Youth Engagement Service/Integrated Settlement NEET

Opportunity overview

The Youth Engagement Service/Integrated Settlement NEET is a service that will deliver targeted activity for young people who are NEET, at risk of becoming NEET, or not yet ready to access mainstream post-16 provision without additional preparation NEET prevention and reduction activity for Manchester residents aged 15-18. The primary focus of this service is young people aged 16-18 who are NEET or at risk of disengagement, young people aged 15 who require earlier preventative support, and eligible young people up to age 25 where this relates to SEND with an Education, Health and Care Plan or Manchester Care Leavers. The service will support these young people to build confidence, readiness, skills and motivation; develop a clear destination plan; access high-quality information, advice and guidance; and move towards an appropriate EET outcome. The service is a distinct targeted progression and re-engagement service which complements, but does not duplicate, the statutory NEET Prevention and Reduction Service (NPRS). The service will add capacity where young people require bespoke support, structured activity, employability development, mentoring, information, advice and guidance, or a staged pathway before they are able to enter or sustain an education, employment or training destination.

Lot 1 — Contract lot

Estimated lot value including VAT: £1.2m

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 2028

Maximum term ends: 31 March 2029

Extension: One year contract with the option to extend for an additional one year.

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: 30 October 2026 at 11:00 am

Submission deadline: 9 November 2026 at 11:00 am

Award decision expected by: 22 December 2026 at 11:59 pm

Electronic submissions: allowed

Submission language: EN

CPV Classification

80310000 — Youth education services; 80521000 — Training programme 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 9th 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 Youth Engagement Service/Integrated Settlement NEET 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.