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Tender description

The Contracting Authority, in collaboration with a number of UK Local Authorities (excluding Scotland who will run their own programme), is in the process of implementing a new Work and Health Programme, with the objective of transforming employment support for those furthest from the labour market — those with health conditions and disabilities and the very long term unemployed. The new Work and Health Programme will provide support to the very long term unemployed claimants as well as the targeted referrals of claimants with disabilities and health issues. The programme will replace services currently provided under the Work Choice and Work Programme. The intention is that services will be provided through a number of contracts serving pre-defined ‘Contract Package Areas’ (CPAs) spread across England and Wales. Each CPA will be procured as an individual Lot with successful economic operators offering services via a diverse supply chain. The Department reserves the right to form a framework of suppliers who meet the minimum criteria for the contract but who are unsuccessful at the ITT stage of the competition. The Contracting Authority is working in full collaboration with English and Welsh Local Authorities in accordance with Devolved Deals with the aim of implementing a programme which optimises the opportunity to integrate services provided by other bodies. The Department is already beginning to undertake consultation and engagement activity with Local Authorities, the market, disability representative organisations, employers and other key stakeholders on the design of the services, including the service structure, how people will be referred to the programme, and how partners including local authorities, are able to support sustained outcomes, i.e. placing people back into sustained employment. Further details on the design of the programme will be published in the next Notice. This Notice invites economic operators to express their interest in the programme and a desire to be included in the consultation process. The Department will be using a light touch procurement process for the Work and Health Programme competition. The Department intends to implement Supplier Accreditation and Passporting (SAaP) as part of the Work and Health Programme. This approach will streamline the tender process, aims to reduce the burden on bidding organisations, and provide early access to Departmental policies, processes, instructions and expectations to help inform decisions. Further information regarding SAaP, the process and the requirements, will be provided at the forthcoming Market Engagement Events. All organisations wishing to participate at Pre-Qualification Questionnaire Stage will be required to submit their SAaP registration prior to submitting a tender. The Authority intends to host a number of targeted market engagement event(s) to discuss with potential suppliers the policy, commercial and financial aspects of the requirement prior to finalising the specification and associated bidding documentation. More information about the event will be published on our electronic tendering system BRAVO. These will be on areas such as, but not exclusively: programme design, customer journey, performance, finance, SIB's, Supplier Accreditation and Passporting process. These events will be held in Birmingham and London at the end of May. Please register your interest via the BRAVO system and we will send more information nearer the time. Estimated cost excluding VAT to 2020/21 will be at c.120 000 000 GBP a year. Additional monies may be made available from other sources of funding.