Planning

Employee Benefits and Wellbeing TPP Comms to market

DEFRA NETWORK ETENDERING PORTAL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

19 Feb 2025 at 14:08

Summary of the contracting process

This public procurement process is initiated by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) via their eTendering portal, focused on Employee Benefits and Wellbeing services, specifically classified under Health and Safety Services (CPV: 71317200). The procurement process is at the planning stage, with key updates expected related to the new Procurement Act 2023, effective from 24 February 2025. This Prior Information Notice (PIN) highlights the intent to notify businesses regarding significant changes in the procurement process, aimed at simplifying and opening up the market to new entrants, and providing clearer and more transparent requirements.

The tender provides an excellent opportunity for businesses specialising in health and safety services, company health services, presents and rewards, and benefit services (related CPV codes include 85147000, 18530000, and 75310000). The upcoming legislative changes will foster a more inclusive and flexible environment, particularly benefiting SMEs and VCSEs. Businesses equipped to navigate the new central digital platform and the simplified bidding process will be well-positioned to leverage these opportunities for significant growth. Suppliers are encouraged to stay informed via government guidance and updates available through Defra and relevant government portals.

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Notice Title

Employee Benefits and Wellbeing TPP Comms to market

Notice Description

Employee Benefits and Wellbeing TPP Comms to market

Lot Information

Lot 1

This Prior Information Notice (PIN) relates to Employee Benefits and Wellbeing. The intention is to share some updates regarding the application of the new Procurement Act in this area. Other such notices may be published by other category teams within Defra, and if your business operates across multiple categories you should review all relevant notices for updates.

The Procurement Act 2023 is new legislation that will change the way the public sector buys goods and services. It aims to:
* create a simpler and more flexible commercial system
* open up public procurement to new entrants
* take tougher action on underperforming suppliers
* embed transparency throughout the commercial lifecycle

The changes are expected to start on 24 February 2025.

The existing legislation will apply until 24 February 2025. After 24 February 2025, it will only apply to procurements and contracts that started before this date, i.e. if the Invitation to Tender (ITT) was published, a voluntary transparency notice was published, or a pricing request was issued.

The new features for suppliers include:
* a central digital platform
* a simplified bidding process
* more flexible commercial frameworks
* a new duty on contracting authorities to consider barriers facing SMEs and VCSEs
* a stronger exclusions framework

What will stay the same

If you are an existing or potential supplier to Defra and have live contracts, are a member of an existing framework, or are planning to bid for a procurement that has or will start prior to the new regime commencing, that arrangement will continue to be subject to the existing Public Contracting Regulations until the contract ends. The same principle applies to any contracts that are subject to any other associated procurement regulations, such as The Utilities Contracts Regulations.

What you need to do

If you are a supplier, you should:
* read the government guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/transforming-public-procurement
* sign up for regular TPP updates: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdMgwpZ1kwubGUpKMLwu0ZpHS8zdWmXKgaHUJKRl-SwqQT95w/viewform
* read the government TPP Knowledge Drops: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-official-transforming-public-procurement-knowledge-drops

We recommend that you familiarise yourself with the new Central Digital Platform using these guidance videos:
* An overview of the central digital platform, an enhanced Find a Tender service: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSfxoZoV3yI
* How to register an organisation and the first administrator in 3 easy steps https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnjCa4swtjA
* Detailed walkthrough: How an administrator completes and updates supplier info https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4ZdbMGRqeQ
* The central digital platform, an enhanced Find a Tender service: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSfxoZoV3yI

If you have a question about the new procurement act, contact the Transforming Public Procurement helpdesk at: procurement.reform@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04e409
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/005862-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Planning Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

18 - Clothing, footwear, luggage articles and accessories

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

75 - Administration, defence and social security services

85 - Health and social work services


CPV Codes

18530000 - Presents and rewards

71317200 - Health and safety services

75310000 - Benefit services

85147000 - Company health services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
19 Feb 20251 years ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
19 Feb 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DEFRA NETWORK ETENDERING PORTAL
Contact Name
Network Procurement
Contact Email
network.procurement@defra.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1P 4DF
Post Town
South West London
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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