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Connect to Work Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) Programme

Caerphilly County Borough Council

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Tender

08 Oct 2026 at 11:39

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

02 Mar 2026 at 13:54

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Caerphilly County Borough Council is buying delivery of the Connect to Work Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) programme. The service uses an evidence-based “place, train and maintain” model to help working-age people who are eligible for support—including disabled people, people with long-term health conditions and people facing complex social, emotional or environmental barriers—to find and sustain meaningful employment. This is tailored employment support for people outside the labour market, rather than general recruitment or training alone. The service falls within supported employment, vocational rehabilitation and related guidance and counselling services (CPV 85312510). Delivery is for the Council in Caerphilly County Borough, Wales.

The Council invited offers through an open tender procedure. The procurement is divided into one lot, with bids evaluated on quality (80%) and price (20%); quality comprises the tender response (30%) and interview (50%). The technical selection requirements are those in the tender documents. The enquiry deadline was 27 October 2026 at 17:00, and the submission deadline was 3 November 2026 at 12:00. The stated contract period runs from 18 January to 31 March 2027, with an option to extend annually for up to 36 months, to a latest end date of 31 March 2030. The estimated value is £1,034,083 excluding VAT (£1,240,899.60 including VAT). The planned award decision date was 14 December 2026.

The opportunity suits organisations experienced in supported employment, vocational rehabilitation or closely related employment support for people with disabilities, health conditions and complex barriers. Strong candidates will be able to apply the SEQF model, or a comparable approach, with fidelity and provide intensive, high-quality support that helps participants move into and remain in meaningful work. Relevant strengths include person-centred, strengths-based practice; skilled employment specialists; understanding of participant needs; established employer relationships and knowledge of local labour-market conditions. Providers will also need the organisational capacity, governance and performance management to deliver consistently against fidelity and service standards. The procurement identifies the work as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprises, making it relevant to specialist and mission-led providers as well as larger employment-service organisations.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Connect to Work Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) Programme

Notice Description

Caerphilly County Borough Council is inviting applications from suitably qualified and experienced Organisation's 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. 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. 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. Tenderers will be required to submit responses in accordance with the requirements set out within the procurement documentation. Submissions will be evaluated against the published criteria. Full details can be found in the Invitiation to Tender (ITT) Pack

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: option to extend for up to a period of thirty-six (36) months, extended on annual basis

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/095121-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

80 - Education and training services

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

79610000 - Placement services of personnel

80521000 - Training programme services

80590000 - Tutorial services

85300000 - Social work and related services

85312300 - Guidance and counselling services

85312320 - Counselling services

85312510 - Vocational rehabilitation services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,034,083 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£1,034,083 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
8 Oct 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
3 Nov 20263 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
16 Apr 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
18 Jan 2027 - 31 Mar 2027 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
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
Postcode Area
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

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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