Official UK procurement notice
Cabot Learning Federation - Provision of HR and Payroll System
Authority: Cabot Learning Federation Multi Academy Trust (Public body)·Consortium: 2 public authorities
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionTenderers are invited to tender for the provision of an HRIS solution and fully managed payroll service. Tenderers may propose either a fully integrated solution or separate HR and payroll systems, provided that data can be transferred securely, accurately and efficiently between the two systems, with minimal manual intervention. Full details of all contract requirements are set out in this document – Document 2: Specification of Requirements.
- The authority expects to re-tender this requirement around 31 Mar 2032, 23:59 BST.
- No preliminary market engagement: The Trust initially intended to award the contract by way of a call-off under an existing framework and engaged with suppliers appointed to that framework to explore that route. As the engagement was undertaken in connection with the proposed framework call-off, the Trust did not publish a preliminary market engagement notice. Information obtained through the engagement informed the Trust’s procurement strategy, following which it decided not to proceed with the framework call-off and instead to conduct an open procedure. The Trust has taken appropriate steps to ensure that suppliers involved in the engagement are not unfairly advantaged and that competition is not distorted, including making relevant information arising from the engagement available through the procurement documents.
CPV: Payroll management services · Personnel and payroll services · Software package and information systems
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1RenewalPublished value£1,400,000
- Economic & financial standing
Bidders must demonstrate that their financial position is sufficiently robust to support both the implementation and ongoing delivery of the System. Bidders must provide their audited financial statements for the previous two financial years. Where audited accounts are not available, bidders should provide certified accounts or equivalent financial information. Bidders should disclose any known events that may materially impact their financial position during the contract term (for example, planned sale, refinancing, or restructuring). Minimum Turnover Requirement The bidder’s annual turnover must be at least two times the estimated annual contract value. Net Asset Position Bidders must demonstrate a positive net asset position in their most recent financial statements Liquidity and Access to Financial Resources Bidders must demonstrate access to adequate financial resources to support ongoing business operations and contractual commitments. Revenue Model Stability Bidders must describe their revenue model, including the proportion of income that is recurring, contractually committed, or otherwise predictable. The Trust will assess the economic and financial standing of bidders to ensure that the successful supplier has the financial capacity and resilience required to deliver the contract for its full duration. The Trust is seeking a financially resilient supplier capable of sustaining long-term service delivery. The assessment is designed to ensure resilience rather than favour organisations of a particular size. The assessment will be conducted in accordance with the principles of proportionality, transparency, and equal treatment. Insurance requirements - can commit to obtain, prior to the award of the contract, the levels of insurance cover indicated below a. Employer’s (Compulsory) Liability Insurance = £10m b. b. Public Liability Insurance = £10m c. c. Professional Indemnity Insurance = £1m d. d. Product Liability Insurance = £1m e. Cyber and Data Protection Insurance = £1m
- Technical & professional ability
Relevant experience and contract examples – Provide details of up to three contracts to meet conditions of participation relating to technical ability set out in the relevant notice or procurement documents, in any combination from the education sector. The examples must be from the past three years. To constitute a pass, the minimum of two contract examples provided shall be relevant to the complexity of the requirement, with a sufficient level of detail that provides confidence in the Tenderer’s established past experience in similar and relevant projects/contracts from the education sector providing this HRIS Solution &Payroll and Pension service. Organisational Standards - Please provide details of the Quality Management and Information, Security standards such as ISO 9001 and ISO 27001, or equivalent internationally recognised certifications. You must confirm that the scope of these certifications explicitly covers the services proposed within this procurement. Where equivalent standards are offered, please explain how they meet or exceed the requirements of the specified ISO standards. Bidders must submit the following evidence:
- Copies of current certification issued by an accredited certification body.
- Copy of the certification scope statement demonstrating that the services being procured fall within the accredited scope.
- Confirmation of certification validity dates.
- Details of any non-conformities identified during the most recent audit and the corrective actions taken.
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 Assessment: 60%
- Price Assessment: 40%
Published award criteria (2)
- Quality Assessment: (Software Functionality) 35% (Quality Questions) 25%
- Price Assessment: The Tenderer with the lowest overall price position for the Trust over the contract period of 6 years will be awarded the full 40% the marks available for overall price. All other Tenderers’ scores will be calculated relative to this best overall financial offer
- Economic & financial standing
Bidders must demonstrate that their financial position is sufficiently robust to support both the implementation and ongoing delivery of the System. Bidders must provide their audited financial statements for the previous two financial years. Where audited accounts are not available, bidders should provide certified accounts or equivalent financial information. Bidders should disclose any known events that may materially impact their financial position during the contract term (for example, planned sale, refinancing, or restructuring). Minimum Turnover Requirement The bidder’s annual turnover must be at least two times the estimated annual contract value. Net Asset Position Bidders must demonstrate a positive net asset position in their most recent financial statements Liquidity and Access to Financial Resources Bidders must demonstrate access to adequate financial resources to support ongoing business operations and contractual commitments. Revenue Model Stability Bidders must describe their revenue model, including the proportion of income that is recurring, contractually committed, or otherwise predictable. The Trust will assess the economic and financial standing of bidders to ensure that the successful supplier has the financial capacity and resilience required to deliver the contract for its full duration. The Trust is seeking a financially resilient supplier capable of sustaining long-term service delivery. The assessment is designed to ensure resilience rather than fa…
- Technical & professional ability
Relevant experience and contract examples – Provide details of up to three contracts to meet conditions of participation relating to technical ability set out in the relevant notice or procurement documents, in any combination from the education sector. The examples must be from the past three years. To constitute a pass, the minimum of two contract examples provided shall be relevant to the complexity of the requirement, with a sufficient level of detail that provides confidence in the Tenderer’s established past experience in similar and relevant projects/contracts from the education sector providing this HRIS Solution &Payroll and Pension service. Organisational Standards - Please provide details of the Quality Management and Information, Security standards such as ISO 9001 and ISO 27001, or equivalent internationally recognised certifications. You must confirm that the scope of these certifications explicitly covers the services proposed within this procurement. Where equivalent standards are offered, please explain how they meet or exceed the requirements of the specified ISO standards. Bidders must submit the following evidence:
- Copies of current certification issued by an accredited certification body.
- Copy of the certification scope statement demonstrating that the services being procured fall within the accredited scope.
- Confirmation of certification validity dates.
- Details of any non-conformities identified during the most recent audit and the corrective acti…
- Price carries 40 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 4 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
- Turnover usually expected at this size: about £616,049 (twice the annual value).
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula. Turnover is an indicative market norm (≈2× annual value), not a published condition.
Competition analysis · published record, not a forecast of who will bid
How Cabot Learning Federation Multi Academy Trust buys Accounting and auditing services (CPV 7921), and who usually turns up
Cabot Learning Federation Multi Academy Trust’s published record next to the market for the same work. Frameworks and DPS are left out: they draw different bid counts. Whole-market view: Accounting and auditing services (CPV 7921) →
How the contest usually goes
Winner shares use published awards; bid and price charts use contested lots.
i
How often small and medium firms win.
Share of awards where the winner’s size is known.
The counts under this question show how many awards have a known supplier size.
Small firms have won here. Neither number says whether you qualify; it describes who has been winning.
i
How often local firms win similar work.
Winners with a registered address in the delivery region, out of awards with a known address.
Local means the winner is registered in the region where that award was delivered. The market figure counts awards delivered in South West England.
A local branch does not count if the registered address is elsewhere.
Most of this buyer’s recorded winners were registered outside the region where that award was delivered.
i
How long buyers here take to decide after bids close.
Middle value in days from the bid deadline to the award date, on competitions that published both.
Only decided tenders count, so slow ones still waiting are not in.
Half of these awards have an award date within 66 days of the bid deadline.
i
How often work is awarded with no recorded rival.
Direct awards and tenders where every published lot count shows one bid.
The market share is a minimum: some awards have no bid count.
Thin markets produce this too; it is not proof of a tailored specification.
Missing bid counts may hide more single-bid awards. This share is a minimum.
How many bids did past lots attract?
i
How many bids past lots received.
Each colour is a bid-count range. Only competed lots with a published count are included.
Past bids do not predict this tender.
1 bid0% / 6%
2–30% / 38%
4–6100% / 50%
7+0% / 6%
How did awards compare with estimates?
i
Where winning prices landed against estimates.
Each colour shows awards below, close to or above the published estimate, one lot at a time.
Past prices are a guide, not a bid price.
Below estimate0% / 50%
Within ±2%100% / 33%
Above estimate0% / 17%
Assess each lot i
What past awards tell you about each lot.
See the forecast, this buyer’s earlier suppliers and firms with relevant wins.
No supplier is confirmed as a bidder.
i
What past awards tell you about each lot.
See the forecast, this buyer’s earlier suppliers and firms with relevant wins.
No supplier is confirmed as a bidder.
Open a lot for its forecast, this buyer’s previous supplier and possible competitors, from published award history, not a bid list
Lot #1CPV 79Published estimate£1.4m
This lot lists more than one class in CPV 79. The comparison uses that group.
i
How many bids this lot may attract.
The forecast uses similar past competitions. The bar shows either that forecast or past bid counts; the line below says which.
Each lot shows its own forecast based on its own category; forecasts for different lots of the same notice are not comparative.
A forecast, not a list of bidders.
1 bid8%
2–317%
4–664%
7+11%
i
Where the award price may land.
The forecast uses similar awards and the buyer’s estimate. The band covers the middle half of likely prices.
Based on 12 comparable awards. Each lot reflects its own category; forecasts for different lots of the same notice are not comparative.
A statistical guide from past awards, not a price to bid.
Middle 50%£1.4m
Estimate£1.4m
Who has supplied this buyer on similar work? i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
No earlier contract of this buyer matches this lot on the published record.
Who could compete for this lot? i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
| Supplier | Won in this category | Live contracts | Award vs estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| £3.1bn49 awards in 36m · last 1 month ago | 20 live · £6.0bn iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | at estimate n=14 | |
CIVICA UK LIMITEDLarge | £47m158 awards in 36m · last this month | 63 live · £163m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | 7% below n=19 |
| £36m52 awards in 36m · last this month | 17 live · £17m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | 4% below n=15 | |
Access UK LtdLarge | £44m92 awards in 36m · last 1 month ago | 33 live · £66m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | 11% below n=11 |
Zellis UK LtdLarge | £8.2m14 awards in 36m · last 1 month ago | 5 live · £2.6m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | 26% below n=2 |
About this data
- Source. Official UK public procurement notices (Find a Tender), reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0. New notices arrive through the day; the figures are rebuilt nightly.
- Two views, kept apart. The authority’s own track record and the wider market for the same kind of work sit side by side and are never mixed. Where the local picture is too thin, a figure widens to a broader market and says which one it used.
- Forecasts are labelled. The price forecast and its range, possible competitors and the earlier-work matches are our estimates from past awards: not published facts, not win chances and not price advice. Official notices do not say who is bidding.
- Every figure shows what it rests on. Not every notice publishes a bid count, a value or a delivery region, so each figure carries the number of records behind it, and one built on few records is marked as such. The on a figure explains it; the counting rules are in the methodology. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.
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
- Open for tender
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- Yes · next expected 31 Mar 2032
- First published
- 30 Sept 2026, 16:46 BST
- Last source update
- 30 Sept 2026, 16:46 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 17 Dec 2026
- Authority reference
CLF01.01- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-092572- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-077e0eFind a Tender- Contract terms summary
The Trust requires the following payment profile: a. Implementation Costs
- 25% invoiced upon Contract Signature
- 25% invoiced upon completion of the build
- 25% following completion of testing
- 25% following go live plus 1 month All Inclusive Cost
- System & Support – annually in advance
- Payroll & Pension Service - Monthly invoice in arrears, per payslip charge
- Risks
- Data Accuracy & Input Risk: Inconsistent or late inputs from academies can cause payroll errors. 2. Integration & Systems Compatibility Risks: Unclear or evolving integration requirements may disrupt operations. 3. Implementation & Transition Risks: Complex migrations, legacy data, and tight timelines can cause failures. 4. Compliance & Legislative Risk: High risk of non?compliance with LGPS, TPS, HMRC, and sector requirements. 5. Governance & Approval? Chain Risk: Multi-level approvals may delay payroll runs. 6. Service Reliability & Business Continuity: Outages or poor resilience may cause missed pay dates. 7. Vendor Performance, Capacity & Resourcing Risks: Under?resourcing can slow turnaround and increase errors. 8. Query Management & Support Risk: Insufficient helpdesk responsiveness impacts accuracy and staff satisfaction. 9. Contractual & Liability Risks: Liability caps may be insufficient for high?impact payroll errors. 10. Scalability & Expansion Risks: Onboarding new schools can be delayed or inaccurate. 11. Cultural, Process & Change Management Risk: Low adoption and inconsistent processes increase error likelihood. 12. Trust Control & Visibility Risk: Reduced visibility or audit access undermines governance.
How to participate & submission route
Official notice Submit via EU-Supply (CTM)- Requests to participate (first stage)
- —
- Tender submission deadline
- 6 Nov 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Clarification deadline
- 23 Oct 2026, 12:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Timeline
30 Sept 2026 → 15 Jan 2027 · 5 dates- Tender notice published28 days ago30 Sept 2026, 16:46 BST
- Clarification questions by5 days ago23 Oct 2026, 12:00 BST
- Today28 Oct 2026
- Submission deadlinein 8 days6 Nov 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Award decision expected byin 50 days17 Dec 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Contract startsin 78 days15 Jan 2027
Notice history
1 event · 1 release on Find a Tender- Tender notice published30 Sept 2026, 16:46 BSTUK4
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Nothing awarded yet- Awards (0)
- No award published
- Contracts (0)
- No contract published
- Bid statistics
- No aggregate bid statistics published
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
2 public bodies on the noticeConsortium members and other public bodies
- PHP Law LLPContracting authorityProcess contact pointPublic authority - sub-central government
Official documents & specifications (1)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender