Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Greater Manchester Combined Authority
GMCA Offices, 1st Floor, Churchgate House, 56 Oxford Street
Manchester
M1 6EU
Contact
Ms Emily Taylor
ewsframework@greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKD3 - Greater Manchester
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
one.5) Main activity
General public services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
GMCA1409 - Working Well: Individual Placement & Support in Primary Care (IPSPC)
Reference number
DN765688
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 80000000 - Education and training services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) looked to procure a lead provider to deliver the Working Well: Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care (WW: IPSPC) service for Greater Manchester (GM) residents. Funded via GMCA’s Integrated Settlement allocation for employment support, the service will provide support for 2,000 GM residents between May 2025 and 31st March 2027. Referrals to WW: IPSPC for both out-of-work and in-work participants can be accepted up to the end of March 2026.
The budget for the initial period of the contract (end-May 2025 to 31st March 2027) is a maximum of £5,000,000. The contract also includes provision for a 12-month extension up to 31st March 2028 with an additional maximum value of £2,400,000. This would bring the potential total lifetime value of the contract to a maximum of £7,400,000.
The WW: IPSPC service will sit within the Working Well suite of programmes and delivery is expected to take place in co-locations within a range of primary and community NHS health services. Participants will come from two distinct cohorts:
1) Out-of-work participants with a health condition, disability, or who are experiencing disadvantage and require assistance and support to move into competitive employment.
2) In-work participants who are off sick or struggling in the workplace due to their disability, health condition, or disadvantage and require assistance and support to return to or retain employment.
WW: IPSPC builds on the successful Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model, derived from Supported Employment. The service will support individuals with a physical or mental health disability, or those in a specified disadvantaged group.
The model moves away from a ‘train and place’ model that focuses on job readiness, to a ‘place, train, maintain’ model focused on engagement with employers to make jobs possible - that is real jobs with real pay. Evidence shows consistently that this approach, with its focus on rapid job search, is more effective than a step-by-step pathway to employment for certain cohorts of people.
This opportunity was commissioned as a further competition/call off from the GMCA Education, Work and Skills Flexible Procurement System.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £7,400,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKD3 - Greater Manchester
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) looked to procure a lead provider to deliver the Working Well: Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care (WW: IPSPC) service for Greater Manchester (GM) residents. Funded via GMCA’s Integrated Settlement allocation for employment support, the service will provide support for 2,000 GM residents between May 2025 and 31st March 2027. Referrals to WW: IPSPC for both out-of-work and in-work participants can be accepted up to the end of March 2026.
The budget for the initial period of the contract (end-May 2025 to 31st March 2027) is a maximum of £5,000,000. The contract also includes provision for a 12-month extension up to 31st March 2028 with an additional maximum value of £2,400,000. This would bring the potential total lifetime value of the contract to a maximum of £7,400,000.
The WW: IPSPC service will sit within the Working Well suite of programmes and delivery is expected to take place in co-locations within a range of primary and community NHS health services. Participants will come from two distinct cohorts:
1) Out-of-work participants with a health condition, disability, or who are experiencing disadvantage and require assistance and support to move into competitive employment.
2) In-work participants who are off sick or struggling in the workplace due to their disability, health condition, or disadvantage and require assistance and support to return to or retain employment.
WW: IPSPC builds on the successful Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model, derived from Supported Employment. The service will support individuals with a physical or mental health disability, or those in a specified disadvantaged group.
The model moves away from a ‘train and place’ model that focuses on job readiness, to a ‘place, train, maintain’ model focused on engagement with employers to make jobs possible - that is real jobs with real pay. Evidence shows consistently that this approach, with its focus on rapid job search, is more effective than a step-by-step pathway to employment for certain cohorts of people.
This opportunity was commissioned as a further competition/call off from the GMCA Education, Work and Skills Flexible Procurement System.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Delivery Model / Weighting: 25
Quality criterion - Name: Engagement and Stakeholder Management / Weighting: 15
Quality criterion - Name: Mobilisation and Implementation / Weighting: 10
Quality criterion - Name: Performance and Contract Management / Weighting: 15
Quality criterion - Name: IPS Grow / Fidelity Reviews / Weighting: 5
Quality criterion - Name: Social Value / Weighting: 20
Cost criterion - Name: Value for Money / Weighting: 10
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Restricted procedure
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2020/S 175-423970
Section five. Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
14 May 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
THE GROWTH COMPANY LIMITED
Lee House, 90,Great Bridgewater Street,
Manchester
M1 5JQ
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKD3 - Greater Manchester
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £7,400,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
High Court of England and Wales
London
Country
United Kingdom