Fidelity Assurance

Connect to Work will be delivered using two of the most recognised quality standards for supported employment: Individual Placement Support (IPS) and Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF). The Fidelity Assurance requirement supplements the delivery of Connect to Work by supporting delivery partners in following the requirements of the IPS and SEQF supported employment models. Both models have Fidelity Scales. The Fidelity Assurance Supplier will be required to deliver the Fidelity Assurance services across England and Wales.

DWP will fund delivery of the Fidelity Assurance requirement for IPS and SEQF through one contract. The Authority has considered whether the Fidelity Assurance services could reasonably be supplied under more than one contract by dividing the procurement into lots based on geographical area. The Authority has concluded that splitting the procurement into lots could make the requirement disproportionately expensive to manage and increase the technical risk to deliver the requirement.

The Authority is awarding a public contract under section 19 of the Procurement Act 2023. The award of that public contract was through an open procedure in accordance with section 20(1) and (2)(a) of the PA 2023, The procurement for the award of that public contract was conducted in accordance with sections 20(1) and (2)(a) the Procurement Act 2023 as an open procedure for the award of a light touch contract.

The redacted Fidelity Assurance contract and schedules can be accessed, free of charge, via the following link https://dwp2.my.salesforce.com/sfc/p/QH00000FUqLV/a/dO0000009w81/PqEE3pdwSpioNJVlXeD9sDqAbGuZnrsbhpfK9ozw2J0