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Contract Notice

Connect to Work Programme

  • First published: 26 March 2025
  • Last modified: 26 March 2025
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Contents

Summary

OCID:
ocds-h6vhtk-04e60f
Published by:
Buckinghamshire Council
Authority ID:
AA79544
Publication date:
26 March 2025
Deadline date:
05 June 2025
Notice type:
Contract Notice
Has documents:
No
Has SPD:
No
Has Carbon Reduction Plan:
N/A

Abstract

Are you passionate about making a difference in the community? Buckinghamshire Council is excited to announce an incredible opportunity to partner with us on the Connect to Work programme. This initiative aims to break down barriers to employment and provide sustainable job opportunities for individuals with complex needs. By joining forces with us, you'll not only help transform lives but also contribute to the growth and productivity of our local economy. Don't miss out on the chance to be part of this impactful project!

What is Connect to Work - The Get Britain Working White Paper, released in November 2024, introduced the key supported employment programme Connect to Work, which aims to help eligible individuals secure sustainable, long-term employment. Currently, it is estimated that there are about 3million economically inactive people in the UK, of whom 1.9million people would like to work, but require support to do so.

In 2023, 9,600 Buckinghamshire residents were economically inactive and wished to work but required support to do so.

Buckinghamshire Council is expected to support 700 individuals (at the peak) at an anticipated cost of £2.9million per year, delivered over an initial three-year period, with the opportunity to extend to 5 years.

Connect to Work will help connect local work, health and skills support and help eligible participants to secure sustainable work through a voluntary supported employment model, adhering to Individual Placement & Support (IPS) and Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) frameworks. Through this, Connect to Work will expand the use of the proven five stage Supported Employment model of 'place, train and maintain'.

How will it be managed and delivered? - Buckinghamshire Council is the Accountable Body for Connect to Work. Working with the Department for Work and Pensions, Buckinghamshire Council will oversee the Connect to Work programme including procuring and managing delivery partner(s) to provide sufficient high-quality support to participants and employers to make the programme a success.

Our ambition is to deliver this programme in partnership with one or more high-quality provider(s), who are able to meet set targets for supporting economically inactive adults in Buckinghamshire into work.

We are looking for delivery partner(s) with considerable and demonstrable experience of providing supported employment programmes which deliver to both individuals with complex barriers, and employers who will provide the sustainable jobs. All partner(s) that succeed in the selection process, must either already deliver IPS and SEQF, have robust training plans or intend to deliver both models in a consortium or subcontracting model which is clearly demonstrated in the application process.

Further, the successful bidders must show developed relationships with employers within Buckinghamshire (or a commutable distance given the target audience) with the ability to identify employment opportunities and support employers to provide successful, sustainable job outcomes.

Further information about the programme and monitoring arrangements which will be required of partners can be found in the :

Further information about the programme and monitoring arrangements which will be required of partners can be found in the:

Connect to Work: Grant Guidance for England - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/connect-to-work/connect-to-work-grant-guidance-for-england

IPS and SEQF delivery models is available below:

https://ipsgrow.org.uk/about/

e- uk.org/SEQF_Model_Fidelity#:~:text=The%20Supported%20Employment%20Quality%20Framework%20%28SEQF%29%20was%20created,in%202017%20as%20part%20of%20an%20ERASMUS%20Project.

Full notice text

Contract notice

Section I: Contracting authority

I.1) Name and addresses

Buckinghamshire Council

Walton Street Offices

Aylesbury

HP20 1UA

UK

Contact person: Mrs Donna Aldridge

Telephone: +44 1296382924

E-mail: Donna.Aldridge@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

NUTS: UKJ13

Internet address(es)

Main address: https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/

Address of the buyer profile: https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/

I.3) Communication

The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:

https://www.supplybucksbusiness.org.uk/bucks/


Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address


Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:

https://www.supplybucksbusiness.org.uk/bucks/


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

Connect to Work Programme

Reference number: DN759423

II.1.2) Main CPV code

80570000

 

II.1.3) Type of contract

Services

II.1.4) Short description

Are you passionate about making a difference in the community? Buckinghamshire Council is excited to announce an incredible opportunity to partner with us on the Connect to Work programme. This initiative aims to break down barriers to employment and provide sustainable job opportunities for individuals with complex needs. By joining forces with us, you'll not only help transform lives but also contribute to the growth and productivity of our local economy. Don't miss out on the chance to be part of this impactful project!

What is Connect to Work - The Get Britain Working White Paper, released in November 2024, introduced the key supported employment programme Connect to Work, which aims to help eligible individuals secure sustainable, long-term employment. Currently, it is estimated that there are about 3million economically inactive people in the UK, of whom 1.9million people would like to work, but require support to do so.

In 2023, 9,600 Buckinghamshire residents were economically inactive and wished to work but required support to do so.

Buckinghamshire Council is expected to support 700 individuals (at the peak) at an anticipated cost of £2.9million per year, delivered over an initial three-year period, with the opportunity to extend to 5 years.

Connect to Work will help connect local work, health and skills support and help eligible participants to secure sustainable work through a voluntary supported employment model, adhering to Individual Placement & Support (IPS) and Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) frameworks. Through this, Connect to Work will expand the use of the proven five stage Supported Employment model of 'place, train and maintain'.

How will it be managed and delivered? - Buckinghamshire Council is the Accountable Body for Connect to Work. Working with the Department for Work and Pensions, Buckinghamshire Council will oversee the Connect to Work programme including procuring and managing delivery partner(s) to provide sufficient high-quality support to participants and employers to make the programme a success.

Our ambition is to deliver this programme in partnership with one or more high-quality provider(s), who are able to meet set targets for supporting economically inactive adults in Buckinghamshire into work.

We are looking for delivery partner(s) with considerable and demonstrable experience of providing supported employment programmes which deliver to both individuals with complex barriers, and employers who will provide the sustainable jobs. All partner(s) that succeed in the selection process, must either already deliver IPS and SEQF, have robust training plans or intend to deliver both models in a consortium or subcontracting model which is clearly demonstrated in the application process.

Further, the successful bidders must show developed relationships with employers within Buckinghamshire (or a commutable distance given the target audience) with the ability to identify employment opportunities and support employers to provide successful, sustainable job outcomes.

Further information about the programme and monitoring arrangements which will be required of partners can be found in the :

Further information about the programme and monitoring arrangements which will be required of partners can be found in the:

Connect to Work: Grant Guidance for England - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/connect-to-work/connect-to-work-grant-guidance-for-england

IPS and SEQF delivery models is available below:

https://ipsgrow.org.uk/about/

e- uk.org/SEQF_Model_Fidelity#:~:text=The%20Supported%20Employment%20Quality%20Framework%20%28SEQF%29%20was%20created,in%202017%20as%20part%20of%20an%20ERASMUS%20Project.

II.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

II.2) Description

II.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS code:

UKJ13

II.2.4) Description of the procurement

Are you passionate about making a difference in the community? Buckinghamshire Council is excited to announce an incredible opportunity to partner with us on the Connect to Work programme. This initiative aims to break down barriers to employment and provide sustainable job opportunities for individuals with complex needs. By joining forces with us, you'll not only help transform lives but also contribute to the growth and productivity of our local economy. Don't miss out on the chance to be part of this impactful project!

Connect to Work is a key pillar in delivering the Skills and Employment Strategy 2024-29 vision:

Buckinghamshire: A place with a future-focused, agile and dynamic employment and skills system that assures the needs of employers, individuals and communities are met in order to contribute to the growth and productivity of the local economy.

What is Connect to Work?

The Get Britain Working White Paper, released in November 2024, introduced the key supported employment programme Connect to Work, which aims to help eligible individuals secure sustainable, long-term employment. Currently, it is estimated that there are about 3million economically inactive people in the UK, of whom 1.9million people would like to work, but require support to do so.

In 2023, 9,600 Buckinghamshire residents were economically inactive and wished to work but required support to do so.

Buckinghamshire Council is expected to support 700 individuals (at the peak) at an anticipated cost of £2.9million per year, delivered over an initial three-year period, with the opportunity to extend to 5 years.

Connect to Work will help connect local work, health and skills support and help eligible participants to secure sustainable work through a voluntary supported employment model, adhering to Individual Placement & Support (IPS) and Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) frameworks. Through this, Connect to Work will expand the use of the proven five stage Supported Employment model of 'place, train and maintain'.

How will it be managed and delivered?

Buckinghamshire Council is the Accountable Body for Connect to Work. Working with the Department for Work and Pensions, Buckinghamshire Council will oversee the Connect to Work programme including procuring and managing delivery partner(s) to provide sufficient high-quality support to participants and employers to make the programme a success.

Our ambition is to deliver this programme in partnership with one or more high-quality provider(s), who are able to meet set targets for supporting economically inactive adults in Buckinghamshire into work.

We are looking for delivery partner(s) with considerable and demonstrable experience of providing supported employment programmes which deliver to both individuals with complex barriers, and employers who will provide the sustainable jobs. All partner(s) that succeed in the selection process, must either already deliver IPS and SEQF, have robust training plans or intend to deliver both models in a consortium or subcontracting model which is clearly demonstrated in the application process.

Further, the successful bidders must show developed relationships with employers within Buckinghamshire (or a commutable distance given the target audience) with the ability to identify employment opportunities and support employers to provide successful, sustainable job outcomes.

Further information about the programme and monitoring arrangements which will be required of partners can be found in the:

Connect to Work: Grant Guidance for England - GOV.UK https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/connect-to-work/connect-to-work-grant-guidance-for-england

Further information regarding IPS and SEQF delivery models is available below:

IPS Grow provides more information about the IPS model, its approach and impact: About IPS - IPS Grow- https://ipsgrow.org.uk/about/

BASE provides more information on the SEQF fidelity model, it’s approach and impact here: Quality in Supported Employment Delivery | British Association for Supported Employment -

https://www.base-uk.org/SEQF_Model_Fidelity#:~:text=The%20Supported%20Employment%20Quality%20Framework%20%28SEQF%29%20was%20created,in%202017%20as%20part%20of%20an%20ERASMUS%20Project.

The Council is conducting the procurement under the "Open Regime" in the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015).

This tender aim is to provide the full tender documentation suite by the 21st April 2025 on the Council's portal www.supplybucksbusiness.org.uk.

Please note that this will allow bidders at least 30 days to review, ask clarification questions and submit their bids timely by the bid submission deadline of 5th June 2025.

If there are any further delays in making the full tender documentation available we will in due course delay the bid submission deadline accordingly to ensure that bidders have at least 30 days to allow them to review, ask clarifications and submit their bids.

II.2.5) Award criteria

Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents

II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Duration in months: 36

This contract is subject to renewal: Yes

Description of renewals:

2 x 12 month extension option

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

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: 05/06/2025

Local time: 12:00

IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted

EN

IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders

Date: 05/06/2025

Local time: 12:00

Section VI: Complementary information

VI.1) Information about recurrence

This is a recurrent procurement: No

VI.3) Additional information

The Council is conducting the procurement under the "Open Regime" in the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015).

This tender aim is to provide the full tender documentation suite by the 21st April 2025 on the Council's portal www.supplybucksbusiness.org.uk.

Please note that this will allow bidders at least 30 days to review, ask clarification questions and submit their bids timely by the bid submission deadline of 5th June 2025.

If there are any further delays in making the full tender documentation available we will in due course delay the bid submission deadline accordingly to ensure that bidders have at least 30 days to allow them to review, ask clarifications and submit their bids.

VI.4) Procedures for review

VI.4.1) Review body

The High Court The Royal Courts Of Justice

London

WC2A 2LL

UK

Internet address(es)

URL: https://www.supplybucksbusiness.org.uk/bucks/

VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice

21/02/2025

Coding

Commodity categories

ID Title Parent category
80570000 Personal development training services Training services

Delivery locations

ID Description
100 UK - All

Alert region restrictions

The buyer has restricted the alert for this notice to suppliers based in the following regions.

ID Description
There are no alert restrictions for this notice.

About the buyer

Main contact:
Donna.Aldridge@buckinghamshire.gov.uk
Admin contact:
N/a
Technical contact:
N/a
Other contact:
N/a

Further information

Date Details
No further information has been uploaded.

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