Official UK procurement notice
Payroll and HR Software · UK public procurement notice
Authority: MERSEYRAIL ELECTRICS 2002 LIMITED (Public body)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThe scope of this opportunity relates to an anticipated initial period of five (5) years commencing from 28th October 2026 (further extension options may be applicable).
The current Payroll and Human Resources Software has been in place since 2010. However, with new technology emerging within the market, MEL is looking to update its current software to identify if there can be any efficiencies gained.
Scope / Deliverables
- New HR system
- New Payroll system
- Integrate Recruitment and On-Boarding
- More Payroll automation through Manager/Employee self-service
Benefits
- Improved Administrative Efficiency
- Integrated Recruitment/On-Boarding/Payroll
- Improved Management Reporting
- More Effective Expense Management
- More automated processes
It is recognised that there may be no one solution available off the shelf to provide all the required functionality and that some elements may take time to develop and implement. However, we as a business are keen to have one HR and Payroll system which provides consistency and ease of use to its users.
We require a minimum of 1,250 licenses with scalability built in if required.
- How the procedure runs: The opportunity will be advertised via the Central Digital Platform. With regards to the procedures, we will look to undertake a single Lot under the competitive flexible procedure, ensuring compliance with MEL's procurement policy and the PA23 Regulations. We will look to reserve the right to undertake a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire now known as a Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) dependant on number of expressions of interest received. A Pre-Tender Engagement Session will be held with suppliers expressing an interest in the opportunity. The Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) shall be evaluated in two (2)stages: Stage 1 - Submissions from bidders who have failed any of the mandatory pass-fail questions will not progress to Stage 2 of the evaluation. Stage 2 - All submissions that have passed the mandatory pass-fail questions will be evaluated in accordance with the evaluation criteria which will be provided within the tender documentation. The PSQ will have a total score of 100%. Where questions are to be scored by more than one evaluator, an average of all evaluator scores will be taken and used as a final score, rounded to the nearest whole number. The total score for each Bidder shall be ranked in descending order and a minimum of five (5) of the highest scoring submissions will be selected for the next stage of the tender process. Unfortunately, all other submissions will be declined. The Customer reserves the right not to score any question responses consisting of links to web pages and/or documents, all responses must be provided in the format specified within the PSQ. The Tender will have an overall total score of 100%. The total score (100%) will be divided by the criteria outlined within the Tender Documentation. Where questions are to be scored by more than one evaluator, an average of all evaluator scores will be taken and used as a final score, rounded to the nearest whole number. The total score for each Bidder shall be ranked in descending order. The anticipated weightings for the ITT stage of the Tender process will be 60% - Quality and 40% - Commercial, this will be confirmed within the tender documentation. Following evaluation of the ITT, a minimum of the top 3 (three) highest scoring bidders will be invited to submit Best and Final Offers(BAFOs). Shortlisted bidders may be invited to present their proposals and provide a demonstration of the software. MEL strongly encourages all bidders to submit competitive Tender submissions. Whilst the Customer may request Best and Final Offers (BAFOs), bidders should not rely on any potential subsequent opportunities for providing improved commercial offers. The ITT will focus on the technical questions of the service provision, such as integration, contract management, etc. The full scope of the requirements with supporting documents and applicable T&C's will be attached to the Sourcing project.
CPV: Time accounting or human resources software development services · Time accounting or human resources software package
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1AwardedRenewalPublished value£3,100,000
- Technical & professional ability
Industry Recognition and Compliance with HMRC and The Pensions Regulator.
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 sub-criteria (2)
- Quality (General / Technical): 60%
- Commercial & Contract: 40%
Published award criteria (2)
- Quality (General / Technical)
- Commercial & Contract
- Technical & professional ability
Industry Recognition and Compliance with HMRC and The Pensions Regulator.
- 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
- Competitive flexible procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Cancelled
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Utilities
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 9 May 2025, 12:03 BST
- Last source update
- 11 Sept 2026, 16:48 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 9 Jan 2026
- Authority reference
MEL02-2025- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-020019- Latest notice
- Procurement termination notice (UK12)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-050f9aFind a Tender
- How it runs
The opportunity will be advertised via the Central Digital Platform. With regards to the procedures, we will look to undertake a single Lot under the competitive flexible procedure, ensuring compliance with MEL's procurement policy and the PA23 Regulations. We will look to reserve the right to undertake a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire now known as a Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) dependant on number of expressions of interest received.
A Pre-Tender Engagement Session will be held with suppliers expressing an interest in the opportunity.
The Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) shall be evaluated in two (2)stages:
Stage 1 - Submissions from bidders who have failed any of the mandatory pass-fail questions will not progress to Stage 2 of the evaluation.
Stage 2 - All submissions that have passed the mandatory pass-fail questions will be evaluated in accordance with the evaluation criteria which will be provided within the tender documentation. The PSQ will have a total score of 100%. Where questions are to be scored by more than one evaluator, an average of all evaluator scores will be taken and used as a final score, rounded to the nearest whole number. The total score for each Bidder shall be ranked in descending order and a minimum of five (5) of the highest scoring submissions will be selected for the next stage of the tender process.
Unfortunately, all other submissions will be declined. The Customer reserves the right not to score any question responses consisting of links to web pages and/or documents, all responses must be provided in the format specified within the PSQ.
The Tender will have an overall total score of 100%. The total score (100%) will be divided by the criteria outlined within the Tender Documentation. Where questions are to be scored by more than one evaluator, an average of all evaluator scores will be taken and used as a final score, rounded to the nearest whole number. The total score for each Bidder shall be ranked in descending order. The anticipated weightings for the ITT stage of the Tender process will be 60% - Quality and 40% - Commercial, this will be confirmed within the tender documentation.
Following evaluation of the ITT, a minimum of the top 3 (three) highest scoring bidders will be invited to submit Best and Final Offers(BAFOs). Shortlisted bidders may be invited to present their proposals and provide a demonstration of the software. MEL strongly encourages all bidders to submit competitive Tender submissions. Whilst the Customer may request Best and Final Offers (BAFOs), bidders should not rely on any potential subsequent opportunities for providing improved commercial offers.
The ITT will focus on the technical questions of the service provision, such as integration, contract management, etc. The full scope of the requirements with supporting documents and applicable T&C's will be attached to the Sourcing project.
How it was run
Official notice- Requests to participate (first stage)
- 13 Jun 2025, 23:59 BST
- Submission deadline
- 13 Jun 2025, 23:59 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
Timeline
9 May 2025 → 28 Oct 2026 · 7 dates- Tender notice published9 May 2025, 12:03 BST
- Submission deadline13 Jun 2025, 23:59 BST
- Award decision expected by284 days ago9 Jan 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Assessment summaries sent139 days ago5 Jun 2026, 00:00 BST
- Standstill ends126 days ago17 Jun 2026, 23:59 BST
- Latest notice published40 days ago11 Sept 2026, 16:48 BST
- Today21 Oct 2026
- Contract startsin 7 days28 Oct 2026
Notice history
5 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 9 May 2025- Tender notice published9 May 2025, 12:03 BSTUK4
- Contract award notice published5 Jun 2026, 15:59 BSTUK6
- Status changed to complete5 Jun 2026, 15:59 BST
- Contract signature expected5 Aug 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
- Procurement termination notice published11 Sept 2026, 16:48 BSTUK12
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zellis UK LtdPayroll & HR Software26 Oct 2026 – 25 Oct 2031 · up to 20 Jul 2033Extensions: Opportunity to extend until the 20th of July 2033 in increments to be agreed between the Supplier and MEL. · Options: As the company grows, MEL may require the right to purchase additional licenses and/or modules to meet existing or future needs. | £1,492,422 inc. VAT | 1 Jun 2026 | Awarded |
Contracts
Contract 1 · Zellis UK Ltd
- Signed
- date not published
- Value
- —
- Period
- … – 27 Oct 2031
- Status
- cancelled (19 Jun 2026)
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- ZELLIS UK LIMITEDAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (3)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Procurement termination notice Procurement termination notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender