Find a TenderAwarded without competition

Published 13 Aug 2025, 14:39 BST

Official UK procurement notice

HR Information System · UK public procurement notice

Official notice

Authority: South & City College Birmingham (Education)

GoodsAward procedure without prior publication of a call for competition

Sectors: Software Packages & ERP (48) Delivery: North East (UKC)North West (UKD)Yorkshire & Humber (UKE)

+6 more

East Midlands (UKF)West Midlands (UKG)East of England (UKH)London (UKI)South East (UKJ)South West (UKK)

Awarded value£640,000published contract · exc. VAT

Awarded 8 Aug 2025no call for competition

Awarded to Softcat Plc

What is being bought

Published requirement description

Provision of HR and payroll system software service

CPV: Software package and information systems

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published

Lot #1Provision of HR and payroll software servicesAwarded

Provision of HR and payroll software services. Additional information: Direct Award

Delivery: North East, North West, Yorkshire & Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East, South West · Birmingham

48000000 Software package and information systems

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record

Procedure method: Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Legal basis: CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
Procurement category: Goods
Notice status: Awarded without competition
Procurement threshold: Unspecified in notice
Regulatory regime: Standard
Commercial structure: Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type: Direct award (no call for competition)
GPA / WTO covered: Yes (GPA)
Recurring procurement: Unspecified in notice
First published: 13 Aug 2025, 14:39 BST
Last source update: 13 Aug 2025, 14:39 BST
Authority reference: SCCB 02-25
FTS notice number: 2025/S 000-048444
Classification (CPV): Software package and information systems
Delivery area: North East (UKC)North West (UKD)Yorkshire & Humber (UKE)East Midlands (UKF)West Midlands (UKG)East of England (UKH)London (UKI)South East (UKJ)
+1 more
South West (UKK)
Official registry OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05871f Find a Tender

Why no open competition: The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the directive
Published justification: The NHS Shared Business Services Consortium, was used to carry out the tender process. The framework used was the Digital Services SBS/19/AB/WAB/9411
There were 28 potential system providers available via the Consortium, and these providers were invited to submit tenders. In addition, they were contacted to ascertain whether they could provide a demonstration on a specified date and whether they were able to provide a specific system for a HR and Payroll integrated information system.
It was made clear that if they did intend to tender, they needed to confirm this and that they would not be sent out the next stage of the tender process, which was a Capability Assessment. This was timetabled to be sent after the demonstrations, and it was made clear that this would form part of any audit trail.
From the 28 providers who were invited to tender listed on the framework, only three responded to say they were not interested. 24 did not respond and only one (Softcat) responded to say that they would be tendering and that this would be in partnership with Midland HR. For their ITrent and People First HR System.
As there was only one response, it was agreed to make a direct award, as there was no further competition.

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast

Awards 1

Awarded value £640,0001 contract exc. VAT

Bids received 1

Contracts signed 1latest 8 Aug 2025

Awarded to	Value	Date	Status
Softcat PlcSubcontracting: The Services will be supplied by Midland HR	£640,000 †	—	Awarded

Contracts

Contract 048444-2025-1 · Softcat Plc
Signed
8 Aug 2025
Value
£640,000
Status
active

Bid statistics published by the authority

Bids	SME	VCSE	Valid bid range
1bids	—	—	—

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

South & City College Birmingham

Contracting authorityEducationBody governed by public lawEducation GB-UKPRN: South & City College Birmingham High Street, Birmingham, West Midlands, B55SUContact name, email, phone

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice

Softcat PlcAwarded supplierGB-COH: 02174990 Buckinghamshire, West Midlands, SL7 1LWContact email, phone

Official documents & specifications

Official links; attachments are not copied

No document links were published on the notice.