Planning

South Midlands Connect to Work Programme (Milton Keynes Area)

  • Milton Keynes City Council

UK2: Preliminary market engagement notice - Procurement Act 2023 - view information about notice types

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-058119

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-059e24

Published 19 September 2025, 1:04pm



Scope

Reference

2025-256

Description

Milton Keynes City Council ('the Council') would like to engage with potential providers for a Connect to Work Programme to help tackle economic inactivity.

The Connect to Work Programme (CTW) is a grant funded initiative from the Department of Work & Pensions (DWP) targeting the 'economically inactive' in local areas. CTW forms part of the Government's strategy 'Get Britain Working' and it aims to help annually around 93,000 disabled people, those with health conditions and people with complex barriers to seek and find sustainable employment each year.

Milton Keynes City Council is working as part of the South Midlands regional group of local authorities, including West and North Northants, Central Beds, Beds Borough and Luton Councils. West Northants are the accountable body for the region and have decentralised their model to allow for localism and areas to meet the needs of their demographic. Each LA has created their own delivery plan and grant cost register to feed into the regional ones.

We are keen to hear from providers on the following questions. Please respond to the attached document latest by 5pm on 7th October 2025 via In-Tend Correspondence section/market engagement stage.

If there is sufficient interest in a market engagement event to explore the proposal in more detail, this will be held on 14th October 2025, via Microsoft Teams. Please also indicate in your response to the Market Engagement if you would like to receive an invitation which will be sent separately subject to interest.

The Market Engagement document can be accessed on our e-tendering portal: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/milton-keynes/aspx/Home

Total value (estimated)

  • £1,520,000 excluding VAT
  • £1,900,000 including VAT

Contract dates (estimated)

  • 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029
  • 3 years

Main procurement category

Services

CPV classifications

  • 80500000 - Training services
  • 85000000 - Health and social work services
  • 85300000 - Social work and related services

Contract locations

  • UKJ12 - Milton Keynes

Engagement

Engagement deadline

7 October 2025

Engagement process description

Milton Keynes City Council ('the Council') would like to engage with potential providers for a Connect to Work Programme to help tackle economic inactivity.

The Connect to Work Programme (CTW) is a grant funded initiative from the Department of Work & Pensions (DWP) targeting the 'economically inactive' in local areas. CTW forms part of the Government's strategy 'Get Britain Working' and it aims to help annually around 93,000 disabled people, those with health conditions and people with complex barriers to seek and find sustainable employment each year.

Milton Keynes City Council is working as part of the South Midlands regional group of local authorities, including West and North Northants, Central Beds, Beds Borough and Luton Councils. West Northants are the accountable body for the region and have decentralised their model to allow for localism and areas to meet the needs of their demographic. Each LA has created their own delivery plan and grant cost register to feed into the regional ones.

We are keen to hear from providers on the following questions. Please respond to the attached document latest by 5pm on 7th October 2025 via In-Tend Correspondence section/market engagement stage.

If there is sufficient interest in a market engagement event to explore the proposal in more detail, this will be held on 14th October 2025, via Microsoft Teams. Please also indicate in your response to the Market Engagement if you would like to receive an invitation which will be sent separately subject to interest.

The Market Engagement document can be accessed on our e-tendering portal: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/milton-keynes/aspx/Home


Participation

Particular suitability

  • Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
  • Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)

Submission

Publication date of tender notice (estimated)

1 November 2025


Procedure

Special regime

Light touch


Contracting authority

Milton Keynes City Council

  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PLDZ-6131-PWZH

Civic Offices, 1 Saxon Gate East

Milton Keynes

MK9 3EJ

United Kingdom

Contact name: Procurement Team

Telephone: 01908691691

Email: corporateprocurement@milton-keynes.gov.uk

Website: https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/

Region: UKJ12 - Milton Keynes

Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government