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Published 30 Sept 2026, 16:46 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Cabot Learning Federation - Provision of HR and Payroll System

Official notice

Authority: Cabot Learning Federation Multi Academy Trust (Public body)·Consortium: 2 public authorities

ServicesOpen procedureAbove thresholdSME suitable
Published estimate£1,400,000≈ £311k / year · £1,680,000 inc. VAT
Submissions closed 6 Nov 2026
Contract term 4 yrs 6 moends 31 Jul 2031 · up to 31 Jul 2032 with extensions · starts 15 Jan 2027
Notice summaryFrom the published notice

Tenderers are invited to tender for the provision of an HRIS solution and fully managed payroll service. Tenderers may propose either a fully integrated solution or separate HR and payroll systems, provided that data can be transferred securely, accurately and efficiently between the two systems, with minimal manual intervention.

What is being bought

Published requirement description

Tenderers are invited to tender for the provision of an HRIS solution and fully managed payroll service. Tenderers may propose either a fully integrated solution or separate HR and payroll systems, provided that data can be transferred securely, accurately and efficiently between the two systems, with minimal manual intervention. Full details of all contract requirements are set out in this document – Document 2: Specification of Requirements.

  • The authority expects to re-tender this requirement around 31 Mar 2032, 23:59 BST.
  • No preliminary market engagement: The Trust initially intended to award the contract by way of a call-off under an existing framework and engaged with suppliers appointed to that framework to explore that route. As the engagement was undertaken in connection with the proposed framework call-off, the Trust did not publish a preliminary market engagement notice. Information obtained through the engagement informed the Trust’s procurement strategy, following which it decided not to proceed with the framework call-off and instead to conduct an open procedure. The Trust has taken appropriate steps to ensure that suppliers involved in the engagement are not unfairly advantaged and that competition is not distorted, including making relevant information arising from the engagement available through the procurement documents.

CPV: Payroll management services · Personnel and payroll services · Software package and information systems

Open work like this

This notice no longer takes bids · live search, filters set

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · value published
Lot #1Renewal 4 yrs 6 moSMEPublished value£1,400,000
Contract period: 15 Jan 2027 – 31 Jul 2031 (4 yrs 6 mo) · up to 31 Jul 2032 with extensionsValue: £1,400,000 exc. VAT · £1,680,000 inc. VAT
Delivery: South WestEligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: The description of the options. The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid. To enable schools who join the Trust to be added to the Contract and for additional modules or services to be included that relate to HR and Payroll and Pension Service. · The estimated contract start date will be 15th January 2027, with the system/service go-live planned for June – July 2027 and is to be for a period of four (4) years from system go-live, with the possible extension of two (2) further years in 12-month intervals (4 + 1 +1).
Pre-qualification & selection criteria (PQQ)2
  • Economic & financial standing

    Bidders must demonstrate that their financial position is sufficiently robust to support both the implementation and ongoing delivery of the System. Bidders must provide their audited financial statements for the previous two financial years. Where audited accounts are not available, bidders should provide certified accounts or equivalent financial information. Bidders should disclose any known events that may materially impact their financial position during the contract term (for example, planned sale, refinancing, or restructuring). Minimum Turnover Requirement The bidder’s annual turnover must be at least two times the estimated annual contract value. Net Asset Position Bidders must demonstrate a positive net asset position in their most recent financial statements Liquidity and Access to Financial Resources Bidders must demonstrate access to adequate financial resources to support ongoing business operations and contractual commitments. Revenue Model Stability Bidders must describe their revenue model, including the proportion of income that is recurring, contractually committed, or otherwise predictable. The Trust will assess the economic and financial standing of bidders to ensure that the successful supplier has the financial capacity and resilience required to deliver the contract for its full duration. The Trust is seeking a financially resilient supplier capable of sustaining long-term service delivery. The assessment is designed to ensure resilience rather than favour organisations of a particular size. The assessment will be conducted in accordance with the principles of proportionality, transparency, and equal treatment. Insurance requirements - can commit to obtain, prior to the award of the contract, the levels of insurance cover indicated below a. Employer’s (Compulsory) Liability Insurance = £10m b. b. Public Liability Insurance = £10m c. c. Professional Indemnity Insurance = £1m d. d. Product Liability Insurance = £1m e. Cyber and Data Protection Insurance = £1m

  • Technical & professional ability

    Relevant experience and contract examples – Provide details of up to three contracts to meet conditions of participation relating to technical ability set out in the relevant notice or procurement documents, in any combination from the education sector. The examples must be from the past three years. To constitute a pass, the minimum of two contract examples provided shall be relevant to the complexity of the requirement, with a sufficient level of detail that provides confidence in the Tenderer’s established past experience in similar and relevant projects/contracts from the education sector providing this HRIS Solution &Payroll and Pension service. Organisational Standards - Please provide details of the Quality Management and Information, Security standards such as ISO 9001 and ISO 27001, or equivalent internationally recognised certifications. You must confirm that the scope of these certifications explicitly covers the services proposed within this procurement. Where equivalent standards are offered, please explain how they meet or exceed the requirements of the specified ISO standards. Bidders must submit the following evidence:

    • Copies of current certification issued by an accredited certification body.
    • Copy of the certification scope statement demonstrating that the services being procured fall within the accredited scope.
    • Confirmation of certification validity dates.
    • Details of any non-conformities identified during the most recent audit and the corrective actions taken.

What it takes to win
i

Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add more
How bids were scored
Quality: 60%Price: 40%
Published sub-criteria (2)
  • Quality Assessment: 60%
  • Price Assessment: 40%
Published award criteria (2)
  • Quality Assessment: (Software Functionality) 35% (Quality Questions) 25%
  • Price Assessment: The Tenderer with the lowest overall price position for the Trust over the contract period of 6 years will be awarded the full 40% the marks available for overall price. All other Tenderers’ scores will be calculated relative to this best overall financial offer
Conditions of participation2
  • Economic & financial standing

    Bidders must demonstrate that their financial position is sufficiently robust to support both the implementation and ongoing delivery of the System. Bidders must provide their audited financial statements for the previous two financial years. Where audited accounts are not available, bidders should provide certified accounts or equivalent financial information. Bidders should disclose any known events that may materially impact their financial position during the contract term (for example, planned sale, refinancing, or restructuring). Minimum Turnover Requirement The bidder’s annual turnover must be at least two times the estimated annual contract value. Net Asset Position Bidders must demonstrate a positive net asset position in their most recent financial statements Liquidity and Access to Financial Resources Bidders must demonstrate access to adequate financial resources to support ongoing business operations and contractual commitments. Revenue Model Stability Bidders must describe their revenue model, including the proportion of income that is recurring, contractually committed, or otherwise predictable. The Trust will assess the economic and financial standing of bidders to ensure that the successful supplier has the financial capacity and resilience required to deliver the contract for its full duration. The Trust is seeking a financially resilient supplier capable of sustaining long-term service delivery. The assessment is designed to ensure resilience rather than fa…

  • Technical & professional ability

    Relevant experience and contract examples – Provide details of up to three contracts to meet conditions of participation relating to technical ability set out in the relevant notice or procurement documents, in any combination from the education sector. The examples must be from the past three years. To constitute a pass, the minimum of two contract examples provided shall be relevant to the complexity of the requirement, with a sufficient level of detail that provides confidence in the Tenderer’s established past experience in similar and relevant projects/contracts from the education sector providing this HRIS Solution &Payroll and Pension service. Organisational Standards - Please provide details of the Quality Management and Information, Security standards such as ISO 9001 and ISO 27001, or equivalent internationally recognised certifications. You must confirm that the scope of these certifications explicitly covers the services proposed within this procurement. Where equivalent standards are offered, please explain how they meet or exceed the requirements of the specified ISO standards. Bidders must submit the following evidence:

    • Copies of current certification issued by an accredited certification body.
    • Copy of the certification scope statement demonstrating that the services being procured fall within the accredited scope.
    • Confirmation of certification validity dates.
    • Details of any non-conformities identified during the most recent audit and the corrective acti…
What this means for your bid
  • Price carries 40 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 4 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.

Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.

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
Closed
Procurement threshold
Above threshold (FTS publication)
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Yes (GPA)
Recurring procurement
Yes · next expected 31 Mar 2032
First published
30 Sept 2026, 16:46 BST
Last source update
30 Sept 2026, 16:46 BST
Award evaluation window
Submission end – 17 Dec 2026
Authority reference
CLF01.01
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-092572
Latest notice
Tender notice (UK4)
Classification (CPV)
Payroll management servicesPersonnel and payroll servicesSoftware package and information systems
Delivery area
South West (UKK)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-077e0e Find a Tender
Contract terms summary

The Trust requires the following payment profile: a. Implementation Costs

  • 25% invoiced upon Contract Signature
  • 25% invoiced upon completion of the build
  • 25% following completion of testing
  • 25% following go live plus 1 month All Inclusive Cost
  • System & Support – annually in advance
  • Payroll & Pension Service - Monthly invoice in arrears, per payslip charge
Review and risk notes
Risks
  1. Data Accuracy & Input Risk: Inconsistent or late inputs from academies can cause payroll errors. 2. Integration & Systems Compatibility Risks: Unclear or evolving integration requirements may disrupt operations. 3. Implementation & Transition Risks: Complex migrations, legacy data, and tight timelines can cause failures. 4. Compliance & Legislative Risk: High risk of non?compliance with LGPS, TPS, HMRC, and sector requirements. 5. Governance & Approval? Chain Risk: Multi-level approvals may delay payroll runs. 6. Service Reliability & Business Continuity: Outages or poor resilience may cause missed pay dates. 7. Vendor Performance, Capacity & Resourcing Risks: Under?resourcing can slow turnaround and increase errors. 8. Query Management & Support Risk: Insufficient helpdesk responsiveness impacts accuracy and staff satisfaction. 9. Contractual & Liability Risks: Liability caps may be insufficient for high?impact payroll errors. 10. Scalability & Expansion Risks: Onboarding new schools can be delayed or inaccurate. 11. Cultural, Process & Change Management Risk: Low adoption and inconsistent processes increase error likelihood. 12. Trust Control & Visibility Risk: Reduced visibility or audit access undermines governance.

How it was run

Official notice
Run through: EU-Supply (CTM) · Who buys & how to bid on EU-Supply
Public notice page · account needed to bidElectronic submission allowedLanguage: EN
Access & registration note: Free · 5–10 minutes
Submission deadline
6 Nov 2026, 12:00 GMT
Clarification deadline
23 Oct 2026, 12:00 BST
Submission channel
Official e-sourcing portal
Electronic submission
Allowed
Accepted languages
en
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

Timeline

30 Sept 2026 → 15 Jan 2027 · 5 dates
  1. Tender notice published45 days ago
    30 Sept 2026, 16:46 BST
  2. Clarification questions by22 days ago
    23 Oct 2026, 12:00 BST
  3. Submission deadline8 days ago
    6 Nov 2026, 12:00 GMT
  4. Today
    15 Nov 2026
  5. Award decision expected byin 32 days
    17 Dec 2026, 23:59 GMT
  6. Contract startsin 60 days
    15 Jan 2027

Notice history

1 event · 1 release on Find a Tender
  1. Tender notice published
    30 Sept 2026, 16:46 BST
    UK4

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

2 public bodies on the notice

Cabot Learning Federation Multi Academy Trust

Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government GB-PPON: PQMH-7586-GPYL Kings Oak Academy, Brook Road, Kingswood, Bristol, South West, BS15 4JTContact email

Consortium members and other public bodies

  • PHP Law LLPContracting authorityProcess contact pointPublic authority - sub-central governmentGB-PPON: PPRM-9434-VNYQ Totnes, South WestContact name, email, phone

Official documents & specifications (1)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure

  • Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender