NEET Prevention & Reduction Service

Opportunity overview

The service is an integrated NEET Prevention and Reduction Service to support the Local Authority in meeting its statutory duties for participation, tracking and support for young people aged 16 and 17. The service will deliver a preventative, intelligence-led model that reduces the number of young people who are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) and reduces Unknown destinations. The service is to support young people aged 13-16 who are at risk of becoming NEET; young people aged 16 and 17 who are NEET or at risk of disengagement; young people up to age 25 with an Education, Health and Care Plan; Manchester Care Leavers; and other identified vulnerable cohorts to re-engage in education, employment and training through the provision of holistic support, and appropriate referral and signposting to specialist services.

Lot 1 — Contract lot

Estimated lot value including VAT: £3.7m

Participation condition: See tender documents.

Award criterion: Quality: 60%

Award criterion: Social Value: 20%

Award criterion: Environment: 10%

Award criterion: Price: 10%

Suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Suitable for voluntary, community and social enterprises.

Contract starts: 31 March 2027

Initial contract ends: 31 March 2029

Maximum term ends: 31 March 2031

Extension: Two year contract with the option to extend for an additional two years.

Contracting authority

Manchester City Council Town Hall Extension, Manchester, M60 2LA, UKD33, United Kingdom Email: procurement@manchester.gov.uk Website: https://www.manchester.gov.uk/

Procurement timetable and procedure

Procedure: Open procedure

Special regime: Light Touch Regime

Clarification deadline: 23 October 2026 at 11:00 am

Submission deadline: 2 November 2026 at 11:00 am

Award decision expected by: 18 December 2026 at 11:59 pm

Electronic submissions: allowed

Submission language: EN

CPV Classification

80310000 — Youth education services; 85312300 — Guidance and counselling services

How to submit

The official Find a Tender notice directs suppliers to ProContract. The procurement documents, clarifications and response area are managed there.

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Documents

• The Council is using the e-business portal known as the Chest. Applicants will need to register their details at the following link www.the-chest.org.uk . Once registered, applicants will be emailed a log-in and password which will allow them to gain access to the documentation relating to this opportunity. Applicants will need to electronically submit their completed tender documents, including procurement specific questionnaire, via the on-line portal by 11am on 2nd November 2026 as referred to in the tender documentation. Any clarification queries must also be submitted via the Chest website by the date referred to in the tender documentation.

TenderLab qualification first

Before we write, we establish whether the opportunity fits.

We examine the published participation conditions, service scope, geography, regulatory position, available evidence, mobilisation demands and commercial exposure with your team. We only confirm a full tender-writing engagement when the available information supports a responsible view that the provider meets the tender requirements.

If NEET Prevention & Reduction Service is a credible fit, we can map the scored requirements, gather operational evidence and build the response around the buyer documents. The qualification check and any writing support do not guarantee an award; the contracting authority makes the final decision.