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Southwark Works - employment support services for people with learning disabilities

London Borough of Southwark

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

16 Oct 2026 at 14:44

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

London Borough of Southwark intends to commission employment support services for Southwark residents with learning disabilities. The service is intended to help residents access and sustain employment. It falls within social work and related services (CPV 85300000) and will be delivered in Southwark, London. The planned procurement is a single lot. Southwark has scheduled an online supplier briefing as part of preliminary market engagement, where suppliers will receive the same core information. Feedback will be anonymised and used to shape the procurement. This is a planned service purchase rather than a tender invitation; the formal competition has not yet begun.

The process is at planning stage, with no invitation to tender. Southwark expects to use a one-stage Competitive Flexible Procedure under the Procurement Act 2023, including conditions of participation and detailed technical and commercial evaluation. One lot is planned. The estimated value is £730,822 excluding VAT (£939,498 including VAT). The initial contract period is expected to run from 1 July 2027 to 31 March 2030, with a possible extension to 31 March 2031. The buyer expects to publish a further notice on 16 November 2026. A preliminary market engagement supplier briefing is scheduled online via Microsoft Teams for 5 November 2026, 10–11am; suppliers can register interest through the stated online form. The briefing is not a tender or a condition of eligibility for the later competition.

The service is suited to providers experienced in employment support for people with learning disabilities, particularly organisations able to work with Southwark residents and support their route into and retention in work. The council has indicated that small and medium-sized businesses and voluntary, community and social enterprises are suitable participants. Suppliers should prepare to demonstrate how their service will meet the council’s needs through detailed technical and commercial proposals, as well as satisfy conditions of participation; the specific criteria are expected to be developed through the procurement design. The planned single-lot contract calls for the capacity to deliver a sustained local service over several years, with potential continuation beyond the initial term. Participation in market engagement can help providers share practical delivery insight before the formal competition is designed, but does not confer preference or determine eligibility.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Southwark Works - employment support services for people with learning disabilities

Notice Description

Provision of employment support service for Southwark residents with learning disabilities. This is a preliminary market engagement notice please see engagement section for further details.

Planning Information

Procurement Description: The council anticipates using a one-stage Competitive Flexible Procedure under the Procurement Act 2023. This will include: • Conditions of Participation and a tender with detailed technical and commercial evaluation This Preliminary Market Engagement Notice is to advertise a Preliminary Market Engagement Event - Supplier briefing session to be held online on 5 November 2026; 10 - 11am via Microsoft Teams All suppliers will receive the same core information. Insights gathered will be anonymised and used solely to inform the procurement design. How to Participate Suppliers interested in participating in Preliminary Market Engagement should register their interest via: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=Bs-t94-VxES8HDOe3ZCQPfIyJpSSy4dGjnyUUHCb7hFURU4wTTIyWUFSUUFBRVNRVEgwMFZXV01YRi4u This is not an invitation to tender nor does it preclude or favour eligibility to participate in the formal procurement once it starts.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0789ab
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/098029-2026
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

85 - Health and social work services

98 - Other community, social and personal services

CPV Codes

85300000 - Social work and related services

98000000 - Other community, social and personal services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£730,822 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
16 Oct 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
16 Nov 20263 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Jul 2027 - 31 Mar 2030 2-3 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
London Borough of Southwark
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SE1 2QH
Postcode Area
South East London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI44 Lewisham and Southwark
Delivery Location
TLI44 Lewisham and Southwark
Local Authority
Southwark
Electoral Ward
London Bridge & West Bermondsey
Westminster Constituency
Bermondsey and Old Southwark

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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