Planning

Delivery of Wirral Council's Connect to Work Individual Placement Support (IPS) Programme

  • Wirral Council

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

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-080298

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-05f00d

Published 5 December 2025, 4:01pm



Scope

Description

Wirral Borough Council (the "Council") is looking for a provider to deliver under contract, the Individual Placement Support (IPS) element of LCR's Connect to Work Connect programme.

The value of Wirral's IPS Fund is an estimated £4,064,000.

Connect to Work is a voluntary programme to help tackle economic inactivity by providing a specific form of support targeted at the right people at the right time, based on their individual circumstances. Participants must be both eligible and suitable for the provision. Connect to Work will deliver the evidence-based Supported Employment model, 'place, train, and maintain'. The IPS element of Connect to Work will give particular attention to helping residents who because of their situation, are more likely to face significant disadvantage when trying to gain employment.

Total value (estimated)

  • £4,064,000 including VAT

Above the relevant threshold

Contract dates (estimated)

  • 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029
  • Possible extension to 31 March 2030
  • 4 years

Main procurement category

Services

CPV classifications

  • 80000000 - Education and training services

Contract locations

  • UKD74 - Wirral

Engagement

Engagement deadline

16 December 2025

Engagement process description

Wirral Council is looking for a provider to deliver under contract, the Individual Placement Support (IPS) element of LCR's Connect to Work Connect programme.

Connect to Work is a voluntary programme to help tackle economic inactivity by providing a specific form of support targeted at the right people at the right time, based on their individual circumstances. Participants must be both eligible and suitable for the provision. Connect to Work will deliver the evidence-based Supported Employment model, 'place, train, and maintain'. The IPS element of Connect to Work will give particular attention to helping residents who because of their situation, are more likely to face significant disadvantage when trying to gain employment. An online pre-market engagement is taking place as per the details below via Eventbrite.

Event Details of Engagement Event

Date: Tuesday 16th December 2025 10:00am - 12:00pm

Time: 10:00am - 12:00pm (Online - MS Teams)

Link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1977020147481?aff=oddtdtcreator


Participation

Particular suitability

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

Submission

Publication date of tender notice (estimated)

2 January 2026


Procedure

Special regime

Light touch


Contracting authority

Wirral Council

  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PBCP-8675-BHWT

Town Hall, Brighton Street

Wallasey

CH44 8ED

United Kingdom

Region: UKD74 - Wirral

Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government