---
title: "TVCA-PROC-0913 - Connect to Work Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) Fidelity Assurance Consultancy Support"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0787bb"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0787bb"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0787bb.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0787bb.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "Tees Valley Combined Authority"
published: "2026-10-14"
---

# TVCA-PROC-0913 - Connect to Work Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) Fidelity Assurance Consultancy Support

Buyer: Tees Valley Combined Authority  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0787bb

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## Summary

Tees Valley Combined Authority is procuring specialist consultancy to support its Connect to Work programme, working with local authorities and Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) delivery partners. The consultant is expected to help teams understand SEQF fidelity, apply its principles in day-to-day delivery and show consistent, high-quality practice. The work includes acting as a critical friend: reviewing local delivery models, identifying strengths and risks, and helping teams take practical steps to improve quality and outcomes. The service is consultancy and assurance support, rather than direct employment support for participants. Delivery is for local areas within the Tees Valley Combined Authority’s Connect to Work programme in England.

The procurement is complete and the contract was awarded on 14 October 2026 to Inclusive Trading Community Interest Company. The award value is £62,900 excluding VAT (£75,480 including VAT). The contract runs from 9 November 2026 to 8 November 2027, with an option to extend by six months, to 9 May 2028. It was a below-threshold limited competition, with one bid recorded. The procurement was a single lot. No award evaluation criteria or specific eligibility requirements are recorded in the available process details.

This award shows demand from Tees Valley Combined Authority for specialist SEQF fidelity assurance to strengthen Connect to Work delivery across local authorities and delivery partners. A credible future competitor would need demonstrable expertise in the Supported Employment Quality Framework and the ability to translate its principles into consistent operational practice. The work calls for a trusted adviser able to assess delivery models, identify both strengths and risks, build a shared understanding among local teams, and recommend practical improvements linked to service quality and outcomes. Suppliers should be able to work collaboratively with public-sector teams and delivery partners, while providing assurance grounded in the framework rather than generic consultancy. The selected provider was a community interest company, indicating that an organisation with a social-purpose structure can deliver this requirement.

## Notice

Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) (the 'Contacting Authority'), part of the Tees Valley Combined Authority Group, intends to award a contract for a Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) Fidelity Assurance subject matter expert to work with local authorities and SEQF delivery partners to strengthen and embed fidelity aligned SEQF practice within their Connect to Work delivery. The purpose of this support is to help local authority / SEQF Delivery teams build a shared understanding of SEQF 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 SEQF delivery model, and take practical steps to improve quality and outcomes in line with SEQF principles.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/097086-2026 |
| Notice type | UK6 - Contract Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Limited |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - limited competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 14 Oct 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 14 Oct 2026 |
| Contract period | 9 Nov 2026 - 8 Nov 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £62,900 |
| 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 | Inclusive Trading Community Interest Company |

## 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

- 14 Oct 2026 at 14:43 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/097086-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/097086-2026
  14th 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-0787bb. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0787bb.json.