Notice Information
Notice Title
Connect To Work Programme
Notice Description
Caerphilly County Borough Council (CCBC) is seeking to engage with the market ahead of a planned commissioning exercise to deliver the Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) model as part of the UK Government's DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) Connect to Work programme. Connect to Work is a voluntary supported employment programme delivered across England and Wales, designed to support disabled people, individuals with health conditions, and people facing complex barriers who are currently outside the labour market and experiencing 'Hidden Unemployment', to find and sustain meaningful employment. [gov.uk] The programme forms a key component of the Government's Get Britain Working Strategy, targeting economic inactivity by offering tailored, intensive, and high-quality employment support at the right time for the right participants. [gov.uk] Participants of the programme must be working-age, eligible, and suitable for the provision. Connect to Work delivers the evidence-based "place, train, and maintain" Supported Employment model. The Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) is designed to support individuals facing complex barriers, disabilities, long-term health conditions, social, emotional, or environmental barriers. Providers must deliver: * High-fidelity Supported Employment aligned with SEQF standards * A "place, train, and maintain" model of support * Intensive one-to-one employment guidance * Vocational profiling and personalised employment planning * Job matching and targeted employer engagement * On- and off-the-job support, including in-work progression coaching * A personalised, strengths-based participant journey * Close integration with community support services to sustain outcomes All Connect to Work delivery partners must adhere to SEQF fidelity scales and participate fully in the DWP-led Fidelity Assurance System. Delivery Partners will be required to undertake fidelity audits, quality checks, and performance reviews, ensuring consistent and evidence-based practice. The value of this tender will be approximate PS1,000,000 EX VAT over the course of the contract; Please note that, due to the required timescales for the successful provider to mobilise and begin delivery, the Year 1 allocation of funds is expected to be slightly lower. Funding will be issued on a yearly basis, with annual allocations confirmed in line with programme requirements, performance, and governance arrangements. It is anticipated that the contract commencement date is 01 June 2026 for a period of four (4) years - contract period will be confirmed in the tender documents. Please note - this is an indicative specification and could change when the tender is released
Planning Information
Caerphilly County Borough Council is undertaking preliminary market engagement with suitable providers who are passionate about supporting disabled people, individuals with health conditions, and people facing complex barriers. The Council is looking to commission services that offer Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) delivery, designed to support individuals facing complex disabilities, long‑term health conditions, social, emotional, or environmental barriers. Participants of the programme must be working age, eligible, and suitable for the provision. Connect to Work delivers the evidence‑based “place, train, and maintain” Supported Employment model. Caerphilly County Borough Council is interested in providers that can demonstrate: • Proven expertise and experience delivering SEQF or similar Supported Employment models and related fidelity assurance • Capacity to deliver intensive, high‑fidelity support • Strong understanding of participant needs, including those with complex barriers • Established employer links and knowledge of local labour market conditions • Skilled Employment Specialists experienced in SEQF delivery • Ability to meet fidelity and performance requirements with robust governance • Commitment to person‑centred, strengths‑based approaches This is an opportunity to work in close partnership with the Council to co-design and deliver services that make a real difference. The Council wants to collaborate with service providers who share our commitment to inclusive, responsive, and empowering support for disabled people, individuals with health conditions, and people facing complex barriers who are currently outside the labour market. This Supplier Engagement aims to: • Assess the capacity, expertise, and readiness of potential programme providers. • Shape future commissioning and procurement activity. • Support the design of a high‑fidelity, high‑quality local delivery model. • Engage with potential programme providers early to ensure clarity of expectations and standards. If your organisation is interested, please can you express an interest for the preliminary supplier engagement as per the guidance set out below ; The Council is holding a preliminary supplier engagement event on Wednesday 18 March 2026 at 10:00 Hours on Microsoft Teams. To register an interest Service Providers must send their request via email to procurement@caerphilly.gov.uk. All requests must be received by 15:00 hours Monday 16 March 2026. Please note that this notice is not a contract notice for a call for competition, it is to advise the market of the Councils intention to visit the market for such services and to commence preliminary market engagement. Full details of the service specification shall be issued with the call for competition and fully detailed in the tender documents.
Notice Details
Publication & Lifecycle
- Open Contracting ID
- ocds-h6vhtk-065fb2
- Publication Source
- Find A Tender Service
- Latest Notice
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018478-2026
- Current Stage
- Planning
- All Stages
- Planning
Procurement Classification
- Notice Type
- UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
- Procurement Type
- Standard
- Procurement Category
- Services
- Procurement Method
- Not Specified
- Procurement Method Details
- Not specified
- Tender Suitability
- SME, VCSE
- Awardee Scale
- Not specified
Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)
- CPV Divisions
80 - Education and training services
85 - Health and social work services
-
- CPV Codes
80521000 - Training programme services
85312300 - Guidance and counselling services
85312310 - Guidance services
85312320 - Counselling services
85312500 - Rehabilitation services
85312510 - Vocational rehabilitation services
Notice Value(s)
- Tender Value
- £998,518 £500K-£1M
- Lots Value
- Not specified
- Awards Value
- Not specified
- Contracts Value
- Not specified
Notice Dates
- Publication Date
- 2 Mar 20261 weeks ago
- Submission Deadline
- Not specified
- Future Notice Date
- 16 Apr 20262 months to go
- Award Date
- Not specified
- Contract Period
- 30 Jun 2026 - 1 Jul 2030 4-5 years
- Recurrence
- Not specified
Notice Status
- Tender Status
- Planning
- Lots Status
- Planning
- Awards Status
- Not Specified
- Contracts Status
- Not Specified
Buyer & Supplier
Contracting Authority (Buyer)
- Main Buyer
- CAERPHILLY COUNTY BOROUGH COUNCIL
- Contact Name
- Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
- Contact Email
- Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
- Contact Phone
- Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Buyer Location
- Locality
- HENGOED
- Postcode
- CF82 7PG
- Post Town
- Cardiff
- Country
- Wales
-
- Major Region (ITL 1)
- TLL Wales
- Basic Region (ITL 2)
- TLL5 South East Wales
- Small Region (ITL 3)
- TLL53 Gwent Valleys
- Delivery Location
- TLL16 Gwent Valleys
-
- Local Authority
- Caerphilly
- Electoral Ward
- Ystrad Mynach
- Westminster Constituency
- Caerphilly
Further Information
Notice Documents
-
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018478-2026
2nd March 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)
View full OCDS Record for this contracting process
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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