- Lot 1a. IPS covering Staffordshire Moorlands and Newcastle under Lyme - North
- Lot 1b. IPS covering Stafford, South Staffordshire and Cannock Chase - Southwest
- Lot 1c. IPS covering Tamworth, East Staffordshire & Lichfield - Southeast
- Lot 2a. SEQF covering Staffordshire Moorlands and Newcastle under Lyme - North
- Lot 2b. SEQF covering Stafford, South Staffordshire and Cannock Chase - Southwest
- Lot 2c. SEQF covering Tamworth, East Staffordshire & Lichfield - Southeast
Scope
Reference
IA3437
Description
Please note: The tender documents are not available at this stage, bidders will be able to obtain them when the tender notice is published, which is approx. 31.07.2025. This notice is just making bidders aware this opportunity is coming up.
The recently launched "Get Britain Working" White Paper outlines the Government's strategy to invest £240m to support this ambition and help improve workplace health and keep people in work, including trials of combined public services for those out of work due to ill health. The strategy will bring fundamental reform that transforms relationships with local areas and ensures a strong foundation of partnership working to support people into good, sustainable work.
Connect to Work is the first major element of the Get Britain Working Strategy. It will take a collaborative, locally led approach to tackling 'Hidden Unemployment'. It will help connect local work, health and skills support. The funding provides a coherent, systematic and joined up approach to maximise the benefits available for individuals and local communities.
Connect to Work will support the wider development of locally planned systems to drive growth, working jointly with the Government. It will be an important strand in local plans to tackle inactivity and expand employment opportunity. By encouraging join up between health systems and employment support, Connect to Work will support those, primarily, currently outside the workforce and facing greater labour market disadvantages, to stay in work and get back into work. In turn, supporting the Government's ambition for a more inclusive economy, supporting local people to realise their potential and supporting local and national growth.
Connect to Work will provide out of work participants with intensive employment support for up to 12 months. It will also include support for up to 4 months for people in-work who are at risk of losing their job. The support will be based on the well evidenced Individual Placement and Support (IPS) or Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) Fidelity models as appropriate to the participant. Help will include early access to jobs based on job preferences, access to a wide range of support including job and skills matching, on the job training and help to sustain employment, which might include job coaching at work, training, support from a workplace mentor and regular workplace reviews. Support will be provided to the employer as well as the participant. Connect to Work will also provide tailored self-employment support where appropriate.
The planned duration of the programme is 5 years commencing 2025/26 and completing at the end of 2029/30 subject to government spending reviews.
The key objective of the forthcoming Invitation to Tender is to enter into a framework agreement with Providers to provide services to Staffordshire County Council to enable it to place orders via lots for the delivery of the Connect to Work programme in accordance with the latest guidance documents and technical notes published by DWP.
The total programme starts targets for Staffordshire for the 5 year period 2025/26 to 2029/30 are 3,334 (2,501 IPS starts, 833 SEQF starts.)
The total out of work/in work starts targets for Staffordshire for the 5 year period 2025/26 to 2029/30 are 2,834 Out of Work, 500 In Work.
The estimated total value of this procurement is £10,708,010 over 5 years 2025/26 to 2029/30 subject to government spending review. (VAT costs do not constitute Allowable Costs, and the Delivery Partner shall not claim any VAT under the Call-off contracts.)
The £10,708,010 figure reflects the total value of this procurement that SCC may deploy as part of this activity including any possible contract extensions. The value of the procurement has been calculated to reflect the anticipated requirement for the Services as specified at this time.
Commercial tool
Establishes a framework
Total value (estimated)
- £10,708,010 excluding VAT
- £12,849,612 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 3 November 2025 to 31 March 2030
- 4 years, 4 months, 28 days
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 80000000 - Education and training services
Contract locations
- UKG2 - Shropshire and Staffordshire
Lot 1a. IPS covering Staffordshire Moorlands and Newcastle under Lyme - North
Description
Providing Individual Placement Support (IPS) covering Staffordshire Moorlands and Newcastle under Lyme - North.
Lot value (estimated)
- £10,708,010 excluding VAT
- £12,849,612 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
Same for all lots
CPV classifications, contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 1b. IPS covering Stafford, South Staffordshire and Cannock Chase - Southwest
Description
Providing Individual Placement Support (IPS) covering Stafford, South Staffordshire and Cannock Chase - Southwest.
Lot value (estimated)
- £10,708,010 excluding VAT
- £12,849,612 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
Same for all lots
CPV classifications, contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 1c. IPS covering Tamworth, East Staffordshire & Lichfield - Southeast
Description
Providing Individual Placement Support (IPS) covering Tamworth, East Staffordshire & Lichfield - Southeast.
Lot value (estimated)
- £10,708,010 excluding VAT
- £12,849,612 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
Same for all lots
CPV classifications, contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 2a. SEQF covering Staffordshire Moorlands and Newcastle under Lyme - North
Description
Providing Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) covering Staffordshire Moorlands and Newcastle under Lyme - North.
Lot value (estimated)
- £10,708,010 excluding VAT
- £12,849,612 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
Same for all lots
CPV classifications, contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 2b. SEQF covering Stafford, South Staffordshire and Cannock Chase - Southwest
Description
Providing Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) covering Stafford, South Staffordshire and Cannock Chase - Southwest
Lot value (estimated)
- £10,708,010 excluding VAT
- £12,849,612 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
Same for all lots
CPV classifications, contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 2c. SEQF covering Tamworth, East Staffordshire & Lichfield - Southeast
Description
Providing Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) covering Tamworth, East Staffordshire & Lichfield - Southeast
Lot value (estimated)
- £10,708,010 excluding VAT
- £12,849,612 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
Same for all lots
CPV classifications, contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Framework
Maximum number of suppliers
Unlimited
Maximum percentage fee charged to suppliers
0%
Framework operation description
The Framework Agreement allows the Council to either Direct Award to the Highest ranked Framework Provider per lot or run a Further Competition inviting all suppliers on a particular lot the opportunity to bid.
Award method when using the framework
Either with or without competition
Contracting authorities that may use the framework
Establishing party only
Participation
Particular suitability
Lot 1a. IPS covering Staffordshire Moorlands and Newcastle under Lyme - North
Lot 1b. IPS covering Stafford, South Staffordshire and Cannock Chase - Southwest
Lot 1c. IPS covering Tamworth, East Staffordshire & Lichfield - Southeast
Lot 2a. SEQF covering Staffordshire Moorlands and Newcastle under Lyme - North
Lot 2b. SEQF covering Stafford, South Staffordshire and Cannock Chase - Southwest
Lot 2c. SEQF covering Tamworth, East Staffordshire & Lichfield - Southeast
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Submission
Publication date of tender notice (estimated)
31 July 2025
Enquiry deadline
1 September 2025, 11:59pm
Tender submission deadline
8 September 2025, 12:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
The tender opportunity will be undertaken through Staffordshire County Councils e-tendering system 'Proactis'.
https://supplierlive.proactisp2p.com/Account/Login
You can register an account (if you haven't already) to save time when the tender goes live.
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
3 October 2025
Award criteria
| Name | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Quality | Quality | 80% |
| Price | Price | 20% |
Other information
Description of risks to contract performance
Local Government Re-organisation
1.1 In December 2024 the Government issued a White Paper on Local Government Re-Organisation entitled the "English Devolution White Paper".
1.2 In March 2025 Staffordshire County Council submitted their suggested re-organisation plan to the Government and are awaiting a response.
1.3 Final proposals will be submitted in November 2025 and implementation of the changes is expected by Government to be by 2028 at the earliest.
1.4 Whilst the expected impact of most changes to Local Government will be settled at Government Level (Change in Law) please be aware that it may be government policy or expedient that any affected party will be recommended to agree bi-lateral or multi-lateral changes to their existing contractual arrangements.
1.5 Updates on proposals and changes can be found on the Staffordshire County Council Website and at other media outlets
2 The parties agree that in the event of a Local Government Re-organisation:-
2.1 that reorganisation of local authorities may result in the transfer assignment or novation of this Agreement in whole or in part to a successor authority or successor authorities. Such transfer assignment or novation shall not constitute a breach or require consent and the [contracting party] consents to the transfer assignment or novation of this Agreement in whole or in parts to any successor authority(ies) established under the local government reorganisation legislation and that as a consequence the obligations and rights under this Agreement shall continue to apply and be enforceable by or against any successor authority(ies) following a local government reorganisation; and
2.2 the parties acknowledge that if applicable the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 may apply and agree to comply with all consequential and reasonable obligations arising thereunder
2.3 the parties acknowledge that any new organisation(s) may utilise or create and manage all and any existing or required framework agreements relating to the provision of the [goods and] services provided under this current agreement.
Applicable trade agreements
- Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
Procedure
Procedure type
Open procedure
Special regime
Light touch
Documents
Associated tender documents
SCC E-Tendering Portal User Guide.pdf
SCC E-Tendering Portal User Guide.pdf
Contracting authority
Staffordshire County Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PZDG-2995-QQMD
1 Staffordshire Place, Tipping Street,
Stafford
ST16 2DH
United Kingdom
Telephone: +441785277116
Email: michelle.davies@staffordshire.gov.uk
Website: https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk
Region: UKG24 - Staffordshire CC
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government