Official UK procurement notice
250286 Framework Agreement for the Provision of Specialist and Executive Search Services
Authority: Queen's University Belfast (Education)
What is being bought7 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionThe University wishes to establish a framework for the provision of Specialist and Executive Search Services. The appointed suppliers will deliver diverse, high-quality candidates as required for the role, through a combination of market search, networking and advertising.
The successful suppliers must be able to demonstrate a strong working knowledge of the employment markets from which candidates may be drawn. This will include Higher Education institutions but also other sectors where relevant candidates may be found. There should be a strong focus upon the employment markets within the island of Ireland as well as Great Britain, the EU and internationally.
The appointed suppliers will be expected to have a proven track record to work closely with the relevant leadership team in attracting a suitable and diverse pool of highly qualified candidates for the scope of the positions covered under the respective lots they are appointed under.
Further detail is provided within the Specification.
Queen's intends, following the process outlined in this ITT, to establish a closed Framework Agreement for the provision of Specialist and Executive Search Services.
The Framework Agreement will be split into Lots as further detailed below and Queen's envisages that, following the process outlined in the ITT and TRP.
Lot 1A: Temporary Specialist Roles
Lot 1B: Permanent Specialist Roles
Lot 2A: Temporary Executive level roles for Professional Services
Lot 2B: Permanent Executive level roles for Professional Services
Lot 3A: Temporary Executive level roles for Academic Operations
Lot 3B: Permanent Executive level roles for Academic Operations
Lot 4: International roles for overseas locations
Following the process outlined in this ITT and TRP, Queen's intends to appoint 3 Suppliers to each lot of the Framework Agreement and Call-Off Contracts will be awarded in accordance with the Call-Off Procedure provided with this ITT.
- The authority expects to re-tender this requirement around 4 Feb 2030, 23:59 GMT.
CPV: Personnel services except placement and supply services · Recruitment services
How this framework works
From the published notice- Type
- Closed framework
- Call-offs
- every call-off is a further competition among the appointed suppliers
- Framework period
- 1 yr · up to 4 yrs from 1 Jun 2026
Published description of the framework
Following the process outlined in the ITT and TRP, Queen's intends to appoint 3 Suppliers to each lot of the Framework Agreement and Call-Off Contracts will be awarded in accordance with the Call-Off Procedure provided with the ITT. Price is calculated as the combined total of the cost of one appointment in each salary range(s) under each lot. Each appointment cost is made up of the end‑to‑end recruitment service delivery fee-derived by applying the tendered percentage to the assumed salary for the applicable range plus the associated campaign cost.
Lots and requirements (7)Procurement structure
7 lots · all with a published valueEvery one of these 7 lots carries the same published figure, £4,362,500: it is the framework's maximum for the whole notice, not each lot's own budget, and no share per lot is published. The cards below say ceiling above rather than repeat it.
Lot #1Temporary Specialist RolesAwardedRenewalceiling above
This lot is for the search and selection of highly qualified candidates for specialist temporary roles in both academic and professional services areas.
The Supplier is required to identify suitable candidates to fill roles normally at Grade 7 to 10 (or academic grades AC2 to Professorial Range 4).
Temporary positions are likely to be for a minimum of 12 months' cover, such as interim appointments or maternity leave cover, in some cases appointments may be required for a shorter period.
Lot #2Permanent Specialist RolesAwardedRenewalceiling above
This lot is for the search and selection of highly qualified candidates for specialist permanent roles in both academic and professional services areas.
The Supplier is required to identify suitable candidates to fill roles normally at Grade 7 to 10 (or academic grades AC2 to Professorial Range 4).
Lot #3Temporary Executive level roles for Professional ServicesAwardedRenewalceiling above
This lot is for the search and selection of highly qualified candidates for executive level temporary roles in Professional Services (Non-Academic Operations).
The Supplier is required to identify suitable candidates to fill the roles of Director and above, with a salary of over £112k per annum.
Temporary positions are likely to be for a minimum of 12 months' cover, such as interim appointments or maternity leave cover, in some cases appointments may be required for a shorter period.
Lot #4Permanent Executive level roles for Professional ServicesAwardedRenewalceiling above
This lot is for the search and selection of highly qualified candidates for executive level permanent roles in Professional Services (Non-Academic Operations).
The Supplier is required to have the expertise in both national and international markets to identify suitable candidates to fill the roles of Director and above.
Lot #5Temporary Executive level roles for Academic OperationsAwardedRenewalceiling above
This lot is for the search and selection of highly qualified candidates for executive level temporary roles in Academic Operations.
The Supplier is required to have the expertise in both national and international markets to identify suitable candidates to fill the roles of Head of School and above.
Temporary positions are likely to be for a minimum of 12 months' cover, such as interim appointments or maternity leave cover, in some cases appointments may be required for a shorter period.
Lot #6Permanent Executive level roles for Academic OperationsAwardedRenewalceiling above
This lot is for the search and selection of highly qualified candidates for executive level permanent roles in Academic Operations.
The Supplier is required to have the expertise in both national and international markets to identify suitable candidates to fill the roles of Head of School and above.
Lot #7International Roles for Overseas LocationsAwardedRenewalceiling above
This lot is for the search and selection of highly qualified candidates for both academic and professional services roles based in overseas locations.
The Supplier is required to have the expertise in both national and international markets to identify suitable candidates to fill the roles based in overseas locations normally with a salary from £45,349 per annum (for example, any international Queen's University campus).
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
- “250286 Framework Agreement for the Provision of Specialist and…” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract: each call-off is a further competition, so the pricing contest starts after appointment.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Open procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Cancelled
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Framework agreement
- Who may use this agreement
- Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA, CPTPP)
- Recurring procurement
- Yes · next expected 4 Feb 2030
- First published
- 5 Feb 2026, 16:27 GMT
- Last source update
- 24 Jun 2026, 15:33 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 13 May 2026
- Authority reference
250286- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-010676- Latest notice
- Procurement termination notice (UK12)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Not published
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-064968Find a Tender
- Risks
Risks that Queen's considers could either jeopardise the satisfactory performance of the public contract, or may require a subsequent modification to the contract under paragraph 5 of Schedule 8 to the Procurement Act 2023 are detailed within the Specification. The Specification forms part of the associated tender documents, which can be accessed via the link provided within this notice
How it was run
Official notice- Appointment period ends
- 9 Mar 2026, 16:00 GMT
- Clarification deadline
- 23 Feb 2026, 16:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Timeline
5 Feb 2026 → 24 Jun 2026 · 6 dates- Tender notice published259 days ago5 Feb 2026, 16:27 GMT
- Clarification questions by241 days ago23 Feb 2026, 16:00 GMT
- Admission / appointment period ends227 days ago · period end, not a bid countdown9 Mar 2026, 16:00 GMT
- Award decision expected by162 days ago13 May 2026, 23:59 BST
- Contract starts144 days ago1 Jun 2026, 00:00 BST
- Latest notice published120 days ago24 Jun 2026, 15:33 BST
Notice history
7 events · 4 releases on Find a Tender · since 5 Feb 2026- Tender notice published5 Feb 2026, 16:27 GMTUK4
- Tender notice published26 Feb 2026, 14:54 GMTUK4
- Deadline moved to 6 Mar 2026, 16:00 GMT26 Feb 2026, 14:54 GMT+4 days · was 2 Mar 2026, 16:00 GMT
- Tender notice published3 Mar 2026, 16:07 GMTUK4
- Deadline moved to 9 Mar 2026, 16:00 GMT3 Mar 2026, 16:07 GMT+3 days · was 6 Mar 2026, 16:00 GMT
- Procurement termination notice published24 Jun 2026, 15:33 BSTUK12
- Status changed to complete24 Jun 2026, 15:33 BST
Published amendments (2)
Due to formatting error in ITT Appendix 1 - Tender Response Price, this document has been updated to allow all required sections to be completed. Suppliers are required to disregard the previous version and ensure the updated version is completed and returned as part of their tender submission. As such, the deadline for submission to this tender has been extended from 2 March 2026 to 6 March 2026,…
Due to formula error in ITT Appendix 1 - Tender Response (Price), this document has been updated. Suppliers are required to disregard the previous version and ensure the updated version, 250286 - Appendix 1 - Tender Response (Price) v1.2, is completed and returned as part of their tender submission. As such, the deadline for submission to this tender has been extended from 6 March 2026 to 9 March …
Routine re-releases (4)
- 2026-02: 1 release · 5 Feb 2026
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Across several lots1 award | |||
| supplier not published | — | 24 Jun 2026 | CancelledQueen’s is undertaking an internal review of its procurement approach, the standards being required of suppliers and the future requirements for these services. |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (5)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Bidding documents and specifications Tender documents are accessible from web address provided
Notices published for this procedure
- Procurement termination notice Procurement termination notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender