Official UK procurement notice
DCEA Scotland Migration Service
Authority: Scottish Government (Central government)
What is being bought2 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionMoving to another country can be challenging. The Scottish Government wants people not only to move to Scotland, but to stay. Migrants’ first few months here and their reception are crucial to their overall experience. The service will provide information and advice to people who are thinking about moving to Scotland, or who have just moved here. TAMS will provide up-to-date and accurate information in plain English. This information will cover topics to help people move and settle into their communities. The service will provide bespoke one-to-one advice.
CPV: Legal advisory and information services · Legal advisory and representation services · Legal advisory services · Legal services
Lots and requirements (2)Procurement structure
2 lots · all with a published value (£5,000,000 together) · evaluation weights differ by lotLot #1Immigration support for employersRenewalPublished value£3,000,000
Many employers in Scotland face skills shortages. The ending of free movement has made it harder for employers to get the talent they need. The UK’s immigration system is complex and bureaucratic. Employers require good quality advice and information to help them navigate the system. Our discovery work to date suggests that employers’ immigration needs are best met through three tiers of support.
Tier one will be a universal offer, available to everyone, and will include the provision of up-to-date and accurate immigration information in plain English.
Tier two support will be a ‘one to many’ offer. It will assist employers who are actively seeking to recruit talent to Scotland.
Tier three support will entail one-to-one advice for employers whose needs are not met through the first two tiers. The supplier will be responsible for organising, hosting and delivering advice sessions.
Lot #2Reception and Immigration Support for IndividualRenewalPublished value£2,000,000
People face challenges when moving to another country. The Scottish Government want people not only to move to Scotland, but to stay. People need good quality information to plan and execute their move. People’s first few months in Scotland and their reception is crucial to their overall experience. We therefore seek a supplier that will provide information and advice to people who have decided to move to Scotland, or who have just moved here. Our discovery work suggests that people’s reception needs are best met through two tiers of support.
Tier 1 support will be up-to-date and accurate information about moving to Scotland in plain English.
Tier 2 support will be one-to-one advice to people in the UK. The supplier will be responsible for organising, hosting and delivering the advice sessions.
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).
Lots publish different evaluation splits; there is no single procedure weighting.
| Lot | Quality | Price | Split |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Immigration support for employers | 100 | 20 | |
| 2 · Reception and Immigration Support for Individual | 100 | 20 |
- Suitability
Lots 1 and 2 entail the provision of immigration advice, which is regulated by the 1999 Immigration and Asylum Act. The provider will be regulated by a relevant professional body (such as the Law Society of Scotland) or with the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner. The supplier will be responsible for meeting the compliance requirements of their respective professional or regulatory bodies. We expect advisors to meet at least the OISC’s Level 1 immigration competence or equivalent.
- Economic & financial standing
Financial Ratio - The Current Ratio will be calculated as follows: net current assets divided by net current liabilities.
There must be no qualification or contra-indication from any evidence provided in support of the bidders economic and financial standing.
Insurance - Bidders must confirm they already have or commit to obtain the levels of insurance indicated as follows; Public Liability, Professional Risk Indemnity, Employer's (Compulsory) Liability.
Minimum: Bidders must demonstrate a Current Ratio of greater than 1. Bidders must confirm they already have or commit to obtain the levels of insurance indicated as follows; Public Liability 5 Million GBP, Professional Risk Indemnity 2 Million GBP, Employer's (Compulsory) Liability in acc… - Technical & professional ability
The provision of immigration advice is regulated, and the provider will meet the provisions of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. The provider must be a member or a relevant professional body or registered with the OISC.
Minimum: Advice provided must meet, at a minimum, Level 1 standards of the Office of Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) or equivalent. - Technical & professional ability
This service involves the provision of immigration advice, which is regulated by the 1999 Immigration and Asylum Act. The provider will be regulated by a relevant professional body (such as the Law Society of Scotland) or with the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner. The supplier will be responsible for meeting the compliance requirements of their respective professional or regulatory bodies. We expect advisors to meet at least the OISC’s Level 1 immigration competence or equivalent.
- Price carries 20 points on every lot: a 10% discount moves about 2 points.
- Turnover usually expected: about £4,000,000 – ~£6,000,000 per lot (twice each lot's annual value).
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula. Turnover is an indicative market norm (≈2× annual value), not a published condition.
Competition analysis · published record, not a forecast of who will bid
How Scottish Government runs Legal services (CPV 7910) tenders for its clients, and who usually turns up
Scottish Government procures on behalf of other bodies; its record below covers every client it has tendered for, next to the published market for the same work. Frameworks and DPS are kept out: they attract a different number of bids. Whole-market view: Legal services (CPV 7910) →
How the contest usually goes
Winner shares use published awards; bid and price charts use contested lots.
i
How often small and medium firms win.
Share of awards where the winner’s size is known.
The counts under this question show how many awards have a known supplier size.
Small firms have won here. Neither number says whether you qualify; it describes who has been winning.
i
How often local firms win similar work.
Winners with a registered address in the delivery region, out of awards with a known address.
Here, local means registered in Scotland.
A local branch does not count if the registered address is elsewhere.
Most of this buyer’s recorded winners are registered outside Scotland.
i
How long buyers here take to decide after bids close.
Middle value in days from the deadline to the first award notice, on competitions that published both dates.
Only decided tenders count, so slow ones still waiting are not in.
Half of these awards were announced within 43 days of the bid deadline.
i
How often work is awarded with no recorded rival.
Direct awards and tenders where every published lot count shows one bid.
Thin markets produce this too; it is not proof of a tailored specification.
Direct awards or one recorded bid are common here. Check the route before spending time on a bid.
How many bids did past lots attract?
i
How many bids past lots received.
Each colour is a bid-count range. Only competed lots with a published count are included.
Past bids do not predict this tender.
1 bid26% / 11%
2–319% / 30%
4–637% / 20%
7+19% / 39%
How did awards compare with estimates?
i
Where winning prices landed against estimates.
Each colour shows awards below, close to or above the published estimate, one lot at a time.
Past prices are a guide, not a bid price.
Below estimate33% / 20%
Within ±2%67% / 57%
Above estimate0% / 23%
Assess each lot i
What past awards tell you about each lot.
See the forecast, this buyer’s earlier suppliers and firms with relevant wins.
No supplier is confirmed as a bidder.
i
What past awards tell you about each lot.
See the forecast, this buyer’s earlier suppliers and firms with relevant wins.
No supplier is confirmed as a bidder.
Open a lot for its forecast, this buyer’s previous supplier and possible competitors, from published award history, not a bid list
Lot #1Immigration support for employersCPV 79100000Published estimate£3.0m
i
How many bids this lot may attract.
The forecast uses similar past competitions. The bar shows either that forecast or past bid counts; the line below says which.
Each lot shows its own forecast based on its own category; forecasts for different lots of the same notice are not comparative.
A forecast, not a list of bidders.
1 bid28%
2–321%
4–621%
7+31%
i
Where the award price may land.
The forecast uses similar awards and the buyer’s estimate. The band covers the middle half of likely prices.
Based on 4 comparable awards. Each lot reflects its own category; forecasts for different lots of the same notice are not comparative.
A statistical guide from past awards, not a price to bid.
Middle 50%£3.0m
Estimate£3.0m
Who has supplied this buyer on similar work? i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
| Supplier | This buyer’s earlier contract | Lot | Award value | Why listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SeraphusEarlier contract | Talent Attraction and Migration Serviceended Mar 2026 | Lot 1 - Immigration support for employers | £1.8m | Matched as the earlier contract |
| Citizens Advice ScotlandEarlier contract | Talent Attraction and Migration Serviceended Mar 2026 | Lot 2 - Reception support for people moving to Scotland | £1.1m | Matched as the earlier contract |
| CEISWorked for this buyer | Business Support for the Third Sectornotice published Mar 2023 | — | — | Similar wording and category |
| Govan Law CentreWorked for this buyer | Additional Support for Learning - National Advocacy Servicenotice published Feb 2025 | — | — | Similar wording and category |
Who could compete for this lot? i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
| Supplier | Won in this category | Live contracts | Award vs estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| £1.1m1 awards in 36m · last 34 months ago | 2 live · £8.7m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | at estimate n=1 | |
SeraphusSME | £1.8m1 awards in 36m · last 35 months ago | None on file | at estimate n=1 |
| £2.8m4 awards in 36m · last 2 months ago | 1 live · £2.5m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | at estimate n=1 | |
| £368k1 awards in 36m · last 5 months ago | 1 live · £368k iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | no comparable pairs | |
BAM FM LimitedLarge | £2.9m3 awards in 36m · last 12 months ago | 4 live · £25m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | at estimate n=7 |
Lot #2Reception and Immigration Support for IndividualCPV 79100000Published estimate£2.0m
i
How many bids this lot may attract.
The forecast uses similar past competitions. The bar shows either that forecast or past bid counts; the line below says which.
Each lot shows its own forecast based on its own category; forecasts for different lots of the same notice are not comparative.
A forecast, not a list of bidders.
1 bid27%
2–318%
4–621%
7+33%
i
Where the award price may land.
The forecast uses similar awards and the buyer’s estimate. The band covers the middle half of likely prices.
Based on 4 comparable awards. Each lot reflects its own category; forecasts for different lots of the same notice are not comparative.
A statistical guide from past awards, not a price to bid.
Middle 50%£2.0m
Estimate£2.0m
Who has supplied this buyer on similar work? i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
| Supplier | This buyer’s earlier contract | Lot | Award value | Why listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SeraphusEarlier contract | Talent Attraction and Migration Serviceended Mar 2026 | Lot 1 - Immigration support for employers | £1.8m | Matched as the earlier contract |
| Citizens Advice ScotlandEarlier contract | Talent Attraction and Migration Serviceended Mar 2026 | Lot 2 - Reception support for people moving to Scotland | £1.1m | Matched as the earlier contract |
| Govan Law CentreWorked for this buyer | Additional Support for Learning - National Advocacy Servicenotice published Feb 2025 | — | — | Similar wording and category |
| CEISWorked for this buyer | Business Support for the Third Sectornotice published Mar 2023 | — | — | Similar wording and category |
| Partners in AdvocacyWorked for this buyer | DOL - Children's Services Advocacy Support and Legal Representationnotice published Mar 2026 | — | — | Similar wording and category |
Who could compete for this lot? i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
| Supplier | Won in this category | Live contracts | Award vs estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| £1.1m1 awards in 36m · last 34 months ago | 2 live · £8.7m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | at estimate n=1 | |
SeraphusSME | £1.8m1 awards in 36m · last 35 months ago | None on file | at estimate n=1 |
| £9.8m42 awards in 36m · last this month | 15 live · £4.4m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | 6% below n=6 | |
BAM FM LimitedLarge | £2.9m3 awards in 36m · last 12 months ago | 4 live · £25m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | at estimate n=7 |
| £2.0m3 awards in 36m · last 7 months ago | None on file | 7% below n=3 |
About this data
- Source. Official UK public procurement notices (Find a Tender), reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0. New notices arrive through the day; the figures are rebuilt nightly.
- Two views, kept apart. The authority’s own track record and the wider market for the same kind of work sit side by side and are never mixed. Where the local picture is too thin, a figure widens to a broader market and says which one it used.
- Forecasts are labelled. The price forecast and its range, possible competitors and the earlier-work matches are our estimates from past awards: not published facts, not win chances and not price advice. Official notices do not say who is bidding.
- Every figure shows what it rests on. Not every notice publishes a bid count, a value or a delivery region, so each figure carries the number of records behind it, and one built on few records is marked as such. The on a figure explains it; the counting rules are in the methodology. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.
What this replaces i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
43% title match.
A past supplier may not bid again.
i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
43% title match.
A past supplier may not bid again.
The prior contract this notice most likely re-tenders · matched by title and category (43% title match), the holder is not guaranteed to re-bid
Talent Attraction and Migration Service — held by Seraphus and Citizens Advice Scotland; the published contract ends 31 Mar 2026.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record · publisher note attached- Procedure method
- Open procedure
- Legal basis
- CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Open for tender
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- No (one-off requirement)
- First published
- 1 Sept 2026, 08:55 BST
- Last source update
- 1 Sept 2026, 08:55 BST
- Award evaluation window
- 4 Nov 2026 – …
- Authority reference
CASE/853661- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-082434- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06ef1fFind a Tender
- Electronic trading
- e-invoicing allowed · electronic ordering · electronic payment
Publisher note: SPD (Scotland) will be scored on a pass/ fail basis. Bidders must download and complete a separate SPD (Scotland) form for any subcontractors involved in the delivery of this service. List and brief description of selection criteria: Part 2A-D - Information about the bidder, Form of participation, Reliance on other entities, Subcontractors Part 3A-D - Grounds relating to criminal convictions, Payment of taxes,Blacklisting, Social/ Labour Law, Bankruptcy and Insolvency, Creditors, Liquidation, Professional misconduct, Conflicts of interest. Part 4A-C - Professional Registers, Services contracts, Economic and financial standing, Subcontracting, Professional Accreditation, Supply Chain Management/ Tracking Systems used, Environmental management measures. The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this ITT exercise. The Project code is 32377. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343 A sub-contract clause has been included in this contract. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2363 Community benefits are included in this requirement. For more information see: https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/community-benefits-in-procurement/ A summary of the expected community benefits has been provided as follows: Community benefits are included in this requirement. For more information see: https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/community-benefits-in-procurement. Community Benefits will not be scored however, tenderers will be held to any proposal submitted. (SC Ref:837938)
How to participate & submission route
Official notice Submit via Public Contracts Scotland- Requests to participate (first stage)
- —
- Tender submission deadline
- 4 Nov 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Clarification deadline
- —
- Submission channel
- {"electronicSubmission"}
- Accepted languages
- en
- Bid validity
- 180 days from the deadline
- Bids opened
- 4 Nov 2026, 13:00 GMT
Timeline
1 Sept 2026 → 4 Nov 2026 · 3 dates- Notice published49 days ago1 Sept 2026, 08:55 BST
- Today20 Oct 2026
- Submission deadlinein 15 days4 Nov 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Bids openedin 15 days4 Nov 2026, 13:00 GMT
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Nothing awarded yet- Awards (0)
- No award published
- Contracts (0)
- No contract published
- Bid statistics
- No aggregate bid statistics published
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Dispute resolution & review bodies
- Edinburgh Sheriff CourtReview body
Official documents & specifications
Official links; attachments are not copiedNo document links were published on the notice; the tender pack is on the portal.