Fidelity Assurance

One of the Government's five missions is to kickstart economic growth with good jobs and improved productivity in every part of the country. The ambition is for a more inclusive economy which enables people to get into work and to get on at work, ensuring employment opportunity for all. The Government aims to take a more collaborative, locally led approach to tackling 'Hidden Unemployment', to support local people to realise their potential through local and national growth.

The new Get Britain Working Strategy will bring fundamental reform that transforms our relationships with local area and ensures we have a strong foundation with which to work in partnership to support people into good, sustainable work. Connect to Work is the first major element in the Get Britain Working Strategy, taking a locally led approach to tackling 'Hidden Unemployment'. Connect to Work will be delivered using two of the most recognised quality standards for Supported Employment. These are Individual Placement and Support (IPS) and Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF), which will offer Participants a model of support most appropriate for them.

Both models have Fidelity scales. High fidelity indicates that a service is being delivered more closely to the Supported Employment model, which is associated with better employment outcomes. IPS support will be required to adhere to a language adapted version of the IPS-25 Fidelity scale (and SEQF support will be required to adhere to the shortened SEQF Fidelity scale. DWP will fund delivery of the Fidelity Assurance requirement for both Supported Employment models (IPS and SEQF) through one contract. This is to ensure a consistent approach nationally.

DWP will be holding a virtual Early Market Engagement event on 09/12/2024 between 10:00 and 11:30 to test the suitability of the business requirement with the market and seek market feedback. Should there be a requirement to hold further Market Engagement events, a further opportunity will be published providing details on how to attend.

To register your interest for the ' Universal Support Fidelity Assurance - Early Market Engagement', please access the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire, pqq_28946, Fidelity Assurance - Early Market Engagement', on https://dwp.bravosolution.co.uk/ . The Pre-Qualification Questionnaire, pqq_28946 is for registering of interest in the Early Market Engagement only. The questionnaire will consist of a selection of questions relating to attendance to the event.

Organisations who have previously registered an interest to attend the Early Market Engagement event which was cancelled in May 2024, have been automatically registered to participate on 09/12/2024. For those organisations who have been automatically registered and no longer wish to attend or there have been changes in the attendees, please notify DWP through the messaging facility within PQQ_28946.

Additional information: How to Express Interest in this Early Market Engagement event: 1. Register on the eSourcing portal (this is only required once): https://dwp.bravosolution.co.uk & click the link to register - Accept the terms & conditions & click 'continue' - Enter your correct business & user details - Note your chosen username & click 'Save'. You will receive an email with your password (keep this secure) 2. Express an Interest in the Early Market Engagement event - Login to the portal with the username/password - Click the 'PQQs / ITTs Open To All Suppliers' link. (These are Pre-Qualification Questionnaires or Invitations to Tender open to any registered supplier) - Click on the relevant exercise to access the content. - Click the 'Express Interest' button at the top of the page. - This will move the PQQ /ITT into your 'My PQQs/ My ITTs' page. (A secure area reserved for your projects only) -You can now access any attachments by clicking 'Buyer Attachments' in the 'PQQ/ ITT Details' box 3. Responding to the Early Market Engagement event - Click 'My Response' under 'PQQ/ ITT Details', you can choose to 'Create Response' or to 'Decline to Respond' (please give a reason if declining) - You can now use the 'Messages' function to communicate with the buyer and seek any clarification - Note the deadline for completion. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the PQQ/ ITT - There may be a mixture of online & offline actions to complete (detailed online help available). To submit your reply use the 'Submit Response' button (top of the page). For further assistance please consult the online help, or the eTendering help desk. DWP expressly reserves the rights(i)to use a reverse auction; (ii)to cancel this procurement at any stage; (iii)to not award any contract as a result of the procurement process commenced by publication of this notice; (iv)and in no circumstances will DWP be liable for any costs incurred by potential suppliers.

A Virtual Data Room will be used by the Department as a document and data repository in order to share information in respect of and related to Fidelity Assurance. Information will be shared on an iterative basis to enable transparency and provide early insight into design and current thinking. This may include draft versions of documentation. The 'Supporting Information' folder will include generic supporting information. The Contents list will be updated as new documentation is provided.