Official UK procurement notice
Testing Services Framework Agreement
Authority: Social Security Scotland·Consortium: 2 public authorities
What is being bought2 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionTesting Services for IT Systems
- Recurrence: 19/05/2030
CPV: Systems testing services
How this framework works
From the published notice- Places
- up to 6 suppliers
Lots and requirements (2)Procurement structure
2 lots · 1 with a published value · same evaluation weights on every lotLot #1Testing ServicesRenewalLot estimate not published
This will be to provide testing services in any form required e.g. a full testing service or testing for specific projects or test phases. Additional information: Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 (Exclusion Grounds) of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
Lot #2Testing ResourcesRenewalPublished value£54,000,000
This lot will provide testing resources to augment existing testing teams. Additional information: Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 (Exclusion Grounds) of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
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 (2)
- Quality: 55
- Price: 45
- Suitability
SPD Part 4A - Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
SPD Part 4A - Where it is required, within a bidder’s country of establishment they must confirm which authorisation or memberships of the relevant organisation(s) are required in order to perform this service.
- Economic & financial standing
SPD Part 4B Economic and Financial Standing
Insurances
Other economic or financial
Minimum: SPD Part 4B Economic and Financial Standing The bidder must have a D & B failure score of no less than 40 The bidder confirms they already have or can commit to obtain, prior to the commencement of the contract, the levels of insurance cover indicated below: Minimum levels (requi… - Technical & professional ability
SPD Part 4C
Bidders will be required to provide certifications to demonstrate they hold Cyber Essentials, Cyber Essentials Plus and ISO27001
Bidders will be required to provide examples that demonstrate that they have the relevant experience to deliver the services/supplies as described in part II.2.4 of the Contract Notice or the relevant section of the Site Notice.
Bidders will be required to confirm whether they intend to subcontract and, if so, for what proportion of the contract.
Bidders will be required to provide examples of their Tech Skills.
Bidders will be required to confirm that they and/or the service provider have the following relevant educational and professional qualifications
SPD Part 4D
Quality Assurance Schemes
Environmental Management Standards
Minimum: SPD Part 4C Bidders will be required to provide certifications to demonstrate they hold Cyber Essentials, Cyber Essentials Plus and ISO27001 Bidder will be required to provide two examples from the last three years where you have successfully delivered testing services of a simil…
- Staff
- Names and qualifications of delivery staff must be submitted
- Price carries 45 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 4.5 points. Quality carries 55 of 100: the paper moves it further than the discount.
- “Testing Services Framework Agreement” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, up to 6 suppliers, not a single contract.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record · publisher note attached- Procedure method
- Restricted procedure
- Legal basis
- CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Closed
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Framework agreement
- Who may use this agreement
- Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- Yes · 19/05/2030
- First published
- 20 May 2026, 08:26 BST
- Last source update
- 20 May 2026, 08:26 BST
- Authority reference
S/26/039- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-045985- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-069c72Find a Tender
- Electronic trading
- e-invoicing allowed · electronic ordering · electronic payment
Publisher note: Economic operators may be excluded from this procurement exercise where any of the mandatory or discretionary exclusion grounds apply under the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015. This procurement exercise is being conducted electronically via PCS-Tender. All procurement documents, tender responses, clarifications and communications will be managed through PCS-Tender. The successful bidder(s) may be required, prior to contract award, to provide supporting declarations, certificates and other evidence confirming compliance with the SPD and tender requirements. Failure to provide satisfactory evidence may result in exclusion from the procurement process. This Framework Agreement does not guarantee any minimum volumes of business. Requirements will be called off on an as-required basis throughout the contract term. The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this PQQ exercise. The Project code is 31722. 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: Educational engagement: including STEM support activities, guest lectures, career events for local schools and colleges, or work experience opportunities. Community support: such as volunteering hours, support for local charities, or contributions to community programmes. Environmental improvements: including carbon reduction initiatives, waste minimisation actions, or participation in sustainability projects. Supply chain development: such as commitments to work with local SMEs, social enterprises, or voluntary sector organisations. (SC Ref:829510)
How it was run
Official noticeTender documents are also served through a separate tool: https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/esop/pts-host/public/pts/web/login.html ↗
- Appointment period ends
- 18 Jun 2026, 12:00 BST
- Submission channel
- {"electronicSubmission"}
- Accepted languages
- en
- Bid validity
- 270 days from the deadline
Timeline
20 May 2026 → 8 Jul 2026 · 3 dates- Notice published155 days ago20 May 2026, 08:26 BST
- Admission / appointment period ends126 days ago · period end, not a bid countdown18 Jun 2026, 12:00 BST
- Invitations to tender expected106 days ago8 Jul 2026, 00:00 BST
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
2 public bodies on the noticeConsortium members and other public bodies
- Scottish GovernmentContracting authority
Dispute resolution & review bodies
- Edinburgh Sherriff CourtReview body
Official documents & specifications
Official links; attachments are not copiedNo document links were published on the notice.