Connect to Work

What the buyer is asking for

The London Borough of Lambeth Council seek to commission up to four local providers to deliver Supported Employment provision through the targeted Individual Placement and Support (IPS) ‘Place and Train’ model. This model is designed to move people rapidly into employment and provide 12 months of ongoing support for both the employer and the individual to sustain that employment. Connect to Work in Lambeth is funded through Department for Work and Pensions grant funding. The programme forms part of the Government’s Get Britain Working proposals and is intended to reduce economic inactivity, improve wellbeing and strengthen financial resilience. The procurement is divided into two LOTs that includes LOT 1 - Integrated welfare, benefits and employment support and LOT 2 - Community Innovation and Special. LOT 1 will be awarded to a single provider whilst LOT 2 will be awarded to three providers. The aggregated contract value of LOT 2 is split equally among the awarded providers. The contract will run for a period of three years with no option for extension and the anticipated start date is the 2nd March 2027.

How this is scored

Published by the buyer. A winning response is written to these weightings, not to the question.

• 25%qualityMS1 - Service Delivery ModelPlease describe your proposed end-to-end service delivery model for delivering the Connect to Work programme in Lambeth, clearly setting out: • How your model aligns with the IPS (Individual Placement and Support) ‘Place and Train’ approach, including how you will ensure fidelity to IPS principles • The participant journey, from referral, assessment, engagement, job matching, in-work support, and progression • How you will provide personalised, trauma-informed support, particularly for priority cohorts • Your approach to employer engagement, job brokerage, and sustaining employment outcomes • How your model ensures timely access to employment opportunities, reducing delays between referral and job outcomes • How you will ensure quality, consistency, and scalability of delivery across the borough
• 20%qualityMS2 - ExperiencePlease outline your organisation’s relevant experience and track record in delivering supported employment services, including: • Delivery of IPS or similar employment models, including scale and outcomes achieved • Experience supporting priority cohorts (e.g. people with disabilities, health conditions, NEET individuals, or disadvantaged groups) • Evidence of achieving sustained job outcomes, including retention and progression • Examples of innovation or best practice that improved outcomes • Experience working in urban/local authority contexts, ideally within London or similar settings
• 13%qualityMS3 - Partnership and collaborationPlease describe how you will work in partnership and integrate with local services, including: • How you will collaborate with Lambeth Council, DWP, health services, VCS organisations, and other stakeholders • Your approach to co-location, joint working, and referral pathways • How you will avoid duplication and create a joined-up local offer • Your strategy for engaging local employers and supply chains, including SMEs • How you will support a system-wide approach to employment and skills
• 7%qualityMS4 EDIPlease explain your organisation’s approach to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in delivering this service, including: • How you will ensure equitable access for all participants, particularly those facing multiple barriers • Your approach to supporting people with disabilities, neurodiverse individuals, and those with additional needs • How you will address inequalities in employment outcomes across different groups
• 8%qualityMS5 - Performance Management and ReportingPlease describe your approach to performance management, monitoring, and continuous improvement, including: • How you will track key performance indicators (KPIs) (e.g. referrals, job starts, sustainment, progression) • Your approach to data collection, management, and reporting, including frequency and systems used • How you will ensure data accuracy and compliance (e.g. GDPR) • How you will use data to drive continuous improvement and adapt delivery • Your approach to reporting to the Council and stakeholders
• 7%qualityMS6 - Improvement and Development ManagementPlease outline your proposed staffing model, including: • Structure of delivery teams and roles/responsibilities • How you will recruit and retain qualified and experienced staff • Training programmes, particularly around IPS fidelity, safeguarding, and EDI • Arrangements for supervision, performance management, and staff wellbeing • How you will ensure capacity and resilience within the team
• 20%pricePrice schedule of servicesThree years contract price summary - commercially sensitive

2 lots

You can usually bid for one lot without bidding for all of them.

• Integrated welfare, benefits and employment support£378k

  Prime Contractor / high-volume delivery (IPS “Place and Train”) for priority cohorts (Integrated Welfare, Benefits and Employment Support) as set out in the Specification

• Community Innovation and Specialist Delivery£567k

  Specialist and community-based organisations to deliver innovative supported employment interventions that respond to identified local need as per Specification (Appendix B - Requirement Document).

How contested is this?

Buyers publish how many bids they received. Across 235 comparable procurements we can tell you the typical field size, how often one of these goes uncontested, and whether the buyer awards on price or on quality.

Timeline

4 published dates · Europe/London

1. Tender notice published11 days ago

   26 Oct 2026, 11:04 GMT
2. Clarification questions bytoday

   6 Nov 2026, 17:00 GMT
3. Submission deadlinein 10 days

   16 Nov 2026, 12:00 GMT
4. Award decision expected byin 109 days

   23 Feb 2027, 23:59 GMT

Commercial outcome and contract awards

Nothing awarded yet

Notice history

4 events · 4 releases on Find a Tender

1. Pipeline or early engagement notice14 Oct 2026, 11:43 BST096919-2026
2. Tender notice19 Oct 2026, 14:24 BST098531-2026
3. Tender updated19 Oct 2026, 14:54 BST098572-2026
4. Tender updated26 Oct 2026, 11:04 GMT100900-2026

Documents

• Tender notice on Find a Tender