---
title: "TVCA-PROC-0837 - Connect to Work IPS Fidelity Assurance Consultancy"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-07815e"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-07815e"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-07815e.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-07815e.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "Tees Valley Combined Authority"
published: "2026-10-06"
---

# TVCA-PROC-0837 - Connect to Work IPS Fidelity Assurance Consultancy

Buyer: Tees Valley Combined Authority  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-07815e

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## Summary

Tees Valley Combined Authority commissioned consultancy to provide Individual Placement and Support (IPS) fidelity assurance for its Connect to Work delivery. The specialist is to work with local authorities across Tees Valley to strengthen and embed IPS-aligned practice. The work includes helping local authority teams develop a shared understanding of IPS fidelity, apply it in day-to-day delivery and evidence consistent, sustainable practice. The consultant also acts as a critical friend, helping each area understand its current position, identify strengths and risks in its IPS delivery model, and take practical steps to improve quality and outcomes in line with IPS principles. This is a professional consultancy service, combining subject-matter expertise with practical support to local delivery teams.

The procurement is complete and the contract was awarded to the Centre for Mental Health Training Limited. The award was made on 16 September 2026 for £75,785 excluding VAT (£90,942 including VAT). The contract runs from 12 October 2026 to 11 October 2027, with an option to extend for six months, to 11 April 2028. It was a below-threshold procurement; the recorded procedure detail does not identify a specific method. The requirement was treated as one lot. The available process details do not set out evaluation criteria, so the basis on which bids were assessed cannot be described further.

The award demonstrates demand from Tees Valley Combined Authority for specialist IPS fidelity assurance focused on local-authority delivery of Connect to Work. A credible competitor for this requirement would need demonstrable expertise in IPS fidelity and the ability to translate its principles into day-to-day employment support practice. The work calls for someone able to engage local authority teams, build a shared understanding of fidelity, assess delivery models constructively, and identify both strengths and risks. Suppliers would also need to turn that assessment into practical improvements and help teams evidence consistent, sustainable practice and better quality and outcomes. The selected provider is a specialist mental health training organisation, indicating the value of relevant subject expertise alongside consultancy and team-support capability.

## Notice

Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) (the 'Contracting Authority') has awarded a contract for an Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Fidelity Assurance subject matter expert to work with local authorities to strengthen and embed fidelity aligned IPS practice within their Connect to Work delivery. The purpose of this support is to help local authority teams build a shared understanding of IPS fidelity, apply it confidently in day to day delivery, and evidence high quality practice in a consistent and sustainable way. The consultant will act as a critical friend, supporting local areas to understand their current position, identify strengths and risks across their IPS delivery model, and take practical steps to improve quality and outcomes in line with IPS principles. 12 months contract with option to extend for 6 months.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/094118-2026 |
| Notice type | UK6 - Contract Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - unknown |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 6 Oct 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 16 Sep 2026 |
| Contract period | 12 Oct 2026 - 11 Oct 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £75,785 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | Tees Valley Combined Authority |
| Locality | DARLINGTON |
| Postcode area | Darlington |
| Postcode | DL2 1NJ |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLC North East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLC3 Tees Valley |
| ITL 3 | TLC33 Darlington |
| Local authority | Darlington |
| Electoral ward | Sadberge & Middleton St George |
| Westminster constituency | Stockton West |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | CENTRE FOR MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING LIMITED |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
- 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

### Codes

- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
- 79000000 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

## Release History

- 6 Oct 2026 at 10:23 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/094118-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/094118-2026
  6th October 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## 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-07815e. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-07815e.json.