Connect to Work Delivery

Description

This Prior Information Notice (PIN) is to notify interested parties of a future procurement opportunity relating to 'Connect to Work' and invite suppliers to an online market engagement session. Subject to a Grant Funding Agreement from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Hampshire County Council (HCC) aims to use the evidence-based Supported Employment 'place, train and maintain' model to support disabled people, those with health conditions and specified disadvantaged groups with multiple and complex barriers, to gain and maintain or retain employment. For clarity, this opportunity will be a Call-Off from the existing Open Framework for Skills Development for Hampshire 2023-2033 (procured under the Public Contract Regulations 2015) and will not be an openly advertised tender opportunity. Suppliers can join the framework at any time, but only suppliers who have successfully been appointed to the framework by the date of publishing the opportunity, will be eligible to submit a tender. Market Engagement Event - Hampshire County Council is the Accountable Body (AB) for Connect to Work for the full geographical area of the County, excluding the area covered by the unitary authorities of Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight. HCC will be hosting a pre-market engagement event with key partners, stakeholders and interested parties prior to official procurement activities to support shaping our approach to commissioning the programme. The purpose of this online session is to provide a high-level overview of our approach to the Connect to Work commissioning process, specification, and timescales. Once Connect to Work has gone live across Hampshire this Autumn, the Connect to Work Contract Management Team will support and challenge delivery providers to meet contracted profiles enabling HCC to scale up delivery. This will be a 5-year Delivery programme ending in March 2030, so anticipate the contact duration to be around 4 years and 8 months. The estimated maximum value of the call-off contracts will be approximately between £15-20million, subject to DWP approval. Project Timescales - The Call-Off from the Skills Open Framework is anticipated to be published in the Summer 2025 and will run for approximately 30 days. Interested suppliers will need to apply and be accepted on to the Skills Open Framework in order to be invited to tender. Please visit https://in-tendhost.co.uk/hampshire/aspx/ProjectManage/21827 for more information and click 'Express Interest' in preparation for the future opportunity. This Prior Information Notice (PIN) is to notify interested parties of a future procurement opportunity under an existing framework procured under the Public Contract Regulations 2015. Further details can be found in the Additional Information under Sections 11.2.4 and VI.3 of this notice. Lot 1: Please note: This notice is to inform the market of an upcoming procurement opportunity. The procurement will be managed via the Council's e-tendering system (In-tend). HCC anticipates to contract with a variety of experienced supported employment delivery providers via a call-off with lots yet to be determined, from the HCC Skills Open Framework. The offer will cover the Hampshire County Council local authority area, excluding the unitary authority areas of Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight. The offer will not be open to other Authorities to access. Additional information: The market engagement event will be used to shape our approach to the lotting structure, the number of lots is subject to change.