the extensions are used): 31 March 2030
Lots
Divided into 3 lots
North Kent (IPS)
Lot number: 1 Description
The North Kent (IPS) lot includes the following district areas: Gravesham and Medway. The successful provider will be expected to deliver all IPS Supported Employment provision within this lot area.
It is anticipated that c.1358 participants in total will be supported within this area for the duration of the programme. Further information relating to the services and volumes to be delivered can be found in the procurement documents.
CPV classifications
- 75131000 - Government services
- 80000000 - Education and training services
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
Delivery regions
- UKJ - South East (England)
Lot value (estimated)
4657242 GBP Excluding VAT
5588690.40 GBP Including VAT
Sustainability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Contract start date (estimated)
01 April 2026, 00:00AM
Contract end date (estimated)
31 March 2028, 23:59PM
Extension end date (estimated)
31 March 2030, 23:59PM
Can the contract be extended?
Yes
Description of extensions
There will be an optional extension period, up to a maximum of 2 years (24 months). This is subject to availability of funding and supplier performance during the initial contract term.
Does the lot include options?
Yes
Description of options
The Council reserves the right to amend the service areas a supplier is delivering in, and modify these contracts to include additional participant volumes, and/or service areas (in accordance with Section 74 of the Procurement Act) in the following circumstances:
• There has been a supplier failure within other lot area(s) within Kent and Medway, leading to termination or suspension of contract/services and/or reduction in participant profile or scope of the contract.
• An awarded supplier has declined to deliver further services under this programme, or is unable to meet the specified participant targets within their lot area(s).
• The Council terminates a Connect to work contract in line with the provisions of the terms and conditions, including but not limited to supplier insolvency or change of control.
• Local government reorganisation changes to current district boundaries necessitate an amendment to existing service areas and/or participant profiles.
Should additional service areas be awarded via a contract modification process, the total estimated value of this contract could range from: Lot 1 - £4,657,242 to £15,977,975 Lot 2 - £6,378,844 - £15,977,975, Lot 3 - £4,941,889 - £15,977,975 (estimated option values exclusive of VAT, based on indicative participant profiles)
Maximum number of lots a supplier can be awarded
2
Description of how multiple lots may be awarded
Candidates who meet the conditions of participation will be invited to bid for any of the available contract lots (tender for the opportunity. However, those who have been invited to tenderer for the opportunity will be awarded a maximum of two lots based on the submission of the most advantageous tender based on the published award criteria (for each area). A restriction to the number of lots that can be awarded to each supplier has been implemented to increase resilience within the programme.
Further Information on the lotting restrictions and award criteria will be provided within the procurement documents.
Participation
Conditions of participation
Please see the procurement documents for further information
Conditions of participation
Please see the procurement documents for further information
Award criteria
Weighting description
The Price per Quality Point (PQP) evaluation methodology shall be used as detailed in the draft tender documentation.
Type: price
Name
Price per Quality Point (PQP)
Type: quality
Name
Quality
Mid Kent (IPS)
Lot number: 2 Description
The Mid Kent (IPS) lot includes the following district areas: Swale, Ashford and Canterbury. The successful provider will be expected to deliver all IPS Supported Employment provision within this lot area.
It is anticipated that c.1860 participants in total will be supported within this area for the duration of the programme. Further information relating to the services and volumes to be delivered can be found in the procurement documents.
CPV classifications
- 75131000 - Government services
- 80000000 - Education and training services
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
Delivery regions
- UKJ - South East (England)
Lot value (estimated)
6378844 GBP Excluding VAT
7654612.80 GBP Including VAT
Sustainability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Contract start date (estimated)
01 April 2026, 00:00AM
Contract end date (estimated)
31 March 2028, 23:59PM
Extension end date (estimated)
31 March 2030, 23:59PM
Can the contract be extended?
Yes
Description of extensions
There will be an optional extension period, up to a maximum of 2 years (24 months). This is subject to availability of funding and supplier performance during the initial contract term.
Does the lot include options?
Yes
Description of options
The Council reserves the right to amend the service areas a supplier is delivering in, and modify these contracts to include additional participant volumes, and/or service areas (in accordance with Section 74 of the Procurement Act) in the following circumstances:
• There has been a supplier failure within other lot area(s) within Kent and Medway, leading to termination or suspension of contract/services and/or reduction in participant profile or scope of the contract.
• An awarded supplier has declined to deliver further services under this programme, or is unable to meet the specified participant targets within their lot area(s).
• The Council terminates a Connect to work contract in line with the provisions of the terms and conditions, including but not limited to supplier insolvency or change of control.
• Local government reorganisation changes to current district boundaries necessitate an amendment to existing service areas and/or participant profiles.
Should additional service areas be awarded via a contract modification process, the total estimated value of this contract could range from: Lot 1 - £4,657,242 to £15,977,975 Lot 2 - £6,378,844 - £15,977,975, Lot 3 - £4,941,889 - £15,977,975 (estimated option values exclusive of VAT, based on indicative participant profiles)
Maximum number of lots a supplier can be awarded
2
Description of how multiple lots may be awarded
Candidates who meet the conditions of participation will be invited to bid for any of the available contract lots (tender for the opportunity. However, those who have been invited to tenderer for the opportunity will be awarded a maximum of two lots based on the submission of the most advantageous tender based on the published award criteria (for each area). A restriction to the number of lots that can be awarded to each supplier has been implemented to increase resilience within the programme.
Further Information on the lotting restrictions and award criteria will be provided within the procurement documents.
Participation
Conditions of participation
Please see the procurement documents for further information
Conditions of participation
Please see the procurement documents for further information
Award criteria
Weighting description
The Price per Quality Point (PQP) evaluation methodology shall be used as detailed in the draft tender documentation.
Type: price
Name
Price per Quality Point (PQP)
Type: quality
Name
Quality
East Kent (IPS)
Lot number: 3 Description
The East Kent (IPS) lot includes the following district areas: Swale, Ashford and Canterbury. The successful provider will be expected to deliver all IPS Supported Employment provision within this lot area.
It is anticipated that 1441 participants in total will be supported within this area for the duration of the programme. Further information relating to the services and volumes to be delivered can be found in the procurement documents.
CPV classifications
- 75131000 - Government services
- 80000000 - Education and training services
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
Delivery regions
- UKJ - South East (England)
Lot value (estimated)
4941889 GBP Excluding VAT
5930266.80 GBP Including VAT
Sustainability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Contract start date (estimated)
01 April 2026, 00:00AM
Contract end date (estimated)
31 March 2028, 23:59PM
Extension end date (estimated)
31 March 2030, 23:59PM
Can the contract be extended?
Yes
Description of extensions
There will be an optional extension period, up to a maximum of 2 years (24 months). This is subject to availability of funding and supplier performance during the initial contract term.
Does the lot include options?
Yes
Description of options
The Council reserves the right to amend the service areas a supplier is delivering in, and modify these contracts to include additional participant volumes, and/or service areas (in accordance with Section 74 of the Procurement Act) in the following circumstances:
• There has been a supplier failure within other lot area(s) within Kent and Medway, leading to termination or suspension of contract/services and/or reduction in participant profile or scope of the contract.
• An awarded supplier has declined to deliver further services under this programme, or is unable to meet the specified participant targets within their lot area(s).
• The Council terminates a Connect to work contract in line with the provisions of the terms and conditions, including but not limited to supplier insolvency or change of control.
• Local government reorganisation changes to current district boundaries necessitate an amendment to existing service areas and/or participant profiles.
Should additional service areas be awarded via a contract modification process, the total estimated value of this contract could range from: Lot 1 - £4,657,242 to £15,977,975 Lot 2 - £6,378,844 - £15,977,975, Lot 3 - £4,941,889 - £15,977,975 (estimated option values exclusive of VAT, based on indicative participant profiles)
Maximum number of lots a supplier can be awarded
2
Description of how multiple lots may be awarded
Candidates who meet the conditions of participation will be invited to bid for any of the available contract lots (tender for the opportunity. However, those who have been invited to tenderer for the opportunity will be awarded a maximum of two lots based on the submission of the most advantageous tender based on the published award criteria (for each area). A restriction to the number of lots that can be awarded to each supplier has been implemented to increase resilience within the programme.
Further Information on the lotting restrictions and award criteria will be provided within the procurement documents.
Participation
Conditions of participation
Please see the procurement documents for further information
Conditions of participation
Please see the procurement documents for further information
Award criteria
Weighting description
The Price per Quality Point (PQP) evaluation methodology shall be used as detailed in the draft tender documentation.
Type: price
Name
Price per Quality Point (PQP)
Type: quality
Name
Quality
Award criteria
Weighting description
The Price per Quality Point (PQP) evaluation methodology shall be used as detailed in the draft tender documentation.
Type: price
Name
Price per Quality Point (PQP)
Type: quality
Name
Quality