Tender for the Provision of Connect to Work Programme Sep 2025
Estimated value
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Awarded value
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Suppliers
1
Lots
1
Published
20 Feb 2026
Description
As part of the UK Government’s Get Britain Working agenda, Buckinghamshire Council has been working in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions to develop the key supported employment programme Connect to Work. Connect to Work will depend on successful partnerships with referral partners, employers, employability providers and community services. The support to be made available aligns with local work, health and skills provision to enable individuals to reach their potential through different opportunities, and for employers to grow. Through this tender, we seek to appoint one delivery partner with a proven track record of delivering effective supported employment programmes so that participants with complex barriers can access sustainable employment, employers may access a new pool of talent, and through this, our economy will thrive.
Scope
- Reference
- DN759424
- Commercial tool
- Standalone contract
- Contract dates
- 31 Mar 2026 to 01 Mar 2030
- CPV classifications
- 80000000
Award criteria
Criteria the buyer will use to evaluate bids.
| Name | Description | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple description | Evaluation Criteria Weighting 40% Organisations experience, facilities, expertise and qualifications to deliver the Connect to Work programme. Participant support This should include: 1. Organisational experience of delivering employment support programmes utilising the IPS and/or SEQF fidelity framework, including any fidelity assessments undertaken to date including Case studies of previous experience of participant support in supported employment programmes must be included. 2. Named personnel and their experience in delivering supported employment opportunities – including IPS/SEQF qualifications including a plan to gain IPS/SEQF qualification if required, or how this will be supported. Outline of the programme of support for: o Out of work participants on the IPS pathway o Out of work participants on the SEQF pathway o In-work (retention) participants on the IPS pathway o In-work (retention) participants on the SEQF pathway 3. Outline of the wrap-around support to sustain the participant throughout the programme. 4. Approach to ensuring that Buckinghamshire residents are targeted and supported with the focus within the Opportunity Bucks wards. 30% Organisations experience, facilities, expertise and qualifications to deliver the Connect to Work programme. Employer support This should include: 1. Organisational experience of delivering employment support programmes with job matching to employers for live, competitive vacancies including the Case studies of previous experience of employer support in supported employment programmes. 2. Named personnel and their experience in engaging employers to deliver outcomes. Also outline of the available support to upskill the employer in supporting individuals with complex barriers throughout the programme. 3. Approach to engaging the Buckinghamshire employers with the focus within the Opportunity Bucks wards. Proposed Approach and Methodologies, including: 30% 1. Project plan which details scoping the project, preparing materials, meeting deadlines including the following: • Named project manager within the team • Delivery partners where known/anticipated (List all known subcontractors anticipated to be involved in the delivery of programme) • Approach to engaging participants and employers • Approach to meeting participant numbers and ability to ramp up delivery to meet peak demand. Number of participants to be engaged on: o Out of work participants on the IPS pathway o Out of work participants on the SEQF pathway o In-work (retention) participants on the IPS pathway o In-work (retention) participants on the SEQF pathway 2. Number of participants to be sustained to outcome 3 3. Customer journey 4. Risk register Pricing The expected funding allocation for the services is set out in the Specification. (Not Scored) | price | — |
Submission & procedure
- Procedure
- Open procedure
Award details
Awarded supplier(s), contract period and value as published in the award notice.
Awarded value
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Award date
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Contract start
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Contract end
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