---
title: "Connect to Work"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-04e910"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04e910"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04e910.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04e910.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "DEVON COUNTY COUNCIL"
published: "2026-01-15"
---

# Connect to Work

Buyer: DEVON COUNTY COUNCIL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-04e910

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## Summary

The "Connect to Work" programme is a public procurement initiative led by Devon County Council, serving as the lead accountable body on behalf of Torbay, Plymouth, and Devon. The advertised tender falls within the industry categories of job search services, education and training services, and health and social work services, with the aim of aiding individuals with disabilities or long-term health conditions. It is an open procedure under the light-touch regime, which has reached the award stage, as of 15th January 2026. This initiative is set to be geographically executed in several areas across the United Kingdom such as Exeter, East Devon, and Torquay. The main contracting parties are Devon County Council and Torbay Council, with contracts signed and effective from 15th January 2026 for a one-year period with possible extensions, highlighting a collaborative effort between multiple public bodies and service providers.

This tender presents substantial opportunities for businesses involved in employment support services, particularly those familiar with delivering support through recognised models like Individual Placement and Support (IPS) and Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF). Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), as well as large organisations with a focus on vocational, community, and health-related services, could find the "Connect to Work" programme particularly beneficial due to the comprehensive integration of employment and health services. Companies capable of delivering tailored support to economically inactive individuals or those at risk of unemployment will contribute significantly to regional employment objectives, offering potential growth opportunities in doing so.

## Notice

Connect to Work is a DWP programme grant funded through DCC as the lead accountable body on behalf of Torbay, Plymouth and Devon. The Programme requires the delivery to the following persons with social disability or other priority audiences who are: * Economically inactive or unemployed: Person has not worked for around 6 months due to their disability, long term health condition or disadvantages and feel they need comprehensive tailored employment support to help them to identify the right roles for their needs and to engage in effective job search towards work. * Employed but risk of dropping out of work: Person is working/Self-employed for at least 3 months and is struggling to sustain employment due to their disability, long term health condition or disadvantages. However, it is acceptable to offer support to individuals who have been employed for shorter periods where the Accountable Body judges that would be appropriate. * Maintaining work: Person has never been in employment or a track record of struggling to retain jobs/sustain employment due to their disability, long term health condition or disadvantages The programme is delivered through a Supported Employment model - a place train and maintain model delivered through a five-stage process. There are two approaches, both using recognised international standards (Fidelity Models) and both using the principles that participants are employed in the Open Labour Market, it being Paid Work with Ongoing Support provided. * IPS integrates employment support alongside primary and secondary health services, and other support services. This integration ideally occurs at a physical level, through co-location and other policies, where applicable. IPS has been successfully utilised within the Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care (IPSPC) programme to support individuals with mild to moderate mental health and/or physical health conditions. Universal Support will utilise and expand on the approach taken with IPSPC. Whilst Universal Support will complement IPS Severe Mental Illness and IPS Alcohol and Drugs, these will remain separate IPS services. * SEQF is (as required) a more in-depth intervention than the form of IPS used for Universal Support. SEQF is oriented most usually around supporting learning disabled and/or autistic adults as well as others with complex support needs where clinical integration is not needed or appropriate.

### Lot Information

IPS in Exeter, East Devon and Mid Devon

IPS services delivered in Exeter, East Devon and Mid Devon.

Renewal: The Authority may extend the Contract up to 1 year (12 months), depending on the Authority's requirements and the supplier's success in achieving the requisite outcomes. The extension would modify the contract budget and volume of participants as set out in Specification documents.

IPS in Torridge and North Devon

IPS services delivered in Torridge and North Devon.

Renewal: The Authority may extend the Contract up to 1 year (12 months), depending on the Authority's requirements and the supplier's success in achieving the requisite outcomes. The extension would modify the contract budget and volume of participants as set out in Specification documents.

IPS in Teignbridge, South Hams and West Devon

IPS services delivered in Teignbridge, South Hams and West Devon.

Renewal: The Authority may extend the Contract up to 1 year (12 months), depending on the Authority's requirements and the supplier's success in achieving the requisite outcomes. The extension would modify the contract budget and volume of participants as set out in Specification documents.

SEQF in Exeter, East Devon and Mid Devon

SEQF services delivered in Exeter, East Devon and Mid Devon.

Renewal: The Authority may extend the Contract up to 1 year (12 months), depending on the Authority's requirements and the supplier's success in achieving the requisite outcomes. The extension would modify the contract budget and volume of participants as set out in Specification documents.

SEQF in Torridge and North Devon

SEQF services delivered in Torridge and North Devon.

Renewal: The Authority may extend the Contract up to 1 year (12 months), depending on the Authority's requirements and the supplier's success in achieving the requisite outcomes. The extension would modify the contract budget and volume of participants as set out in Specification documents.

SEQF in Teignbridge, South Hams and West Devon

SEQF services delivered in Teignbridge, South Hams and West Devon.

Renewal: The Authority may extend the Contract up to 1 year (12 months), depending on the Authority's requirements and the supplier's success in achieving the requisite outcomes. The extension would modify the contract budget and volume of participants as set out in Specification documents.

Torbay IPS

IPS services delivered in Torbay.

Renewal: The Authority may extend the Contract up to 1 year (12 months), depending on the Authority's requirements and the supplier's success in achieving the requisite outcomes. The extension would modify the contract budget and volume of participants as set out in Specification documents.

Torbay SEQF

SEQF services delivered in Torbay.

Renewal: The Authority may extend the Contract up to 1 year (12 months), depending on the Authority's requirements and the supplier's success in achieving the requisite outcomes. The extension would modify the contract budget and volume of participants as set out in Specification documents.

### Planning Information

Devon County Council wishes to undertake a virtual Preliminary market engagement in order to better appreciate and understand the market for this service and ensure it can produce a specification, tender process and final contract as attractive as possible to potential suppliers.
The Preliminary market engagement event will be held via Microsoft Teams on 27th March 2025 at 1pm. Suppliers wishing to attend the event are required to complete the following form to express their interest.
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=gzehjWjLP0S7S5l_d_1b-9hjx28RpvxAptIBOgU_APNUQTU3NkRBTkozMVhCQ1JEWFQ1VkNFV1RIOC4u
Please note, forms are to be completed and submitted no later than 12:00 on 24th March 2025. After the deadline, the Authority will send an invite link to all suppliers who have submitted the form.
A questionnaire will be sent to all suppliers who expressed their interest by submitting the form after the event. Suppliers will have until 12 noon on April 10th, 2025, to complete the questionnaire.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003354-2026 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Large, SME |
| All stages | Planning, Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 15 Jan 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 3 Nov 2025 |
| Future notice date | 8 Oct 2025 |
| Award date | 15 Dec 2025 |
| Contract period | 15 Jan 2026 - 15 Jan 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £3,565,300 |
| Lots value | £3,565,300 |
| Awards value | £2,133,944 |
| Contracts value | £2,133,944 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | DEVON COUNTY COUNCIL |
| Additional buyers | TORBAY COUNCIL |
| Locality | EXETER, |
| Post town | Exeter |
| Postcode | EX2 4QD |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLK4 Devon |
| ITL 3 | TLK42 Torbay |
| Local authority | Torbay |
| Electoral ward | Tormohun |
| Westminster constituency | Torbay |
| Delivery location | TLK4 Devon, TLK42 Torbay, TLK43 Devon CC |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 4 |
| Supplier names | CRYSTAL PATHWAYS; EAT THAT FROG; THE PLUSS ORGANISATION; UNITED RESPONSE |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
- 80 - Education and training services
- 85 - Health and social work services
- 98 - Other community, social and personal services

### Codes

- 79611000 - Job search services
- 80000000 - Education and training services
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
- 98000000 - Other community, social and personal services

## Release History

- 15 Jan 2026 at 10:05 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003354-2026
- 15 Dec 2025 at 14:32 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/082954-2025
- 8 Oct 2025 at 09:11 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/063140-2025
- 6 Oct 2025 at 15:44 - Planning - UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/062635-2025
- 3 Mar 2025 at 15:48 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/007700-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003354-2026
  15th January 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/082954-2025
  15th December 2025 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/063140-2025
  8th October 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/062635-2025
  6th October 2025 - Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/007700-2025
  3rd March 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://crystalpathways.co.uk
- http://www.seetec.co.uk
- https://devoneducationservices.co.uk/
- https://eatthatfrog.ac.uk/
- https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=gzehjWjLP0S7S5l_d_1b-9hjx28RpvxAptIBOgU_APNUQTU3NkRBTkozMVhCQ1JEWFQ1VkNFV1RIOC4u
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.unitedresponse.org.uk/

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04e910. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04e910.json.