Employability Services Procured Service Arrangement - Phase 4

The procurement seeks to appoint providers to South Lanarkshire Council’s Employability Procured Service Arrangement (PSA), a bespoke flexible framework originally designed for employability services but open to all council services. The PSA will be awarded using the “light‑touch” procedure defined in Regulations 74‑76 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015, allowing a non‑discriminatory, equal‑treatment selection process without the need for a traditional open or restricted call. The arrangement is intended to remain open for its entire lifetime, permitting new providers to be added at regular intervals, with each phase of evaluation followed by a reopening for further applications. No variants or options are accepted, and the PSA will run for 120 months with renewal opportunities.

Four distinct lots constitute the PSA. Lot 1, Work‑Based Learning, requires the delivery of vocational qualifications such as SVQ Level 2 or 3, foundation apprenticeships at levels 4 or 5, sector‑specific training, and industry certification programmes (for example, CSCS Level 1 and emergency first aid). Lot 2, Targeted Support Services, focuses on one‑to‑one or small group tailored support for individuals facing multiple employment barriers. Lot 3, Health, Wellbeing and Financial Support, provides holistic interventions to overcome health, wellbeing, debt and financial obstacles through counselling, mental‑health, financial advice and specialist therapies. Lot 4, Other, offers a flexible bucket for innovative employability programmes that do not fall into the previous categories, allowing the council to respond to emerging local labour‑market needs. All lots are subject to the same quality‑first award criteria and must deliver services in accordance with relevant UK training, health‑safety, and employment standards.

The Council is seeking to appoint service providers to the Employability Procured Service Arrangement (PSA). This is a bespoke arrangement/flexible framework which has been developed primarily for Employability Services but can be accessed by all services within the Council.
The PSA will be procured using the “light touch” procedure set out in Regulations 74 -76 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 (“the 2015 Regulations”). This allows the Council to carry out a selection process which adopts the principles of equal treatment, non-discrimination and transparency and complies with procurement best practice without requiring the use of the traditional open or restricted procedure set out in the 2015 Regulations.
The PSA has a broad scope of service delivery with the opportunity for many providers to be appointed. There is no limit on the number of providers who can be appointed to any of the lots under the PSA. The PSA remains open for its lifetime which allows for new providers to be added over its term, at regular intervals which will be advised by the Council. Applicants to the PSA will be evaluated in ‘Phases’, based on the closing date for each Phase. Following the closing of each Phase, the PSA will re-open for new applications for the next Phase.

Information about variants:

Variants will be accepted: No

Information about options:

Options: No

Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted:

EN

Conditions for opening of tenders:

Date: 03/12/2026

Local time: 12:00

Place:

South Lanarkshire Council

Information about recurrence:

This is a recurrent procurement: Yes

Estimated timing for further notices to be published:

The PSA will be published and evaluated in phases. On closing of the current phase, the Council will publish the next phase with a closing date of 6 months from publication date.

This contract is divided into lots: Yes

Lot 1:
Work Based Learning
Description of the procurement:
Work Based Learning
This lot focuses on the delivery of work-based learning programmes / qualifications which may include industry-specific training to prepare individuals for roles in key employment sectors. Training is designed to meet the current and emerging needs of local employers and industry, equipping participants with the technical knowledge and qualifications required for their chosen field.
Services may include but is not limited to:
The delivery of vocational qualifications e.g. SVQ Level 2 or 3 in Health & Social care or childcare, Foundation Apprenticeship level 4 or 5 in Construction / Auto engineering / Hospitality.
Sector based work academies
The delivery of certificated training e.g. Emergency First Aid, Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) Level 1 award, REHIS Elementary Food Hygiene, moving and handling.
Pre-employment training including a blend of employability skills e.g. communication, teamwork, problem-solving, leadership, time management, critical or creative thinking.
This lot will be procured through the Procured Services Arrangement (PSA).
Place of performance:
NUTS code:
UKM95
Main site or place of performance:
South Lanarkshire
Award criteria:
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Quality / Weighting: 90
Price / Weighting: 10
Duration of the contract:
Duration in months: 120
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
On completion of the initial evaluation process and appointment of Bidders to the Procured Services Arrangement, the ITT will reopen to
new bids. The ITT will remain open for the lifetime of the PSA. There are no limits to the number of times that bidders can submit bids.

Lot 2:
Targeted Support Services
Description of the procurement:
Targeted Support Services
This lot is aimed at delivering services targeted at individuals with multiple barriers to employment who require individually tailored support to gain employment or further learning / training. This may be delivered as individual one-to-one keyworker support or as a group-based employability programme.
This lot will be procured via a Procured Services Arrangement (PSA).
Place of performance:
NUTS code:
UKM95
Main site or place of performance:
South Lanarkshire
Award criteria:
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Quality / Weighting: 90
Price / Weighting: 10
Duration of the contract:
Duration in months: 120
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
On completion of the initial evaluation process and appointment of Bidders to the Procured Services Arrangement, the ITT will reopen to new bids. The ITT will remain open for the lifetime of the PSA. There are no limits to the number of times that bidders can submit bids.

Lot 3:
Health, wellbeing and financial support
Description of the procurement:
Health, wellbeing and financial support
This lot supports the holistic development of individuals by addressing health and wellbeing barriers that may hinder employability by delivering activities that promote mental health, physical wellness, and resilience in the workplace.
Bidders will be expected to deliver a range of services designed to address specific issues relating to health and wellbeing and specific barriers including debt and financial issues.
Activities may include but is not limited to:
Support to improve health and fitness
Delivery of activities designed to increase engagement and confidence including arts and crafts, cultural activity
Counselling and mental health support
Advice and guidance relating to alcohol and drug misuse
Financial advice and support
Therapeutic interventions
Specialist supports and interventions
This lot will be procured via a Procured Service Arrangement (PSA).
Place of performance:
NUTS code:
UKM95
Main site or place of performance:
South Lanarkshire
Award criteria:
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Quality / Weighting: 90
Price / Weighting: 10
Duration of the contract:
Duration in months: 120
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
On completion of the initial evaluation process and appointment of Bidders to the Procured Services Arrangement, the ITT will reopen to new bids. The ITT will remain open for the lifetime of the PSA. There are no limits to the number of times that bidders can submit bids.

Lot 4:
Other
Description of the procurement:
Other Employability Services
This lot serves as a flexible category to accommodate employability services and programmes that do not fall within the specific scope of Lots 1-3 but still contribute to supporting individuals towards positive employment or learning outcomes. It allows for innovative, niche, or emerging provision that addresses unique challenges or opportunities within the local labour market.
This lot will be procured via a Procured Services Arrangement (PSA).
Place of performance:
NUTS code:
UKM95
Main site or place of performance:
South Lanarkshire
Award criteria:
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Quality / Weighting: 90
Price / Weighting: 10
Duration of the contract:
Duration in months: 120
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
On completion of the initial evaluation process and appointment of Bidders to the Procured Services Arrangement, the ITT will reopen to new bids. The ITT will remain open for the lifetime of the PSA. There are no limits to the number of times that bidders can submit bids.