Official UK procurement notice
ScotRail Finance and Payroll Services
Authority: ScotRail Trains Limited
What is being bought2 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionScotRail currently operates an out-sourced Shared Service Centre providing finance and payroll service functions. Whilst ScotRail are looking to engage the market and understand the capabilities of potential suppliers to provide these services in the future, we are also exploring other options including insourcing of both finance and payroll services.
This procurement will help shape our strategy for the future of our finance and payroll functions. Should the outsourcing model be approved, ScotRail plan to launch an ITN early next year.
Prospective suppliers who have the capacity and capability are asked to access our procurement portal Wax Digital to complete the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ).
CPV: Accounting services · Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security · Corporate finance and venture capital services · Payroll management services · Sales and purchases recording services
Lots and requirements (2)Procurement structure
2 lots · no lot values publishedLot #1Finance ServicesRenewal
ScotRail Trains Limited are looking for a provider of Finance Services for the provision of Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Treasury and VAT services.
An effective Finance Services provision is essential in ensuring suppliers are paid accurately and on time; customers are invoiced promptly and debts collected; and VAT returns are made accurately and in line with HMRC rules and regulations. The Finance Services provision should deliver a service which works seamlessly with the business and be viewed as an extension to the in-house Finance department.
Associated tasks to be administered by the provider will include but are not limited
to the following-
- Process AP invoices daily
- Prepare a twice a week BACS payment run
- Prepare manual CHAPs payment runs as required
- Resolve invoice queries from suppliers, liaising with ScotRail requisitioners when required
- Raise AR invoices as required, which includes regular tenant income contracts as well as ad hoc other services
- Post journals as required into finance system (cash journals, AP journals, etc)
- Prepare 12 VAT returns per year based on special periods (aligning with the 4 week rail periods)
- Provide VAT support when processing both AP and AR invoices
- Period end reporting and prepare key reconciliations on a periodic basis (13 periods based on 4 week rail periods)
- MI reporting
ScotRail currently uses Advanced products (Open Accounts and EBIS) for their finance related systems and will provide licence access to these systems. However, the finance system may be subject to change over the life of the contract where ScotRail review their systems strategy for this service and are required to conduct a tender for the system in the future. Additional information: For more information and to complete the Pre Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) please access our Wax e-sourcing portal here - scotrail.wax-live.com/S2C/DisplayModules/T… ↗
Lot #2Payroll ServicesRenewal
ScotRail trains are looking for a provider of Payroll Services for the processing of a payroll for circa 6,000 active employees on a 4 weekly pay cycle.
An effective payroll provision is essential in ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time, maintaining compliance with tax and legal requirements, and providing accurate data and reporting information as required. The payroll service should deliver a seamless employee experience and support employee engagement and trust in ScotRail as an employer.
Associated tasks to be administered by the provider will include but are not limited to the following:
- Processing salary payments for rostered and non-rostered staff every 4 weeks
- Processing additional payments including overtime
- Ensuring compliance with all HMRC regulations
- Processing sick pay entitlements
- Processing payment for family friendly leave
- Implementing pay awards in a timely manner to ensure positive employee relations are maintained with the four Trade Unions
- Process changes to employee Terms & Conditions as required
- Updating payroll records periodically to ensure accurate payment to employees
- Responding to queries from employees by phone and email
- Process payments to third parties and complete the associated administrative tasks
- Pension scheme administration
- Processing P11D’s
- MI reporting
ScotRail currently uses iTrent for payroll and will provide licence access to the system. However, the payroll system may be subject to change over the life of the contract where ScotRail review their systems strategy for this service and are required to conduct a tender for the system in the future Additional information: For more information and to complete the Pre Qualification Questionnaire please access our Wax e-sourcing portal here - scotrail.wax-live.com/S2C/DisplayModules/T… ↗
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record · publisher note attached- Procedure method
- Negotiated procedure with prior call for competition
- Legal basis
- CELEX · 32014L0025 Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016 (Directive 2014/25/EU)
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Closed
- 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
- 18 Dec 2025, 15:15 GMT
- Last source update
- 18 Dec 2025, 15:15 GMT
- Authority reference
SR-PACT-PROJ-673- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-084517- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05f971Find a Tender
Publisher note: For more information and access to our PQQ please access our Wax e-sourcing portal here - https://scotrail.wax-live.com/S2C/DisplayModules/TradeModules/Negotiations/Opportunities/ListEvents.aspx (SC Ref:818982)
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 19 Jan 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- {"electronicSubmission"}
- Accepted languages
- en
- Bid validity
- 180 days from the deadline
Timeline
18 Dec 2025 → 27 Feb 2026 · 3 dates- Notice published308 days ago18 Dec 2025, 15:15 GMT
- Submission deadline276 days ago19 Jan 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Invitations to tender expected238 days ago27 Feb 2026
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Dispute resolution & review bodies
- High Court of JusticiaryReview body
Official documents & specifications
Official links; attachments are not copiedNo document links were published on the notice.