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Published 11 May 2026, 11:38 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Connect to Work Programme · Hartlepool Borough Council (May 2026)

Official notice

Authority: Hartlepool Borough Council (Local council)·Consortium: 5 public authorities

Open framework scheme4 lotsServicesOpen procedureAbove thresholdSME suitable
Sectors: Education & Training (80) Delivery: North East (UKC1)
Framework ceiling (notional)£5,253,430total for 4 lots · framework ceiling, not attributable revenue
Submissions closed 15 Jun 2026awarded 27 Jul 2026
Awarded to Waythrough, LET'S CONNECT (ENG) LTD3 awards
Framework period 1 yr 7 moends 31 Mar 2028 · up to 31 Mar 2030 with extensions · starts 1 Sept 2026

What is being bought4 lots · detail below

Published requirement description

Hartlepool Borough Council (the Council) has been appointed as the Lead Body by Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) for the Connect to Work Programme. As such, the Council is responsible for ensuring successful management and delivery of the programme across Tees Valley.

  • No preliminary market engagement: A notice was published for the previous iteration of this tender which was subsequently cancelled. This notice is: ocds-h6vhtk-05da00

CPV: Education and training services

How this framework works

From the published notice
Type
Closed framework · open framework scheme (admission reopens)
Call-offs
every call-off is a further competition among the appointed suppliers
Bids received
6 bids on the busiest of 2 lots · 2 suppliers appointed
Framework period
1 yr 7 mo · up to 3 yrs 7 mo from 1 Sept 2026
Scheme runs until
31 Mar 2030
Published description of the framework

Selection process based and scored on the following qulaity elements.

Experience, Approach to Delivery (including Health & Safety), Delivery and Sub-Contractor Management, Data Management, Finance and Reporting, Mobilisation and Delivery Timeline and Social Value.

Lots and requirements (4)Procurement structure

4 lots · all with a published value · same evaluation weights on every lot
Lot #1Tees Valley (SEQF Only)AwardedRenewal 1 yr 7 moSMEPublished value£1,789,630

The source published no individual description for this lot.

Contract period: 1 Sept 2026 – 31 Mar 2028 (1 yr 7 mo) · up to 31 Mar 2030 with extensionsValue: £1,789,630 exc. VAT · £2,147,556 inc. VAT
Delivery: North EastEligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: The Council may extend that Contract Term for 24 months to 18th May 2030 subject to funding and contract performance of the Providers.
80000000 Education and training services
Lot #2Darlington & Stockton‑on‑Tees (IPS - Individual Placement and Support Only)AwardedRenewal 1 yr 7 moSMEPublished value£1,039,600

The source published no individual description for this lot.

Contract period: 1 Sept 2026 – 31 Mar 2028 (1 yr 7 mo) · up to 31 Mar 2030 with extensionsValue: £1,039,600 exc. VAT · £1,247,520 inc. VAT
Delivery: North EastEligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: The Council may extend that Contract Term for 24 months to 18th May 2030 subject to funding and contract performance of the Providers.
80000000 Education and training services
Lot #3Middlesbrough & Redcar & Cleveland (IPS - Individual Placement and Support Only)AwardedRenewal 1 yr 7 moSMEPublished value£1,729,600

The source published no individual description for this lot.

Contract period: 1 Sept 2026 – 31 Mar 2028 (1 yr 7 mo) · up to 31 Mar 2030 with extensionsValue: £1,729,600 exc. VAT · £2,075,520 inc. VAT
Delivery: North EastEligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: The Council may extend that Contract Term for 24 months to 18th May 2030 subject to funding and contract performance of the Providers.
80000000 Education and training services
Lot #4Hartlepool (IPS - Individual Placement and Support Only)AwardedRenewal 1 yr 7 moSMEPublished value£694,600

The source published no individual description for this lot.

Contract period: 1 Sept 2026 – 31 Mar 2028 (1 yr 7 mo) · up to 31 Mar 2030 with extensionsValue: £694,600 exc. VAT · £833,520 inc. VAT
Delivery: North EastEligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: The Council may extend that Contract Term for 24 months to 18th May 2030 subject to funding and contract performance of the Providers.
80000000 Education and training services

What it takes to win
i

How this buyer will score bids.

The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).

Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add more
How bids were scored · same split on all 4 lots
Quality: 90%Social value: 10%
Published sub-criteria (7)
  • Experience: 19%
  • Approach to Delivery: 24%
  • Delivery and Sub-Contractor Management: 19%
  • Data Management, Finance and Reporting: 10%
  • Mobilisation and Delivery Timeline: 15%
  • Supplier Incentive Programme: 3%
  • Social Value: 10%
Published award criteria (7)
  • Social Value
  • Experience
  • Approach to Delivery
  • Delivery and Sub-Contractor Management
  • Data Management, Finance and Reporting
  • Mobilisation and Delivery Timeline
  • Supplier Incentive Programme
What this means for your bid
  • “Connect to Work Programme” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract: each call-off is a further competition, so the pricing contest starts after appointment.

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Procedure method
Open procedure
Legal basis
UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Procurement category
Services
Notice status
Awarded
Procurement threshold
Above threshold (FTS publication)
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Open framework scheme
Who may use this agreement
Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement
Unspecified in notice
First published
11 May 2026, 11:38 BST
Last source update
10 Aug 2026, 11:27 BST
Award evaluation window
Submission end – 20 Jul 2026
Authority reference
OPEN2026993
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-042897
Latest notice
Contract details notice (UK7)
Classification (CPV)
Education and training services
Delivery area
North East (UKC1)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-069576 Find a Tender

How it was run

Official notice
Run through: OPEN-UK
Supplier login requiredElectronic submission allowedLanguage: EN
Access & registration note: Free
Appointment period ends
15 Jun 2026, 23:59 BST
Submission channel
Official e-sourcing portal
Electronic submission
Allowed
Accepted languages
en
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

www.open-uk.org/dashboard ↗

Timeline

11 May 2026 → 1 Sept 2026 · 7 dates
  1. Tender notice published162 days ago
    11 May 2026, 11:38 BST
  2. Admission / appointment period ends126 days ago · period end, not a bid countdown
    15 Jun 2026, 23:59 BST
  3. Award decision expected by91 days ago
    20 Jul 2026, 23:59 BST
  4. Assessment summaries sent85 days ago
    27 Jul 2026, 00:00 BST
  5. Standstill ends74 days ago
    6 Aug 2026, 23:59 BST
  6. Latest notice published71 days ago
    10 Aug 2026, 11:27 BST
  7. Contract starts49 days ago
    1 Sept 2026, 00:00 BST

Notice history

5 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 11 May 2026
  1. Tender notice published
    11 May 2026, 11:38 BST
    UK4
  2. Contract award notice published
    27 Jul 2026, 14:35 BST
    UK6
  3. Status changed to complete
    27 Jul 2026, 14:35 BST
  4. Contract signature expected
    7 Aug 2026, 23:59 BST
    scheduled
  5. Contract details notice published
    10 Aug 2026, 11:27 BST
    UK7

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Suppliers appointed 23 awards · see the list ↓
Bids received 66 from SMEs · busiest of 2 lots
Contracts signed 2latest 7 Aug 2026
Awarded toValueDateStatus
Lot 1 · Tees Valley (SEQF Only)1 award
WaythroughVCSEContract for Connect to Work - Lot 1 - Supported Employment Quality (SEQF) Tees Valley10 Aug 2026 – 31 Mar 2028 · up to 31 Mar 2030Extensions: Contract can be extended dependant upon contract performance and available funding.£1,789,630 inc. VAT27 Jul 2026Awarded
Lot 4 · Hartlepool (IPS - Individual Placement and Support Only)1 award
LET'S CONNECT (ENG) LTDVCSEContract for Connect to Work - Lot 4 - Individual Placement & Support (IPS) - Hartlepool10 Aug 2026 – 31 Mar 2028 · up to 31 Mar 2030Extensions: Dependant upon contract performance and available funding£694,600 inc. VAT27 Jul 2026Awarded
Across several lots1 award
supplier not published—27 Jul 2026Awarded

Contracts

  • Contract for Connect to Work - Lot 1 - Supported Employment Quality (SEQF) Tees Valley · WaythroughVCSE

    Signed
    7 Aug 2026
    Value
    £1,789,630 inc. VAT
    Period
    10 Aug 2026 – 31 Mar 2028 · up to 31 Mar 2030 with extensions
    Status
    active
    Extensions
    Dependant upon contract performance and available funding.
    6 agreed KPIs: EOI Acknowledgement · Initial Engagement Rate · Job Outcome Rate …
    • EOI Acknowledgement, % of referrals/EOIs acknowledged within 2 working days
    • Initial Engagement Rate, % of Participants engaged within 5 working days by an Employment Specialist
    • Job Outcome Rate, % of Participants who achieve a paid job start, as defined by DWP
    • Employment Rate 1, % of Out-of-Work Participants achieving a Lower Threshold Job Outcome
    • Employment Rate 2, % of Out-of-Work Participants achieving a Higher Threshold Job Outcome
    • In-Work Retention, % of In-Work Participants achieving a Higher Threshold Job Outcome

  • Contract for Connect to Work - Lot 4 - Individual Placement & Support (IPS) - Hartlepool · LET'S CONNECT (ENG) LTDVCSE

    Signed
    27 Jul 2026
    Value
    £694,600 inc. VAT
    Period
    10 Aug 2026 – 31 Mar 2028 · up to 31 Mar 2030 with extensions
    Status
    active
    Extensions
    Dependant upon contract performance and available funding.
    6 agreed KPIs: EOI Acknowledgement · Initial Engagement Rate · Job Outcome Rate …
    • EOI Acknowledgement, % of referrals/EOIs acknowledged within 2 working days
    • Initial Engagement Rate, % of Participants engaged within 5 working days by an Employment Specialist
    • Job Outcome Rate, % of Participants who achieve a paid job start, as defined by DWP
    • Employment Rate 1, % of Out-of-Work Participants achieving a Lower Threshold Job Outcome
    • Employment Rate 2, % of Out-of-Work Participants achieving a Higher Threshold Job Outcome
    • In-Work Retention, % of In-Work Participants achieving a Higher Threshold Job Outcome

Bid statistics published by the authority

LotBidsSMEVCSEValid bid range
1 · Tees Valley (SEQF Only)3final-stage tenders33—
4 · Hartlepool (IPS - Individual Placement and Support Only)6final-stage tenders63—

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

5 public bodies on the notice

Hartlepool Borough Council

Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government GB-PPON: PTCQ-5564-CHJP Civic Centre, Victoria Road, Hartlepool, North East, TS24 8AYContact email

Consortium members and other public bodies

  • Darlington Borough CouncilContracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central governmentGB-PPON: PCRZ-3744-WXXZ Darlington, North EastContact email
  • Middlesbrough CouncilContracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central governmentGB-PPON: PLJH-5252-HJDM Middlesbrough, North EastContact email
  • Redcar and Cleveland Borough CouncilContracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central governmentGB-PPON: PHZX-3726-LWBD Redcar, North EastContact email
  • Stockton on Tees Borough CouncilContracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central governmentGB-PPON: PCVQ-6435-GNMW Stockton on Tees, North EastContact email

Framework contractors & participating bidders

2 commercial parties on the notice
  • LET'S CONNECT (ENG) LTDFramework contractorGB-COH: 06502878GB-PPON: PXVY-6964-JZYM Crown Buildings, Hartlepool, North East, TS24 8HBContact email
  • WAYTHROUGHFramework contractorGB-COH: 01820492GB-PPON: PMYH-4419-QWJP Inspiration House Unit 22, Bowburn North Industrial Estate, Durham, North East, DH6 5PFContact email

Official documents & specifications (6)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure

  • Contract details notice contractContract details noticeUK7Contract details notice on Find a Tender
  • Contract details notice contractContract details noticeUK7Contract details notice on Find a Tender
  • Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender
  • Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender
  • Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender
  • Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender