Planning

Connect to Work Delivery

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

15 May 2025 at 12:57

Summary of the contracting process

Hampshire County Council is in the planning stage of a procurement process titled "Connect to Work Delivery," focused on education and training services. The process, anticipated to be published in Summer 2025, invites suppliers to an online engagement session scheduled for 10 June 2025 via MS Teams. The procurement method utilises a Call-Off from the existing Open Framework for Skills Development for Hampshire (2023-2033). This framework allows suppliers to join and participate in tenders subject to the framework's guidelines. The geographic scope covers Hampshire County, excluding Portsmouth, Southampton, and the Isle of Wight, and the procurement is managed by Hampshire County Council.

This tender opportunity presents significant growth potential for suppliers specialising in supported employment and training services, specifically targeting disabled individuals and disadvantaged groups. The initiative aims to employ an evidence-based approach that would require experienced providers capable of delivering quality employment-related training services across Hampshire. Suppliers already on the Skills Open Framework by the tender's publishing date can leverage this opportunity to expand their service delivery, with estimated contract values potentially reaching £15-20 million, contingent on DWP approval. Businesses adept in handling complex employment barriers and trained in personnel services, career guidance, and adult education would find themselves well-suited to compete for this contract.

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Notice Title

Connect to Work Delivery

Notice Description

This Prior Information Notice (PIN) is to notify interested parties of a future procurement opportunity relating to 'Connect to Work' and invite suppliers to an online market engagement session. Subject to a Grant Funding Agreement from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Hampshire County Council (HCC) aims to use the evidence-based Supported Employment 'place, train and maintain' model to support disabled people, those with health conditions and specified disadvantaged groups with multiple and complex barriers, to gain and maintain or retain employment. For clarity, this opportunity will be a Call-Off from the existing Open Framework for Skills Development for Hampshire 2023-2033 (procured under the Public Contract Regulations 2015) and will not be an openly advertised tender opportunity. Suppliers can join the framework at any time, but only suppliers who have successfully been appointed to the framework by the date of publishing the opportunity, will be eligible to submit a tender. Market Engagement Event - Hampshire County Council is the Accountable Body (AB) for Connect to Work for the full geographical area of the County, excluding the area covered by the unitary authorities of Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight. HCC will be hosting a pre-market engagement event with key partners, stakeholders and interested parties prior to official procurement activities to support shaping our approach to commissioning the programme. The purpose of this online session is to provide a high-level overview of our approach to the Connect to Work commissioning process, specification, and timescales. Once Connect to Work has gone live across Hampshire this Autumn, the Connect to Work Contract Management Team will support and challenge delivery providers to meet contracted profiles enabling HCC to scale up delivery. This will be a 5-year Delivery programme ending in March 2030, so anticipate the contact duration to be around 4 years and 8 months. The estimated maximum value of the call-off contracts will be approximately between PS15-20million, subject to DWP approval. Project Timescales - The Call-Off from the Skills Open Framework is anticipated to be published in the Summer 2025 and will run for approximately 30 days. Interested suppliers will need to apply and be accepted on to the Skills Open Framework in order to be invited to tender. Please visit https://in-tendhost.co.uk/hampshire/aspx/ProjectManage/21827 for more information and click 'Express Interest' in preparation for the future opportunity. This Prior Information Notice (PIN) is to notify interested parties of a future procurement opportunity under an existing framework procured under the Public Contract Regulations 2015. Further details can be found in the Additional Information under Sections 11.2.4 and VI.3 of this notice.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Please note: This notice is to inform the market of an upcoming procurement opportunity. The procurement will be managed via the Council's e-tendering system (In-tend). HCC anticipates to contract with a variety of experienced supported employment delivery providers via a call-off with lots yet to be determined, from the HCC Skills Open Framework. The offer will cover the Hampshire County Council local authority area, excluding the unitary authority areas of Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight. The offer will not be open to other Authorities to access. Additional information: The market engagement event will be used to shape our approach to the lotting structure, the number of lots is subject to change.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-051484
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/021763-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Planning Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

75 - Administration, defence and social security services

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

80 - Education and training services


CPV Codes

75131000 - Government services

79611000 - Job search services

79632000 - Personnel-training services

79634000 - Career guidance services

80000000 - Education and training services

80400000 - Adult and other education services

80510000 - Specialist training services

80521000 - Training programme services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
15 May 20259 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
30 Jul 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
procurement.support@hants.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
WINCHESTER
Postcode
SO23 8UJ
Post Town
Southampton
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ36 Central Hampshire
Delivery Location
TLJ35 South Hampshire, TLJ36 Central Hampshire, TLJ37 North Hampshire

Local Authority
Winchester
Electoral Ward
St Michael
Westminster Constituency
Winchester

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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