3S_26 Strategic HR and Recruitment Services
Estimated value
—
Awarded value
£1.2bn
Suppliers
524
Lots
4
Published
10 Jun 2026
Description
THIS NOTICE IS TO CAPTURE THE CONTRACT AWARD AND STANDSTILL FOR LOTS 1-4. The procurement has been undertaken as per UK4 Tender notice identifier: 2025/S 000-074685; Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-0505ab. ESPO are establishing a national framework that offers a range of strategic HR services relevant in the public sector, including; executive and managerial interim recruitment, executive and managerial permanent recruitment, multi role temporary recruitment, multi role permanent recruitment, assessment & testing services, outplacement & career transition services, professional coaching, HR business process outsourcing and 'Recruit - Train - Deploy models'. The Framework is divided into 8 lots: Lot 1. Executive and Managerial Interim Recruitment • 1a. Admin, HR & Business Support • 1b. Blue Light & Emergency Services • 1c. Commercial (Finance, Procurement and Legal) • 1d. Education • 1e. Health & Social Care • 1f. IT, Digital, Media & Marketing Lot 2. Executive and Managerial Permanent Recruitment • 2a. Admin, HR & Business Support • 2b. Blue Light & Emergency Services • 2c. Commercial (Finance, Procurement and Legal) • 2d. Education • 2e. Health & Social Care • 2f. IT, Digital, Media & Marketing Lot 3. Temporary Recruitment (sub £45k) Lot 4. Permanent Recruitment (sub £45k) Lot 5. Assessment and Testing Services Lot 6. Outplacement and Career Transition Services Lot 7. HR Business Process Outsourcing • 7a. Recruitment Process Outsourcing • 7b. Applicant Management • 7c. Onboarding • 7d. HR Administration • 7e. Payroll Management • 7f. Employment screening and background checks • 7g. HR Consultancy • 7h. Statement of Works Lot 8. Future workforce • 8a. Workforce Planning and Demand Management • 8b. Recruit - Train - Deploy (RTD) • 8c. Professional and Career Coaching Services • 8d. Professional and Career Skills development
Scope
- Reference
- 3S_26
- Commercial tool
- Standalone contract
- Contract dates
- 06 Jul 2026 to 06 Jul 2028Possible extension to 06 Jul 2030
The framework agreement has the option to extend for up to a further 24 months (under normal circumstances this will be completed in full or in 12-month periods, and is subject to the performance of the framework). Total estimated values captured in this notice include the option to extend the framework as noted above.
- CPV classifications
- 79600000796320007963300079634000796350007963000079610000
- Contract locations
- North East England, United KingdomNorth West England, United KingdomYorkshire and the Humber, United KingdomEast Midlands, United KingdomWest Midlands, United KingdomEast of England, United KingdomLondon, United KingdomSouth East England, United KingdomSouth West England, United KingdomWales, United KingdomScotland, United KingdomNorthern Ireland, United Kingdom
- Particular suitability
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Award criteria
Criteria the buyer will use to evaluate bids.
| Name | Description | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | — | price | 40.00% |
| Non-Price | — | quality | 60.00% |
Participation
Conditions suppliers must meet to bid.
Refer to the tender documents for conditions of participation (note: the Procurement Specific Questionnaire including Conditions of Participation questions, is captured as a Question set in the eProcurement Portal, ProContract, and is completed online there once a response has been started).
Submission & procedure
- Procedure
- Open procedure
Award details· 4 awards
Awarded supplier(s), contract period and value as published in the award notice.
Awarded value
£291.7m
Award date
01 Jun 2026
Contract start
06 Jul 2026
Contract end
06 Jul 2028
Lots · 4 total
Divisions of the contract. Each lot can be awarded separately.
| Lot | Title | Est. value | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Executive and Managerial Interim Recruitment | — | complete |
| 2 | Executive and Managerial Permanent Recruitment | — | complete |
| 3 | Temporary Recruitment (£45k) | — | complete |
| 4 | Permanent Recruitment (£45k) | — | complete |