Scope
Reference
NCCT43197
Description
Are you passionate about making a difference in the community?
Norfolk County 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.
What is Connect to Work - The Get Britain Working White Paper - GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/get-britain-working-white-paper/get-britain-working-white-paper#joint-ministerial-foreword) , 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 3 million economically inactive people in the UK, of whom 1.9million people would like to work, but require support to do so.
Norfolk County Council is expected to support 1200 individuals (annually in peak years) at an anticipated and average cost of £3.6million per year, delivered over an initial three-year period, with the opportunity to extend to 4.5 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?
Norfolk County Council is the Accountable Body for Connect to Work. Working with the Department for Work and Pensions, Norfolk County 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 high-quality provider(s), who are able to meet set targets for supporting economically inactive adults across Norfolk into work.
We are looking for delivery partner(s) with demonstrable experience of providing employment support which delivers to both individuals with complex barriers, and employers who will provide the sustainable jobs. All partner(s) that succeed in the selection process will deliver the IPS approach in supporting participants and clearly demonstrate their capacity to do so in the application process.
Successful bidders will illustrate their capacity to integrate Connect to Work in chosen locality(s), aligning the programme effectively to local community/VCSE and primary care health settings. Providers will engage with participants directly, establishing visible referral opportunities for the range of eligible programme participants.
Further, the successful bidders must show developed relationships with employers within the chosen (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 -https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/connect-to-work/connect-to-work-grant-guidance-for-england
The IPS delivery model is available below:
Previous Engagement
NCC have previously introduced the emerging Connect to Work programme, on the occasions below:
The Great Yarmouth Health & Wellbeing Partnership (17th March 2025)
VCSE Workshop (29th January 2025)
These events were primarily introducing discussion on the Get Britain Working Local Plan, the overarching employment strategy, of which Connect to Work will play an important delivery role.
Total value (estimated)
- £8,804,400 excluding VAT
- £10,565,280 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 25 August 2025 to 26 August 2028
- Possible extension to 24 August 2030
- 5 years
Description of possible extension:
2 x 1 year
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 98110000 - Services furnished by business, professional and specialist organisations
- 98000000 - Other community, social and personal services
- 79600000 - Recruitment services
- 79611000 - Job search services
Lot constraints
Maximum number of lots a supplier can be awarded: 2
Description of how multiple lots may be awarded:
Applicants may apply for each/all lots as proposed, but a maximum of two lots will be awarded to a single delivery partner.
Lot LOT-0001. 1
Description
North Norfolk
Lot value (estimated)
- £606,100 excluding VAT
- £727,320 including VAT
Same for all lots
CPV classifications and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot LOT-0002. 2
Description
Breckland
Lot value (estimated)
- £1,516,700 excluding VAT
- £1,820,040 including VAT
Same for all lots
CPV classifications and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot LOT-0003. 3
Description
Broadland & South Norfolk
Lot value (estimated)
- £1,215,100 excluding VAT
- £1,458,120 including VAT
Same for all lots
CPV classifications and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot LOT-0004. 4
Description
King's Lynn & West Norfolk
Lot value (estimated)
- £1,516,700 excluding VAT
- £1,820,040 including VAT
Same for all lots
CPV classifications and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot LOT-0005. 5
Description
Great Yarmouth
Lot value (estimated)
- £1,821,200 excluding VAT
- £2,185,440 including VAT
Same for all lots
CPV classifications and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot LOT-0006. 6
Description
Norwich
Lot value (estimated)
- £2,128,600 excluding VAT
- £2,554,320 including VAT
Same for all lots
CPV classifications and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Participation
Legal and financial capacity conditions of participation
Lot LOT-0001. 1
Lot LOT-0002. 2
Lot LOT-0003. 3
Lot LOT-0004. 4
Lot LOT-0005. 5
Lot LOT-0006. 6
Form B & Form C in the Invitation to Tender (ITT)
Technical ability conditions of participation
Lot LOT-0001. 1
Lot LOT-0002. 2
Lot LOT-0003. 3
Lot LOT-0004. 4
Lot LOT-0005. 5
Lot LOT-0006. 6
Form F in the Invitation to Tender (ITT)
Particular suitability
Lot LOT-0001. 1
Lot LOT-0002. 2
Lot LOT-0003. 3
Lot LOT-0004. 4
Lot LOT-0005. 5
Lot LOT-0006. 6
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Submission
Tender submission deadline
30 July 2025, 12:59am
Submission address and any special instructions
All correspondence and clarifications regarding the procurement should go through In-Tend: http://In-Tendhost.co.uk/norfolkcc
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
23 August 2025
Award criteria
| Name | Description | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| F1.2 Participant Engagement | Participants of this programme may face multiple inequalities. Organisations will need to take equality into consideration and demonstrate how they will engage with residents often most disadvantaged... |
Quality | 25% |
| F1.3 Stakeholder Engagement/Local Integration | Please describe how you will engage with the key stakeholders in the Locality or Localities for your which your applying, ensuring referral routes and any additional support measures are available to... |
Quality | 25% |
| F1.1 The Service | Please describe how you propose to deliver this service in line with • the IPS fidelity requirements set out in Annex 2a to the Service Specification, • the Service Specification as a whole, and... |
Quality | 20% |
| F1.4 Project implementation and Performance | Please describe how you will ready the service for start on 1 October 2025, allowing for staff training, and provide a project plan highlighting key dates, dependencies and milestones, and any... |
Quality | 20% |
| F1.5 Social Value | Please provide a method statement as to how you will provide social value and impact from the Locality/s provision. In line with DWP priorities we would anticipate the Tackling of Economic Inactivity... |
Quality | 10% |
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Open procedure
Documents
Associated tender documents
Specification for Connect to Work Final.docx
Specification
Annex 01 Participant Journey Final.docx
Annex 01
Annex 02a - IPS-Fidelity-Scale Final.pdf
Annex 02a
Annex 02b - SEQF Model Fidelity Assessment Guide Final.pdf
Annex 02b
Annex 02c - SEQF vs IPS Fidelity Final.docx
Annex 02c
Annex 03 Childcare and Replacement Caring Costs Final.docx
Annex 03
Annex 04 Monthly Performance Profiles Final.xlsx
Annex 04
Annex 05 - Connect to Work - Technical Note - MI Information Note Final.pdf
Annex 05
Annex 06 Performance Management Framework Final.docx
Annex 06
Annex 07 Data Processing Schedule Final.docx
Annex 07
Annex 08 CtW Brand Guidelines Final.pdf
Annex 08
Annex 09 Example Job Description - Employment Specialist Final.docx
Annex 09
Annex 10 Allowable Costs Final.docx
Annex 10
Appendix A - Financial Submission Final.xlsx
Appendix A
NCCT43197-Standard Terms and Conditions Final.docx
Terms and Conditions
NCCT41397 ITT for Connect to Work Final.docx
ITT for Connect to Work
Contracting authority
Norfolk County Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PDYH-3246-XWTR
County Hall, Martineau Lane
Norwich
NR1 2DH
United Kingdom
Email: sourcingteam@norfolk.gov.uk
Region: UKH15 - Norwich and East Norfolk
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government