Official UK procurement notice
Neutral Vendor Managed Service Framework for Technical and Professional Services (NEUTAPS)
Authority: Cardiff Council (Central government)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionContract details notice for the award of the Neutral Vendor Managed Service Framework for Technical and Professional Services (NEUTAPS).
Following the successes of Lot 11 (Neutral Vendor) of the South East Wales Technical and Professional Services (SEWTAPS) Framework, this Framework has been established as an evolution and replacement of the Lot, addressing the need for a dedicated Neutral Vendor Managed Service Framework for Technical and Professional services solution for use by Public Sector Customers throughout the UK.
The Neutral Vendor Managed Service Provider will provide a secure, unbiased, high quality managed service provision to support the delivery of consultancy projects and professional services requirements across the wide scope of potential requirements, through management of their fully vetted Supply Chain Provider Pool.
Common drivers for commissioning such expertise, include the need for specific technical skills, additional capacity, sector-specific insights, innovation and experience, and the value of an independent, objective perspective. Engaging professional and consultancy services can provide access to a wealth of expert advice, specialist knowledge, and enhanced capabilities that may not be readily available internally.
This Framework can be used and Call-Off Contracts may be entered into with the Contractor under this Framework by all Contracting Authorities throughout all administrative regions of the UK (as defined by the Procurement Act 2023) including but not limited to Government Departments and their Agencies, Non-Departmental Public Bodies, Central Government, NHS Bodies, Local Authorities, Emergency Services, Coastguard Emergency Services, Educational Establishments, Registered Social Landlords and Registered Charities who have a need to purchase the above services (including any successor in the exercise of their statutory or public functions). Other public bodies exercising their functions in, or in relation to the UK but not specifically referred to above may also use this Framework. The Framework may also be used by non-Public Sector organisations to comply with conditions associated with the use of public funds for those specific projects (including but not limited to Section 106).
- The authority expects to re-tender this requirement around 2 Feb 2030, 23:59 GMT.
CPV: Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
How this framework works
From the published notice- Type
- Open framework
- Call-offs
- call-offs are awarded directly to appointed suppliers, without further competition
- Places
- up to 1 suppliers · 4 bids received (4.0 per place) · 1 appointed (full)
- Framework period
- 4 yrs from 2 Feb 2026, N/A
- Supplier levy on call-offs (max %)
A 0.45% percentage fee is charged to the contractor based on a retrospective basis of awarded contracts.
No Fee is charged to Framework users.
Who may buy through it
This Framework can be used and Call-Off Contracts may be entered into with the Contractor under this Framework by all Contracting Authorities throughout all administrative regions of the UK (as defined by the Procurement Act 2023) including but not limited to Government Departments and their Agencies, Non-Departmental Public Bodies, Central Government, NHS Bodies, Local Authorities, Emergency Services, Coastguard Emergency Services, Educational Establishments, Registered Social Landlords and Registered Charities who have a need to purchase the above services (including any successor in the exercise of their statutory or public functions). Other public bodies exercising their functions in, or in relation to the UK but not specifically referred to above may also use this Framework. The Framework may also be used by non-Public Sector organisations to comply with conditions associated with the use of public funds for those specific projects (including but not limited to Section 106).
Published description of the framework
Single supplier Framework - award without competition. Prices based on fixed managed service fees categorised by type of service provided
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1AwardedPublished value£800,000,000
- Economic & financial standing
Please see tender documents
- Technical & professional ability
Please see tender documents
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).
Published award criteria (3)
- Quality
- Price
- Social Value: Social Value made of Quantitative and Qualitative criteria.
- Economic & financial standing
Please see tender documents
- Technical & professional ability
Please see tender documents
- Price carries 40 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 4 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
- “Neutral Vendor Managed Service Framework for Technical and…” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, up to 1 suppliers, not a single contract, and call-offs are awarded directly: getting appointed is the whole game.
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
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Framework agreement
- Who may use the vehicle
- This Framework can be used and Call-Off Contracts may be entered into with the Contractor under this Framework by all Contracting Authorities throughout all administrative regions of the UK (as defined by the Procurement Act 2023) including but not limited to Government Departments and their Agencies, Non-Departmental Public Bodies, Central Government, NHS Bodies, Local Authorities, Emergency Services, Coastguard Emergency Services, Educational Establishments, Registered Social Landlords and Registered Charities who have a need to purchase the above services (including any successor in the exercise of their statutory or public functions). Other public bodies exercising their functions in, or in relation to the UK but not specifically referred to above may also use this Framework. The Framework may also be used by non-Public Sector organisations to comply with conditions associated with the use of public funds for those specific projects (including but not limited to Section 106).
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- Yes · next expected 2 Feb 2030
- First published
- 30 May 2025, 14:12 BST
- Last source update
- 22 Jun 2026, 13:52 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 19 Jan 2026
- Authority reference
ERFX1008686- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-072040- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0529d3Find a Tender- Contract terms summary
Please see tender documents
How it was run
Official notice- Appointment period ends
- 10 Dec 2025, 12:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en, cy
- Supplier levy on call-offs (max %)
call-off levy · A 0.45% percentage fee is charged to the contractor based on a retrospective basis of awarded contracts.
No Fee is charged to Framework users.
Tenderers must be submitted via the Portal website by Tender Return Date and Time via www.proactisplaza.com/supplierportal ↗
Timeline
30 May 2025 → 22 Jun 2026 · 9 dates- Planning notice published30 May 2025, 14:12 BST
- Market engagement20 Jun 2025, 23:59 BST
The Pre-Market Supplier Engagement will consist of written questionnaires, which can be accessed and submitted via Proactis at the following link: supplierlive.proactisp2p.com/Account/Login ↗
Reference: ERFX1008636 - NVMS Framework Pre-Market Engagement
The deadline for submissions is 20/06/2025 12:00 noon
Further engagement may be requested in the form of follow up questions or meetings.
The Market engagement with customers and suppliers will include areas to understand the market, review current and future needs, identify potential structures for the new framework and determining the most appropriate approach to maximise value for money.
The Council has already undertaken some lesson learnt engagement. As part of pre-market engagement, further potential customer feedback will also be undertaken .
- Tender notice published343 days ago7 Nov 2025, 13:28 GMT
- Admission / appointment period ends310 days ago · period end, not a bid countdown10 Dec 2025, 12:00 GMT
- Award decision expected by269 days ago19 Jan 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Contract starts256 days ago2 Feb 2026
- Assessment summaries sent200 days ago31 Mar 2026, 00:00 BST
- Standstill ends185 days ago14 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
- Latest notice published116 days ago22 Jun 2026, 13:52 BST
Notice history
10 events · 4 releases on Find a Tender · since 30 May 2025- Preliminary market engagement notice published30 May 2025, 14:12 BSTUK2
- Tender notice published7 Nov 2025, 13:28 GMTUK4
- Published value published: £800,000,0007 Nov 2025, 13:28 GMT
- Status changed to active7 Nov 2025, 13:28 GMT
- Procurement method changed7 Nov 2025, 13:28 GMT
- Deadline published: 10 Dec 2025, 12:00 GMT7 Nov 2025, 13:28 GMT
- Contract award notice published1 Apr 2026, 10:07 BSTUK6
- Status changed to complete1 Apr 2026, 10:07 BST
- Contract signature expected17 Apr 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
- Contract details notice published22 Jun 2026, 13:52 BSTUK7
Routine re-releases (4)
- 2025-05: 1 release · 30 May 2025
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matrix SCMSMENeutral Vendor Managed Service Framework for Technical and Professional Services20 Apr 2026 – 19 Apr 2030 | £800,000,000 | 31 Mar 2026 | Awarded |
Contracts
Neutral Vendor Managed Service Framework for Technical and Professional Services · Matrix SCMSME
- Signed
- 29 May 2026
- Value
- £800,000,000
- Period
- 1 Jun 2026 – 31 May 2030
- Status
- active
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4final-stage tenders · 6 at stage one | 3 | 0 | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Framework contractors & participating bidders
1 commercial party on the notice- MATRIX SCM LIMITEDFramework contractor
Official documents & specifications (6)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Technical specifications The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at: https://www.proactisplaza.com/supplierportal
- Bidding documents and specifications The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at: https://www.proactisplaza.com/supplierportal
Notices published for this procedure
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender