Supported Employment Services

This Preliminary Market Engagement Notice is not a call for competition. It is being published to consult the market and give notice of an upcoming procurement anticipated for release in August 2025.

Dorset Council is undertaking preliminary market engagement, with the aim of requesting feedback from supported employment providers, to hear views, and coproduce how the service could be delivered. The service delivery would commence on 1st of April 2026.

Dorset Council anticipate that the contract will run for an initial period of 2 years, with 3 x optional 12-month extension periods, giving a total of 5 years. The £900K total contract value, includes all possible 3 x 1-year extensions. Please note that these extensions are optional and so this total value is not guaranteed.

Potential bidders are all encouraged to register on the Central Digital Platform, as well as the Council's e-tendering portal, Supplying the South West - please follow this link to this opportunity: https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=e71cea6a-914b-f011-8138-005056b64545&p=696a9836-1895-e511-8105-000c29c9ba21

GENERAL NOTES

Any procurement for the supply and services required by the Council will be carried out strictly in accordance with Procurement Regulations.

This Preliminary Market Engagement Notice is not a call for competition and is published with the intention of informing the market of an upcoming procurement process.

Dorset Council reserves the right not to commence any procurement in respect of this notice.

Dorset Council shall not be liable for any losses incurred by any party as a result of reliance on the information contained/linked herein.

The information contained in this Preliminary Market Engagement Notice is preliminary in nature and may be subject to further amendment and revision. Accordingly, no representation or warranty, expressed or implied, is being made and no liability is, or will be, accepted by the Council at any time as to the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of the contents of this notice. Any liability however arising is expressly disclaimed.

No expense in responding to this soft market testing will be reimbursed by the Council.