Scope
Description
West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), in partnership with City of Wolverhampton Council, Dudley MBC, Sandwell, MBC and Walsall MBC are pleased to announce their intention to procure Supported Employment provision for disabled residents, residents with long-term health conditions, and other agreed disadvantaged groups with complex barriers to sustain work.
Set out in the Adults Skills and Employment Functional Strategy https://governance.wmca.org.uk/documents/s23891/Appendix 3 Functional Strategies Merged.pdf, our ambition is to develop an integrated employment and skills system that stimulates economic growth and delivers better outcomes for residents and businesses. Central to realising this is the flexibility we have secured as part of our deeper devolution deal, which gives the WMCA further policy influence with our system partners DWP and DfE, and control over adult skills and employment spending through the Integrated Settlement.
The opportunity created by the Get Britain Working White Paper paves the way for further devolved responsibility for employment support working in partnership with DWP. Demonstrated through a devolved role in supported employment through the new Connect to Work programme and stronger role in partnership with DWP to deliver better outcomes for residents, it will further enable us to deliver our ambition for an integrated system that meets residents' needs, especially those disadvantaged in the labour market through ill health or disability, in alignment with the region's three Integrated Care Board's WorkWell pilots.
Through Integrated Settlement, WMCA has secured £5.72million to support up to 1400 participants to sustain work through the delivery of Individual Placement & Support (IPS) and Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) models in 2025-26, with the potential to extend and scale up delivery in subsequent years. WMCA's Adult Skills & Employment Functional Strategy is available online through the following link: https://www.wmca.org.uk/documents/integrated-settlement/adult-skills-employment-functional-strategy/ with WMCA's approach to Connect to Work outlined in the Connect to Work Business Justification Case found here: https://governance.wmca.org.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=135&MId=1228&Ver=4
Total value (estimated)
- £6,360,000 excluding VAT
- £7,632,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 September 2025 to 31 January 2027
- Possible extension to 31 January 2030
- 4 years, 5 months
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 85140000 - Miscellaneous health services
Contract locations
- UKG37 - Sandwell
- UKG36 - Dudley
- UKG39 - Wolverhampton
- UKG38 - Walsall
Engagement
Engagement deadline
2 June 2025
Engagement process description
We invite organisations who can deliver Supported Employment interventions in the Black Country area to attend our information session on 2nd June 2025 3.30pm - 4.30pm via Teams to learn more about the procurement opportunity.
Please register using this link: https://assets-gbr.mkt.dynamics.com/a3b85b0d-c453-4680-af2a-330420e03125/digitalassets/standaloneforms/3ee9558e-e002-ef11-9f89-002248c822e6?readableEventId=WMCA_Connect_to_Work_-_Black_Country_Market_Engagement1564149866
Participation
Particular suitability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Submission
Publication date of tender notice (estimated)
30 August 2025
Contracting authority
West Midlands Combined Authority
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PGMD-1353-PZVX
16 Summer Lane
Birmingham
B19 3SD
United Kingdom
Email: procurement.team@wmca.org.uk
Website: http://www.WMCA.org.uk
Region: UKG31 - Birmingham
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government
Other organisations
These organisations are carrying out the procurement, or part of it, on behalf of the contracting authorities.
City of Wolverhampton Council
Summary of their role in this procurement: Evaluation of Tenders
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PVBV-7568-LBLL
Civic Centre, St Peters Square
Wolverhampton
WV1 1SH
United Kingdom
Email: Julie.obada@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Website: http://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk
Region: UKG39 - Wolverhampton
Walsall MBC
Summary of their role in this procurement: Evaluation of Tenders
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PHGR-7481-DHXR
Civic Centre
Walsall
WS1 1XU
United Kingdom
Email: Jane.Kaur-Gill@walsall.gov.uk
Website: http://go.walsall.gov.uk
Region: UKG38 - Walsall
Dudley MBC
Summary of their role in this procurement: Evaluation of Tenders
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PWYJ-3537-GLBW
The Council House, Priory Road
Dudley
DY1 1HF
United Kingdom
Email: Viv.Webb@dudley.gov.uk
Website: http://www.dudley.gov.uk/
Region: UKG36 - Dudley
Sandwell MBC
Summary of their role in this procurement: Evaluation of Tenders
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PJHD-8764-YRJJ
Sandwell Council House, Freeth Street
Oldbury
B69 3DE
United Kingdom
Email: kelly_harris@sandwell.gov.uk
Website: http://www.sandwell.gov.uk/
Region: UKG37 - Sandwell