Find a TenderAwardedContract details notice
Published 23 Sept 2026, 14:53 BST

Official UK procurement notice

The provision of an Executive and Board Recruitment Partner (ten_1062)

Official notice

Authority: Financial Ombudsman Service Limited (Public body)

ServicesCompetitive flexible procedureAbove thresholdSME suitable
Published estimate£192,000≈ £64k / year · £240,000 inc. VAT · 1 value update21.9% above published estimate
Submissions closed 9 Jun 2026awarded 14 Aug 2026
Awarded to Saxton Bampfylde Hever Ltd
Contract term 3 yrsup to 4 yrs with extensions · starts 24 Aug 2026

What is being bought

Published requirement description

The Financial Ombudsman Services has awarded a contract for an 3 + 1 year for the provision of an Executive Search agency to support the ad hoc recruitment and selection of our level 10, Executive team and Board members.

  • How the procedure runs: The Financial Ombudsman wishes to procure the provision of an Executive and Board Recruitment Partner using the Competitive Flexible Procedure, in accordance with section 20 and Schedule 1, paragraph 8 of the Procurement Act 2023 (UK3_44). Bidders are required to submit tenders in accordance with the statutory minimum timescales. more…Only bidders that successfully meet all Stage 1 (Qualification) requirements will progress to the assessment of technical and commercial proposals. Evaluation will be carried out in three stages, in line with the published award criteria: Stage 1 – Qualification Stage 2 – Technical and Commercial Evaluation Stage 3 – Optional Presentation and/or Best and Final Offer (BAFO), to which a maximum of the five highest‑scoring bidders following Stage 2 may be invited. The Financial Ombudsman reserves the right to exclude bidders that do not pass Stage 1 and, following Stage 2, to limit participation in any optional presentation and/or BAFO stage to the highest‑scoring bidders only. The contract will be awarded to the bidder submitting the Most Advantageous Tender (MAT) in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023.

CPV: Recruitment services

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · value published
Lot #1Lot 1AwardedRenewal 3 yrsSMEPublished value£192,000
Contract period: 24 Aug 2026 — 23 Aug 2029 (3 yrs) · up to 4 yrs with extensionsEligibility: SME eligibleDelivery: UK
Value
£192,000 exc. VAT · £240,000 inc. VAT
Extensions
Optional extention to the term of the agreement. · 1 x 12 month extension option
79600000 Recruitment services

What it takes to win
i

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 more
How bids were scored
Quality: 60%Price: 40%
Published sub-criteria (2)
  • Technical Award Criteria — 60%
  • Commercial Award Criteria — 40%
Published award criteria (2)
  • Technical Award Criteria — 4 x Technical Ability Questions as set out in the Procurement documents.
  • Commercial Award Criteria — Completion of a bid price template, as provided in the Procurement documents (Recruitment fees).
Conditions of participation2
  • Economic & financial standing
    As described in the Procurement documentation.
  • Technical & professional ability
    As described in the Procurement documentation.

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
Awarded
Procurement threshold
Above threshold (FTS publication)
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement
No (one-off requirement)
First published
23 Sept 2026, 14:53 BST
Last source update
23 Sept 2026, 14:53 BST
Award evaluation window
Submission end — 1 Aug 2026, 23:59 BST
Authority reference
TEN_1062
Latest notice
Contract details notice (UK7)
Classification (CPV)
Recruitment services
Delivery area
UKNorth East (UKC)North West (UKD)Yorkshire & Humber (UKE)East Midlands (UKF)West Midlands (UKG)East of England (UKH)London (UKI)+2 more
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-068862 Find a Tender
Contract terms summary
Payment terms are detailed within the Procurement documents.
How it runs
The Financial Ombudsman wishes to procure the provision of an Executive and Board Recruitment Partner using the Competitive Flexible Procedure, in accordance with section 20 and Schedule 1, paragraph 8 of the Procurement Act 2023 (UK3_44). Bidders are required to submit tenders in accordance with the statutory minimum timescales. Only bidders that successfully meet all Stage 1 (Qualification) requirements will more…progress to the assessment of technical and commercial proposals. Evaluation will be carried out in three stages, in line with the published award criteria: Stage 1 – Qualification Stage 2 – Technical and Commercial Evaluation Stage 3 – Optional Presentation and/or Best and Final Offer (BAFO), to which a maximum of the five highest‑scoring bidders following Stage 2 may be invited. The Financial Ombudsman reserves the right to exclude bidders that do not pass Stage 1 and, following Stage 2, to limit participation in any optional presentation and/or BAFO stage to the highest‑scoring bidders only. The contract will be awarded to the bidder submitting the Most Advantageous Tender (MAT) in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023.

How it was run

Official notice
Run through: portal not identified
Electronic submission allowedLanguage: EN
Submission deadline
9 Jun 2026, 12:00 BST
Clarification deadline
20 May 2026, 16:00 BST
Submission channel
Official e-sourcing portal
Electronic submission
Allowed
Accepted languages
en
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release
Access to the procurement documents is provided in this link: https://procurement.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/web/login.html Locating the tender: 1. Go to ‘Sourcing’ or ‘View Opportunities’ 2. Use the search bar to find the opportunity by its reference number or name. • Project reference: ten_1062 • Name: The provision of an Executive and Board Recruitment Partner 3. Click on the opportunity title to open the tender. 4. Then select ‘Express Interest’ to access documents more…5. The system will add the tender to your ‘My Responses’ area. 6. You will now be able to download all tender documents and ask clarification questions. For escalations contact (including project name and reference) : [email protected]

Timeline

10 published dates · Europe/London
  1. Planning notice published157 days ago
    22 Apr 2026, 12:19 BST
  2. Next notice expected144 days ago
    4 May 2026, 23:59 BST
  3. Tender notice published144 days ago
    5 May 2026, 15:07 BST
  4. Clarification questions by129 days ago
    20 May 2026, 16:00 BST
  5. Submission deadline109 days ago
    9 Jun 2026, 12:00 BST
  6. Award decision expected by55 days ago
    1 Aug 2026, 23:59 BST
  7. Assessment summaries sent43 days ago
    14 Aug 2026, 00:00 BST
  8. Contract starts33 days ago
    24 Aug 2026, 00:00 BST
  9. Standstill ends30 days ago
    26 Aug 2026, 23:59 BST
  10. Latest notice published3 days ago
    23 Sept 2026, 14:53 BST

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics — not a forecast
Awards 1
Awarded value £234,0001 award exc. VAT
Bids received 54 from SMEs
Contracts signed 1latest 22 Sept 2026
Awarded toValueDateStatus
Saxton Bampfylde Hever LtdSME +1 morejoint awardThe Provision of an Executive and Board Recruitment Partner1 Sept 2026 — 31 Aug 2029 · up to 31 Aug 2030Extensions: There is an option to extend for a further one (1) year at the sole discretion of the Financial Ombudsman Service.£234,00014 Aug 2026Awarded

Contracts

  • Contract 1 · Saxton Bampfylde Hever LtdSME +1 more

    Signed
    22 Sept 2026
    Value
    £234,000
    Period
    22 Sept 2026 — 21 Sept 2029 · up to 23 Sept 2030 with extensions
    Status
    active
    Extensions
    The contract may be extended for up to one additional year at FOS's discretion.
    2 agreed KPIs: Attraction and conversion metrics · Source effectiveness and diversity outcomes
    • Attraction and conversion metrics
    • Source effectiveness and diversity outcomes

Bid statistics published by the authority

BidsSMEVCSEValid bid range
5final-stage tenders · 15 at stage one40—

Notice history

13 events · 7 releases on Find a Tender · since 22 Apr 2026
  1. Contract details notice published
    23 Sept 2026, 14:53 BSTUK7
  2. Contract signature expected
    1 Sept 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
  3. Contract award notice published
    14 Aug 2026, 16:11 BSTUK6
  4. Published value updated
    14 Aug 2026, 16:11 BSTwas £192,000
  5. Status changed to complete
    14 Aug 2026, 16:11 BST
  6. Deadline withdrawn
    14 Aug 2026, 16:11 BST
  7. Tender notice published
    6 May 2026, 09:00 BSTUK4
  8. Tender notice published
    5 May 2026, 16:29 BSTUK4
  9. Tender notice published
    5 May 2026, 16:28 BSTUK4
  10. Tender notice published
    5 May 2026, 15:07 BSTUK4
  11. Status changed to active
    5 May 2026, 15:07 BST
  12. Deadline moved to 9 Jun 2026, 12:00 BST
    5 May 2026, 15:07 BST+4 days · was 5 Jun 2026, 15:00 BST
  13. Planned procurement notice published
    22 Apr 2026, 12:19 BSTUK3
Routine re-releases (7)
  • 2026-05: 3 releases · 5 May 2026 — 5 May 2026
  • 2026-04: 1 release · 22 Apr 2026

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Financial Ombudsman Service Limited

Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government GB-COH: 03725015 · GB-PPON: PGMH-6717-YZGY Exchange Tower, Harbour Exchange Square, London, London, E14 9SR

Bidders & participating suppliers

2 commercial parties on the notice
  • SAXTON BAMPFYLDE HEVER LIMITEDAwarded supplierGB-COH: 02018211GB-PPON: PLMN-7343-MPQX The Ministry, London, London, SE1 1DN
  • Saxton BampfyldeAwarded supplierGB-PPON: PLMN-7343-MPQX 9 Savoy Street, London, London, WC2E 7EG 02072270800

Official documents & specifications (9)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Tender pack and attachments

  • Bidding documents and specificationstenderBidding documents and specificationsAccess: Access to the procurement documents is provided in this link: https://procurement.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/web/login.html
  • Conflict of interest declarationtenderConflict of interest declarationNot published

Notices published for this procedure

  • Contract details notice contractContract details noticeUK7Contract details notice on Find a Tender
  • Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender
  • Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender
  • Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender
  • Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender
  • Tender notice tenderTender noticeUK4Tender notice on Find a Tender
  • Planned procurement notice planningPlanned procurement noticeUK3Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender