Official UK procurement notice
WMCA Connect To Work - Black Country
Authority: West Midlands Combined Authority (Local council)·On behalf of: Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionWest Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), in partnership with City of Wolverhampton Council, Dudley MBC, Sandwell, MBC and Walsall MBC are pleased to announce their intention to procure Supported Employment provision for disabled residents, residents with long-term health conditions, and other agreed disadvantaged groups with complex barriers to sustain work.
Set out in the Adults Skills and Employment Functional Strategy governance.wmca.org.uk/documents/s23891/App… ↗, our ambition is to develop an integrated employment and skills system that stimulates economic growth and delivers better outcomes for residents and businesses. Central to realising this is the flexibility we have secured as part of our deeper devolution deal, which gives the WMCA further policy influence with our system partners DWP and DfE, and control over adult skills and employment spending through the Integrated Settlement.
The opportunity created by the Get Britain Working White Paper paves the way for further devolved responsibility for employment support working in partnership with DWP. Demonstrated through a devolved role in supported employment through the new Connect to Work programme and stronger role in partnership with DWP to deliver better outcomes for residents, it will further enable us to deliver our ambition for an integrated system that meets residents’ needs, especially those disadvantaged in the labour market through ill health or disability, in alignment with the region’s three Integrated Care Board’s WorkWell pilots.
Through Integrated Settlement, WMCA has secured £5.72million to support up to 1400 participants to sustain work through the delivery of Individual Placement & Support (IPS) and Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) models in 2025-26, with the potential to extend and scale up delivery in subsequent years. WMCA’s Adult Skills & Employment Functional Strategy is available online through the following link: www.wmca.org.uk/documents/integrated… ↗ with WMCA’s approach to Connect to Work outlined in the Connect to Work Business Justification Case found here: governance.wmca.org.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx ↗
- How the procedure runs: This Competitive Flexible Procedure procurement will be conducted over 2 stages. The first stage is the request to participate which will involve completion and submission of the Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ). This stage is being used to down-select interested suppliers to invite to tender. Prospective Bidders who pass all Conditions of Participation included within the PSQ will have their Technical and Professional Ability questions scored to give a Total Score for their PSQ. Prospective Bidders will be ranked by Total Score and WMCA will invite the top 10 ranked prospective bidders in to tender. The second stage is the Invitation to Tender (ITT) stage. The ITT will be issued to the top 10 ranked prospective bidders. Following the tender submission deadline, the evauation panel will evaluate all tenders and WMCA will award the contract to the highest scoring tenderer.
CPV: Miscellaneous health services
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1AwardedRenewalPublished value£3,804,000
- Economic & financial standing
A Financial Risk Assessment Tool (FRAT) and accompanying guidance has been provided as part of the attachments to the PSQ. Prospective Bidders are required to read these documents thoroughly and follow the instructions in order to complete the self-assessment prior to the PSQ submision deadline.
If the Prospective Bidder has failed or flagged as a risk for any of the self-assessment metrics, they should contact WMCA via the Bravo messaging function to explain the situation and agree a range of risk mitigation measures with the WMCA Finance Team during the clarification period of the PSQ. Any Prospective Bidder that has failed or flagged as a risk for any of the self-assessment metrics and has not engaged with the WMCA Finance Team during the clarification period will be deemed to have failed the Financial Standing condition of participation.
WMCA will only engage with Prospective Bidders to discuss their Financial Risk Assessment results prior to the PSQ submision deadline.
- Technical & professional ability
3 x Technical Ability questions, scored in line with the WMCA Scoring Matrix, found at Annex A of the PSQ Guidance document in the attachments to the PSQ. The score for each question will be added together to give a Total Score for each Prospective Bidder who passes the other conditions of participation. All Prospective Bidders who receive a Total Score will be ranked. The top 10 ranked Prospective Bidders will be invited to tender.
- Condition of participationshortlisting
Responses to this PSQ will first be checked for compliance and completeness. WMCA reserves the right to reject any submissions that do not comply with the requirements of this PSQ, that are incomplete in any way or that are submitted after the applicable deadline. Submissions rejected due to being uncompliant or incomplete will not be evaluated.
All compliant and complete PSQ responses will progress to PSQ evaluation. The Pass/Fail elements of the PSQ will be evaluated first, any response that receives a ‘Fail’ on any of the Pass/Fail elements will be rejected and will not have any Scored elements evaluated and will not progress any further in the procurement. All responses that ‘Pass’ all Pass/Fail elements will progress to the evaluation of Scored questions and will receive a Total Score.
The minimum quality requirement for this PSQ is to reach a Total Mark equal to or above 60% of the total available marks. Any supplier not reaching this minimum threshold will not be considered any further within the process.
WMCA intends to shortlist the top ten (10) scoring Prospective Bidders who will be Invited to Tender that have met the applicable Conditions of Participation. Where multiple Prospective Bidders meeting the Conditions of Participation score the same total score which is within the highest-scoring scores, WMCA shall take forward all such Prospective Bidders, even if this exceeds the maximum threshold. Where a shortlisted Bidder withdraws, is disqualified or otherwise rejected within the period prior to the issue of the Invitation to Tender (ITT) then WMCA reserves the right to take through the next highest scoring Prospective Bidder to replace them.
What it takes to wini
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 morei
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).
Published sub-criteria (2)
- Technical: 90%
- Commercial: 10%
Published award criteria (2)
- Technical
- Commercial
- Economic & financial standing
A Financial Risk Assessment Tool (FRAT) and accompanying guidance has been provided as part of the attachments to the PSQ. Prospective Bidders are required to read these documents thoroughly and follow the instructions in order to complete the self-assessment prior to the PSQ submision deadline.
If the Prospective Bidder has failed or flagged as a risk for any of the self-assessment metrics, they should contact WMCA via the Bravo messaging function to explain the situation and agree a range of risk mitigation measures with the WMCA Finance Team during the clarification period of the PSQ. Any Prospective Bidder that has failed or flagged as a risk for any of the self-assessment metrics and has not engaged with the WMCA Finance Team during the clarification period will be deemed to have failed the Financial Standing condition of participation.
WMCA will only engage with Prospective Bidders to discuss their Financial Risk Assessment results prior to the PSQ submision deadline.
- Technical & professional ability
3 x Technical Ability questions, scored in line with the WMCA Scoring Matrix, found at Annex A of the PSQ Guidance document in the attachments to the PSQ. The score for each question will be added together to give a Total Score for each Prospective Bidder who passes the other conditions of participation. All Prospective Bidders who receive a Total Score will be ranked. The top 10 ranked Prospective Bidders will be invited to tender.
- Condition of participationshortlisting
Responses to this PSQ will first be checked for compliance and completeness. WMCA reserves the right to reject any submissions that do not comply with the requirements of this PSQ, that are incomplete in any way or that are submitted after the applicable deadline. Submissions rejected due to being uncompliant or incomplete will not be evaluated.
All compliant and complete PSQ responses will progress to PSQ evaluation. The Pass/Fail elements of the PSQ will be evaluated first, any response that receives a ‘Fail’ on any of the Pass/Fail elements will be rejected and will not have any Scored elements evaluated and will not progress any further in the procurement. All responses that ‘Pass’ all Pass/Fail elements will progress to the evaluation of Scored questions and will receive a Total Score.
The minimum quality requirement for this PSQ is to reach a Total Mark equal to or above 60% of the total available marks. Any supplier not reaching this minimum threshold will not be considered any further within the process.
WMCA intends to shortlist the top ten (10) scoring Prospective Bidders who will be Invited to Tender that have met the applicable Conditions of Participation. Where multiple Prospective Bidders meeting the Conditions of Participation score the same total score which is within the highest-scoring scores, WMCA shall take forward all such Prospective Bidders, even if this exceeds the maximum threshold. Where a shortlisted Bidder withdraws, is disqualified or otherwise re…
- Price carries 10 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 1 point. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Competitive flexible 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
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 13 May 2025, 11:19 BST
- Last source update
- 21 Jan 2026, 12:36 GMT
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 17 Nov 2025
- Authority reference
2730488- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-043520- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0511ccFind a Tender
- How it runs
This Competitive Flexible Procedure procurement will be conducted over 2 stages.
The first stage is the request to participate which will involve completion and submission of the Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ). This stage is being used to down-select interested suppliers to invite to tender. Prospective Bidders who pass all Conditions of Participation included within the PSQ will have their Technical and Professional Ability questions scored to give a Total Score for their PSQ. Prospective Bidders will be ranked by Total Score and WMCA will invite the top 10 ranked prospective bidders in to tender.
The second stage is the Invitation to Tender (ITT) stage. The ITT will be issued to the top 10 ranked prospective bidders. Following the tender submission deadline, the evauation panel will evaluate all tenders and WMCA will award the contract to the highest scoring tenderer.
- Risks
Risk - Mobilisation Delay
Impact - Under performance against the required outputs and outcomes would be a result of delayed mobilisation.
Risk - No bids or suitable responses are received during the tender period
Impact - The contract will not perform should no bids or suitable responses be received during the tender period.
Risk - Changes in target cohort
Impact - Lack of focus on priority cohort 18-24 year olds
Risk - Changes to outcome measures
Impact - Outcomes are set in line with 25/26 Integrated Settlement outcomes
How it was run
Official notice- Requests to participate (first stage)
- 22 Aug 2025, 17:00 BST
- Submission deadline
- 22 Aug 2025, 17:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 8 Aug 2025, 17:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Timeline
13 May 2025 → 21 Jan 2026 · 11 dates- Planning notice published13 May 2025, 11:19 BST
- Market engagement2 Jun 2025, 23:59 BST
We invite organisations who can deliver Supported Employment interventions in the Black Country area to attend our information session on 2nd June 2025 3.30pm - 4.30pm via Teams to learn more about the procurement opportunity.
Please register using this link: assets-gbr.mkt.dynamics.com/a3b85b0d-c453-4680-a… ↗
- Tender notice published28 Jul 2025, 14:40 BST
- Clarification questions by8 Aug 2025, 17:00 BST
- Submission deadline22 Aug 2025, 17:00 BST
- Next notice expected30 Aug 2025, 23:59 BST
- Award decision expected by338 days ago17 Nov 2025, 23:59 GMT
- Assessment summaries sent336 days ago20 Nov 2025
- Standstill ends323 days ago2 Dec 2025, 23:59 GMT
- Contract starts311 days ago15 Dec 2025
- Latest notice published274 days ago21 Jan 2026, 12:36 GMT
Notice history
9 events · 4 releases on Find a Tender · since 13 May 2025- Preliminary market engagement notice published13 May 2025, 11:19 BSTUK2
- Tender notice published28 Jul 2025, 14:40 BSTUK4
- Published value updated to £3,804,00028 Jul 2025, 14:40 BSTwas £6,360,000
- Status changed to active28 Jul 2025, 14:40 BST
- Procurement method changed28 Jul 2025, 14:40 BST
- Contract award notice published20 Nov 2025, 13:07 GMTUK6
- Status changed to complete20 Nov 2025, 13:07 GMT
- Contract signature expected5 Dec 2025, 23:59 GMTscheduled
- Contract details notice published21 Jan 2026, 12:36 GMTUK7
Routine re-releases (4)
- 2025-05: 1 release · 13 May 2025
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Shaw Trust LimitedConnect to Work - Black Country15 Dec 2025 – 31 Mar 2028 | £4,566,530 inc. VAT | 20 Nov 2025standstill to 2 Dec 2025 | Standstill |
| The Shaw Trust LimitedVCSE | £1,902,721 † | — | Awarded |
Contracts
Contract 2 · The Shaw Trust LimitedVCSE
- Signed
- 16 Jan 2026
- Value
- £1,902,721
- Period
- 16 Jan 2026 – 31 Mar 2027 · up to 31 Mar 2028 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- From 1st April 2026 potential variation and extension to deliver Phase 3 and Phase 4 (1st April 2026 to 31st March 2028) Phase 3 = 12 months (Engagement & Support) Phase 4 = 12 months (Support only)
6 agreed KPIs: Programme Starts · Out of Work First Earnings · Lower Threshold Out of work outcome …
- Programme Starts, A minimum number of 565 young people who start on the programme and successfully complete their vocational profile meeting by March 2026.
- Out of Work First Earnings, Number of out of work participants who achieve first earnings within 456 calendar days from the participants programme start date or if extended up to 638 calendar days from the start date
- Lower Threshold Out of work outcome, Number of out of work participants who achieve a lower threshold outcome measured as 9 hours x 13 weeks x NLW and self employed equivalent measured over 13 cumulative weeks
- Higher threshold out of work outcome, Threshold outcome measured as 18 hours x 26 weeks x NLW and self employed equivalent measured over 26 cumulative weeks
- Higher threshold in work outcome, Number of in work participants who sustain 26 weeks of consecutive employment from the point of the participants programme start.
- Number of employment specialists, Number of employments specialists in post each month
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1final-stage tenders | 0 | 1 | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
6 public bodies on the noticeOther public bodies
- Walsall Metropolitan Borough CouncilBeneficiary authority
- City if Wolverhampton CouncilProcuring entityEvaluation of Tenders
- Dudley MBCProcuring entityEvalaution of Tenders
- Sandwell MBCProcuring entityEvaluation of Tenders
- Walsall MBCProcuring entityEvaluation of Tenders
Bidders & participating suppliers
2 commercial parties on the notice- The Shaw TrustAwarded supplier
- The Shaw Trust LimitedAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (5)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Bidding documents and specificationsAccess: Documents that form the Invitation to Tender Pack will be issued to the bidders who progress to ITT stage through Bravo Solution, WMCA's e-tendering portal.
Notices published for this procedure
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender