Tender

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

26039 Cambridgeshire County Council Connect to Work Programme

Cambridgeshire County Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

30 Jul 2026 at 15:28

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Cambridgeshire County Council is procuring supported employment services for the Connect to Work Programme across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. The programme helps people with health conditions, disabilities and other barriers to find and retain paid employment. It has two service models: Individual Placement and Support (IPS), integrated with health and other support services, and the Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF), providing intensive support for people with learning disabilities, autism and complex barriers. There are six IPS lots and six SEQF lots covering Peterborough, Huntingdonshire, Fenland, East Cambridgeshire, Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire. The services are job-search, career guidance and employment support services. Cambridgeshire County Council is managing delivery as prime provider for the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.

The procurement has reached tender: the council invited offers through an open procedure under the light-touch regime. It is a closed framework without reopening competition, with up to three providers appointed to each lot and referrals allocated in ranking order. Questions were due by 25 August 2026 at 23:59, and offers by 4 September 2026 at 12:00. The award decision was scheduled by 20 October 2026 at 23:59. The framework value is £8,400,000 excluding VAT and £10,080,000 including VAT; individual lot values are embedded in this overall figure. Contracts are planned from 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2028, with one possible 24-month extension to 31 March 2030. Quality accounts for 100% of scored evaluation, with a 60% minimum quality threshold; pricing is pass/fail. Suppliers may bid for and be awarded up to six lots.

This opportunity suits experienced supported employment providers able to deliver either IPS or SEQF, with local delivery capacity across Cambridgeshire or Peterborough. IPS providers should be able to integrate employment support with primary and secondary health services and other support services. SEQF providers need the capability to deliver intensive, participant-focused support for people with learning disabilities, autism and complex barriers, in line with Supported Employment Quality Framework requirements. The council also welcomes smaller voluntary and community organisations seeking to develop supported employment delivery; training and support will be provided to help them meet fidelity requirements. Organisations must choose either IPS or SEQF, rather than offering both, and can compete for up to six relevant lots. Small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprises are eligible.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

26039 Cambridgeshire County Council Connect to Work Programme

Notice Description

Connect to Work is a new, voluntary supported employment initiative funded by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). It is the first major element of the Get Britain Working Strategy and will take a collaborative, locally led approach designed to help people with health conditions, disabilities, or other barriers, find and maintain paid work. Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) have appointed Cambridgeshire County Council as Prime Provider to manage the delivery across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Therefore, we are now seeking experienced providers to deliver the supported employment models as detailed below. Connect to Work combines two supported employment delivery models: * IPS - Individual Placement and Support IPS is an intervention which integrates employment support alongside primary and secondary health services and other support services. For more information please see the links in the specification and ITT. * SEQF - Supported Employment Quality Framework, intensive supported employment for people with learning disabilities, autism, and complex barriers. SEQF is a more intensive intervention, where in delivery terms the Participant will receive more contact and support from their Employment Specialist. For more information please see the links in the specification and the ITT As well as experienced providers of IPS and SEQF, we also encourage smaller voluntary and community organisations who want to learn and develop their own supported employment delivery to apply. We will provide full support and training to facilitate development of supported employment models to fidelity requirements.

Lot Information

IPS - Peterborough

For the provision of IPS services in Peterborough City. Please note that the value of this Lot is embedded in the overall framework value and not specifically provided for individual Lots.

Renewal: One extension of 24 months is available for this tender assuming agreement from framework providers and demand is still high.

IPS - Huntingdonshire

For the provision of IPS services in Huntingdonshire. Please note that the value of this Lot is embedded in the overall framework value and not specifically provided for individual Lots.

Renewal: One extension of 24 months is available for this tender assuming agreement from framework providers and demand is still high.

IPS - Fendland

For the provision of IPS services in Fenland. Please note that the value of this Lot is embedded in the overall framework value and not specifically provided for individual Lots.

Renewal: One extension of 24 months is available for this tender assuming agreement from framework providers and demand is still high.

IPS - East Cambridgeshire

For the provision of IPS services in East Cambridgeshire. Please note that the value of this Lot is embedded in the overall framework value and not specifically provided for individual Lots.

Renewal: One extension of 24 months is available for this tender assuming agreement from framework providers and demand is still high.

IPS - Cambridge City

For the provision of IPS services in Cambridge City. Please note that the value of this Lot is embedded in the overall framework value and not specifically provided for individual Lots.

Renewal: One extension of 24 months is available for this tender assuming agreement from framework providers and demand is still high.

IPS - South Cambridgeshire

For the provision of IPS services in South Cambridgeshire. Please note that the value of this Lot is embedded in the overall framework value and not specifically provided for individual Lots.

Renewal: One extension of 24 months is available for this tender assuming agreement from framework providers and demand is still high.

SEQF - Peterborough

For the provision of SEQF services in Peterborough City. Please note that the value of this Lot is embedded in the overall framework value and not specifically provided for individual Lots.

Renewal: One extension of 24 months is available for this tender assuming agreement from framework providers and demand is still high.

SEQF - Huntingdonshire

For the provision of SEQF services in Huntingdonshire. Please note that the value of this Lot is embedded in the overall framework value and not specifically provided for individual Lots.

Renewal: One extension of 24 months is available for this tender assuming agreement from framework providers and demand is still high.

SEQF - Fenland

For the provision of SEQF services in Fenland. Please note that the value of this Lot is embedded in the overall framework value and not specifically provided for individual Lots.

Renewal: One extension of 24 months is available for this tender assuming agreement from framework providers and demand is still high.

SEQF - East Cambridgeshire

For the provision of SEQF services in East Cambridgeshire. Please note that the value of this Lot is embedded in the overall framework value and not specifically provided for individual Lots.

Renewal: One extension of 24 months is available for this tender assuming agreement from framework providers and demand is still high.

SEQF - Cambridge City

For the provision of SEQF services in Cambridge City. Please note that the value of this Lot is embedded in the overall framework value and not specifically provided for individual Lots.

Renewal: One extension of 24 months is available for this tender assuming agreement from framework providers and demand is still high.

SEQF - South Cambridgeshire

For the provision of SEQF services in South Cambridgeshire. Please note that the value of this Lot is embedded in the overall framework value and not specifically provided for individual Lots.

Renewal: One extension of 24 months is available for this tender assuming agreement from framework providers and demand is still high.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d7e8
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/072301-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
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

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

79611000 - Job search services

79634000 - Career guidance services

85312310 - Guidance services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£8,400,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£8,400,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
30 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
4 Sep 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Nov 2026 - 31 Mar 2028 1-2 years
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
Cambridgeshire County 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
ALCONBURY WEALD, HUNTINGDON
Postcode
PE28 4YE
Postcode Area
Peterborough
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH4 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH42 Cambridgeshire CC
Delivery Location
TLH11 Peterborough, TLH12 Cambridgeshire CC
Local Authority
Huntingdonshire
Electoral Ward
The Stukeleys
Westminster Constituency
Huntingdon

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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.

Loading OCDS record...