Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
West Lothian Council
West Lothian Civic Centre, Howden South Road
Livingston
EH54 6FF
UK
Contact person: Catriona Peden
Telephone: +44 1506283312
E-mail: catriona.peden@westlothian.gov.uk
Fax: +44 1506281325
NUTS: UKM78
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://www.westlothian.gov.uk
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00140
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
I.5) Main activity
General public services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
WLC Provision of Parental Employment Support
Reference number: CC14757
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85312310
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Provision of Parental Employment support
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
225 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
Yes
Tenders may be submitted for all lots
Maximum number of lots that may be awarded to one tenderer: 2
II.2) Description
Lot No: 1
II.2.1) Title
Early Engagement and Pre-Employability Support
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
80000000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM78
Main site or place of performance:
Services will be delivered across West Lothian using flexible and accessible delivery methods tailored to participant needs and circumstances. Further details in the tender documents
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
This commissioning opportunity seeks to attract third sector and private sector partners with specialist expertise to deliver person-centred, flexible, and trauma-informed employability support for parents across West Lothian, in line with the principles of No One Left Behind (NOLB). The commissioned activity is intended to complement existing Council employability services and address identified gaps in provision rather than duplicate current services. Programme Structure
The programme will be commissioned as two separate but connected lots, with organisations able to apply for one or both lots. Consortium bids are welcomed.
Lot 1: Early Engagement and Pre-Employability Support
This lot focuses on parents furthest from the labour market and will provide:
- Outreach and engagement activity
- Person-centred assessment and goal setting
- Confidence and self-esteem building
- Life skills and employability skills development
- Mental health and wellbeing support
- Trauma-informed and strengths-based approaches
The emphasis is on stabilisation, engagement, and progression readiness rather than immediate employment outcomes.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Technical /Quality
/ Weighting: 90
Price
/ Weighting:
10
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
825 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 9
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
Option to extend for up to a further 24 months based on funding levels and performance
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
II.2.14) Additional information
Refer to specification document in tender.
Funding for the initial 9 month period is 225,000 GBP. Extension options may be utilised based on approved funding and performance
Lot No: 2
II.2.1) Title
Progression and In-Work Preparation
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
80000000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM78
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
This commissioning opportunity seeks to attract third sector and private sector partners with specialist expertise to deliver person-centred, flexible, and trauma-informed employability support for parents across West Lothian, in line with the principles of No One Left Behind (NOLB). The commissioned activity is intended to complement existing Council employability services and address identified gaps in provision rather than duplicate current services. Programme Structure
The programme will be commissioned as two separate but connected lots, with organisations able to apply for one or both lots. Consortium bids are welcomed.
This lot supports parents progressing toward employment and includes:
- Supported work experience placements
- Accredited training and qualifications
- In-work mentoring and support
- Reflective learning and progression planning
- Pathways into employment, apprenticeships, training, or further education
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Technical Criteria
/ Weighting: 90
Price
/ Weighting:
10
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
825 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 9
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
Option to extend by upto a further 24 months in total based on funding levels and performance.
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
II.2.14) Additional information
Refer to specification document in tender.
Funding for the initial 9 month period is 225,000 GBP. Extension options may be utilised based on approved funding and performance
Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information
III.1) Conditions for participation
III.1.2) Economic and financial standing
List and brief description of selection criteria:
Re SPD question 4B.6 West Lothian Council will use Dun and Bradstreet’s DBAi financial reporting system to assess the financial stability of tenderers. Tenderers with a Failure Score of 50 or above on the DBAi system will be deemed to have evidenced satisfactory financial stability. Please note that 49 or less will not be considered as having met this criteria. If a tenderer has a Failure Score of less than 50, the tenderer may be required to submit their last three years accounts.
In the event that the tenderer is not required to publish accounts and therefore does not have a Dun & Bradstreet or equivalent rating, tenderers should be able to provide financial accounts when requested. The council will then conduct an analysis of the accounts to ensure that there is no significant financial risk. Please note that if you intend on attaching 2 years accounts, these must include financial data over a 3-year period.
It is recommended that candidates review their own Dun & Bradstreet Score in advance of submitting their tender. If following this review tenderers consider that the Dun & Bradstreet Score does not reflect their current financial status, details of this should be provided, complete with evidence of a good high street credit rating (the equivalent of Dun & Bradstreet score 50) from a recognised credit referencing agency. The council will review any such information as part of the evaluation of Tenderer’s financial status.
In the event that a firm does not meet the financial criteria for consideration but has a parent company that does, the firm may still be eligible for consideration where their Tender Submission is supported by a Parent Company Guarantee.
Should after review of the financial evaluation the tenderer fail, then the tender submission may be rejected.
With reference to SPD Q4B.5.1a/b; It is a requirement of this contract that bidders hold, or can commit to obtain prior to the commencement of any subsequently awarded contract, the types and levels of insurance indicated below:
Minimum level(s) of standards required:
Employers Liability 5,000,000 GBP (Five Million)
Public liability 5,000,000 GBP (Five Million)
III.2) Conditions related to the contract
III.2.2) Contract performance conditions
Registration and Target Expectations
Lot 1 – Early Engagement and Pre-Employability
- Support 56 NOLB registrations (75% must be *unique registrations)
- Minimum 50% (28 participants) progress to Lot 2 or another appropriate employability intervention
Lot 2 – Progression and In-Work Preparation
- Support 38 NOLB registrations (75% must be *unique registrations)
- In addition, support participants progressing from Lot 1
*Unique registrations are individuals that have not been previously registered by any other NOLB provision in West Lothian. Unique registrations will be verified through the Helix system.
Outcomes
Lot 1 – 50% progressing along employability pipeline
Lot 2 – 50% reaching positive destination (Education, Training, Employment or Volunteering)
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
06/07/2026
Local time: 12:00
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
IV.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 3 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date:
06/07/2026
Local time: 12:00
Place:
Online on PCS-Tender
Information about authorised persons and opening procedure:
WLC Corporate Procurement Unit staff online on PCS-Tender
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
No
VI.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
VI.3) Additional information
Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this ITT exercise. The Project code is 31961. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343
A sub-contract clause has been included in this contract. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2363
Community benefits are included in this requirement. For more information see: https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/community-benefits-in-procurement/
A summary of the expected community benefits has been provided as follows:
Please note: Community Benefits proposals will not form part of the award criteria and will not be evaluated but will be contractual obligations. More information can be found on the council’s website:
- Community Benefits in Procurement
- Community Benefits Wishlist
(SC Ref:833752)
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Livingston Sheriff Court
West Lothian Civic Centre Howden South Road
Livingston
EH54 6FF
UK
Telephone: +44 1506269269
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
05/06/2026