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Published 15 Apr 2026, 13:47 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Pensions Administration Operational Support Service Framework

Official notice

Authority: Norfolk County Council (Local council)·On behalf of: Cheshire west and Chester Borough Council

Framework agreement5 lotsServicesOpen procedureAbove thresholdSME suitable
Framework ceiling (notional)£130,000,000total for 5 lots · framework ceiling, not attributable revenue
Submissions closed 30 Sept 2026
Lots 5see the lot list below
Framework period 4 yrsends 10 Jan 2031 · starts 11 Jan 2027

What is being bought5 lots · detail below

Published requirement description

Norfolk County Council on its own behalf and on behalf of the Pension Funds listed below wish to let a Multi-Provider Framework Agreement for the provision of specialist operational support for pension administration services primarily in the support of The Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).

  • Cheshire West and Chester Council (as Administering Authority of the Cheshire Pension Fund)
  • Essex County Council (as Administering Authority of the Essex Pension Fund)
  • Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council (as Administering Authority of the Greater Manchester Pension Fund)
  • City of Wolverhampton Council (as Administering Authority of the West Midlands Pension Fund)

This framework may also be used by:

  • Any LGPS administering authorities as defined in the Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations 2013 (SI 2013/2356) (as amended) including the Firefighters' Pension Scheme and Police Pension Schemes and any of their participating employing authorities, or in relation to the LGPS in Scotland, any administering authority and any of their scheme employers as defined in the Local Government Pension Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 2018 (SSI 2018/141) (as amended),
  • NILGOSC in Northern Ireland and employing authorities as defined in the Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 (SRNI 2014/188) (as amended),
  • The Board of the Pension Protection Fund.
  • Local Government Association (LGA)
  • Any other administering authority or scheme manager of a public-sector pension scheme or any public-sector body that requires pensions related services, and
  • Any LGPS Fund(s) or groups of funds, or any bodies, organisations or companies established by them for the purpose of operating on a collective basis.

This Framework will be split into Lots.

Contracts awarded under the framework may have a maximum total duration of 5 years.

No contract awarded from the framework will be permitted to extend beyond 10th January 2036.

CPV: Pension services

How this framework works

From the published notice
Type
Open framework
Call-offs
call-offs may be awarded directly or by further competition
Framework period
4 yrs from 11 Jan 2027
Buyer regions
UK
Supplier levy on call-offs (max %)
1% of call-off value
Who may buy through it

Any LGPS administering authorities as defined in the LGPS Regulations 2013 (SI 2013/2356) (as amended) including the Firefighters' Pension Scheme and Police Pension Scheme and any of their participating employing authorities, or in relation to the LGPS in Scotland, any administering authority and any of their scheme employers as defined in the Local Government Pension Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 2018 (SSI 2018/141) (as amended),

NILGOSC in Northern Ireland and employing authorities as defined in the Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 (SRNI 2014/188) (as amended)

Local Government Association

The Board of the Pension Protection Fund

Any other administering authority or scheme manager of a public sector pension scheme or any public-sector body that requires pensions related services

Any LGPS Fund(s) or groups of funds, or any bodies, organisations or companies established by them for the purpose of operating on a collective basis

Published description of the framework

For information on how prices are determined and selection processes for the award of contracts, please see the ITT documents at in-tendhost.co.uk/norfolkcc/aspx/Home ↗.

Lots and requirements (5)Procurement structure

5 lots · all with a published value · same evaluation weights on every lot

Every one of these 3 lots carries the same published figure, £20,000,000: it is the framework's maximum for the whole notice, not each lot's own budget, and no share per lot is published. The cards below say ceiling above rather than repeat it.

Lot #1Pensions Administration Operational Services 4 yrsSMEPublished value£40,000,000

Provision of operational administration services across a range of Pension Administration work areas, including but not limited to:

Data interrogation and rectification, to include the following aspects:

  • Data exploration and analysis of member data sets, providing detailed outcome reports and identification of issues and gaps and required resolution activities
  • Undertake rectification and remedial data cleansing activities e.g. support with McCloud projects, employer transfer, Pensions, Administration System implementation support
  • Support Funds with data readiness and data quality assessments to determine for annual regulatory activities and for bespoke recalculation projects e.g. Valuation, McCloud, Pension Dashboards, Annual Benefit Statements etc.

Temporary/Ad-hoc general Pensions Administration support including but not limited to:

  • Pensioner payroll services
  • Benefit calculations and member processing
  • Interim staffing support e.g. Pensions Manager
  • Employer led LGPS consolidation
  • Member transfer exercises
  • Production of member Annual Benefit Statements
Contract period: 11 Jan 2027 – 10 Jan 2031 (4 yrs)Value: £40,000,000 exc. VAT · £48,000,000 inc. VAT
Delivery: UKEligibility: SME eligible
Lot #2Provision of Specialist Pensions Communications and Engagement Services 4 yrsSMEPublished value£30,000,000

Provide specialist support to design, develop and deliver effective pensions related multi-channel communications and engagement strategies including but not limited to;

  • Successful targeted education and engagement programs for members and other stakeholders
  • Brand redesign, development and advice
  • Measuring the effectiveness and success of engagement, service delivery, user experience and outcomes and recommendations on change and improvement.
  • Written and digital content and design advice and delivery including use of appropriate language (e.g. Plain English)
  • Compliance with accessibility requirements and standards including translation, neurodiversity and equality support
  • Public relations and Stakeholder management to support with pensions specific communications in response to events e.g. cyber related issues, government announcements, LGR etc.
Contract period: 11 Jan 2027 – 10 Jan 2031 (4 yrs)Value: £30,000,000 exc. VAT · £36,000,000 inc. VAT
Delivery: UKEligibility: SME eligible
Lot #3Business Change and Transformation 4 yrsSMEceiling above

Support for business change and transformation including, but not limited to:

  • Support with large scale pension administration transformation processes e.g. shared services
  • Pensions Administration project delivery including those arising from legal judgements and legislative changes e.g. support with McCloud projects, employer transfer, Pensions Administration System implementation support.
  • Design advice and delivery of business change management frameworks
  • Review and design of pensions administration procedural policies / documents / strategies and recommendations on change and improvement and advising on best practice.
Contract period: 11 Jan 2027 – 10 Jan 2031 (4 yrs)
Delivery: UKEligibility: SME eligible
Lot #4Independent Assurance, Risk and Internal Controls 4 yrsSMEceiling above

Independent assurance, risk and internal controls including, but not limited to:

  • Pensions specific internal audit and assurance services e.g. member or employer engagement review, pensions counter fraud
  • Third line assurance review, check and challenge
  • Best practice advice
Contract period: 11 Jan 2027 – 10 Jan 2031 (4 yrs)
Delivery: UKEligibility: SME eligible
Lot #5Enabling Pension Technology Services 4 yrsSMEceiling above

Technology services including, but not limited to:

  • Development of bespoke calculation tools
  • Development of artificial intelligence and automation tooling e.g. robotics to assist with general pensions administration processing
  • Reporting and Business Intelligence tools and strategies
  • Advice and development of strategies around use of Artificial intelligence within pensions administration e.g. automated decision making
  • Technology to support verification and secure form of communications with non-member stakeholders e.g. power of attorney, personal representatives.
Contract period: 11 Jan 2027 – 10 Jan 2031 (4 yrs)
Delivery: UKEligibility: SME eligible

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 · same split on all 5 lots
Quality: 100%
Published award criteria (1)
  • Quality
What this means for your bid
  • “Pensions Administration Operational Support Service Framework” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract: call-offs may be direct or by further competition.

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
Closed
Procurement threshold
Above threshold (FTS publication)
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Framework agreement
Who may use this agreement
Any LGPS administering authorities as defined in the LGPS Regulations 2013 (SI 2013/2356) (as amended) including the Firefighters' Pension Scheme and Police Pension Scheme and any of their participating employing authorities, or in relation to the LGPS in Scotland, any administering authority and any of their scheme employers as defined in the Local Government Pension Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 2018 (SSI 2018/141) (as amended), NILGOSC in Northern Ireland and employing authorities as defined in the Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 (SRNI 2014/188) (as amended) Local Government Association The Board of the Pension Protection Fund Any other administering authority or scheme manager of a public sector pension scheme or any public-sector body that requires pensions related services Any LGPS Fund(s) or groups of funds, or any bodies, organisations or companies established by them for the purpose of operating on a collective basis
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement
Unspecified in notice
First published
15 Apr 2026, 13:47 BST
Last source update
19 Aug 2026, 17:00 BST
Award evaluation window
Submission end – 23 Nov 2026
Authority reference
NCCT43384
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-079210
Latest notice
Tender notice (UK4)
Classification (CPV)
Pension services
Delivery area
UK
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06830b Find a Tender
Review and risk notes
Risks

Norfolk County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation. On 25 March 2026 the government announced that it supports 3 unitary councils for the whole of Norfolk with implementation planned for April 2028. As a result of this the following may apply:

(i) the framework may be transferred, assigned or novated to any successor authority(ies) to the council, or to any joint body incorporating or formed by any such successor and/or to any Mayoral Strategic Authority; and/or

(ii) the council or a successor authority or joint body may order services on behalf of other local authorities serving any area within Norfolk's current geographical boundaries.

Further information on the proposals for Norfolk can be found at www.norfolk.gov.uk/article/67898/Local-… ↗

How it was run

Official notice
Run through: In-tend · Who buys & how to bid on In-tend
Supplier login requiredElectronic submission allowedLanguage: EN
Access & registration note: Free · one account per buying organisation's portal · reCAPTCHA on signup
Appointment period ends
30 Sept 2026, 14:00 BST
Clarification deadline
9 Sept 2026, 14:00 BST
Submission channel
Official e-sourcing portal
Electronic submission
Allowed
Accepted languages
en
Supplier levy on call-offs (max %)
call-off levy · 1% of call-off value
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

This procurement will be managed electronically via the Councils e-procurement system. To participate in this procurement, applicants must first be registered on the system at in-tendhost.co.uk/norfolkcc ↗. Full instructions for registration and use of the system can be found at in-tendhost.co.uk/norfolkcc/aspx/Buyer… ↗. Once registered you will be able to see the procurement project under the tenders section and express an interest to view the documentation and access any clarifications. If you encounter any difficulties whilst using the system you can contact the In-tend support team by phoning +44 8442728810 or e-mailing support@in-tend.co.uk.

Timeline

15 Apr 2026 → 11 Jan 2027 · 8 dates
  1. Planning notice published194 days ago
    15 Apr 2026, 13:47 BST
  2. Market engagement168 days ago
    11 May 2026, 23:59 BST

    For more information and to register your interest in the market engagement, please visit In-Tend in-tendhost.co.uk/norfolkcc/aspx/Home ↗

  3. Next notice expected111 days ago
    7 Jul 2026, 23:59 BST
  4. Tender notice published68 days ago
    19 Aug 2026, 17:00 BST
  5. Clarification questions by47 days ago
    9 Sept 2026, 14:00 BST
  6. Admission / appointment period ends26 days ago · period end, not a bid countdown
    30 Sept 2026, 14:00 BST
  7. Today
    27 Oct 2026
  8. Award decision expected byin 27 days
    23 Nov 2026, 23:59 GMT
  9. Contract startsin 75 days
    11 Jan 2027

Notice history

8 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 15 Apr 2026
  1. Preliminary market engagement notice published
    15 Apr 2026, 13:47 BST
    UK2
  2. Planned procurement notice published
    17 Apr 2026, 15:45 BST
    UK3
  3. Status changed to planned
    17 Apr 2026, 15:45 BST
  4. Procurement method changed
    17 Apr 2026, 15:45 BST
  5. Deadline published: 1 Sept 2026, 11:00 BST
    17 Apr 2026, 15:45 BST
  6. Tender notice published
    19 Aug 2026, 17:00 BST
    UK4
  7. Status changed to active
    19 Aug 2026, 17:00 BST
  8. Deadline moved to 30 Sept 2026, 14:00 BST
    19 Aug 2026, 17:00 BST
    +29 days · was 1 Sept 2026, 11:00 BST

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

6 public bodies on the notice

Norfolk County Council (as Administering Authority of the Norfolk Pension Fund)

Contracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government GB-PPON: PDYH-3246-XWTR County Hall, Martineau Lane, Norwich, East of England, NR1 2DHContact email

Other public bodies

Official documents & specifications (8)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Tender pack and attachments

Notices published for this procedure