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Pensions Administration Services

Gloucestershire County Council

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

15 Sep 2026 at 17:00

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

16 Oct 2025 at 15:52

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

05 Jun 2025 at 14:26

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Gloucestershire County Council is procuring pension administration services for government employee pension schemes, supporting the administration of pensions for Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service. The requirement is a specialist public-sector pensions administration service rather than general financial advice or standalone software. The appointed provider will deliver the service for the authority in the United Kingdom. The scope is centred on the ongoing administration of pension scheme records, member and employer transactions, and associated operational support. Suppliers with established pension administration platforms, processes and teams serving public-sector schemes are the most relevant. Experience of the specific requirements of fire and rescue service pension arrangements would be particularly applicable to this procurement.

The below-threshold open competition using the light-touch regime has completed, with two final-stage bids received. XPS Pensions Group PLC was awarded the contract on 14 September 2026 for £374,000 excluding VAT (£448,800 including VAT). The contract is scheduled to run from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2030, with two optional 12-month extensions available at the authority’s discretion, giving a maximum end date of 31 March 2032. Evaluation weighted quality at 55%, social value at 15% and price at 30%. The award is active, and contract signature was scheduled for 25 September 2026. One lot was awarded, covering the complete pensions administration requirement.

For a future competition, credible suppliers would need demonstrable capability in administering government employee pension schemes at public-sector scale, with robust systems for maintaining records, processing member and employer activity, and supporting the authority throughout the service period. The market engagement specifically sought providers with successful experience for UK Fire and Rescue Services or other public-sector organisations, so relevant references and a proven delivery record would strengthen a competitor’s position. Suppliers would also need sufficient operational capacity to take on new business, together with a clear approach to planning, implementation, data transfer, lead-in and go-live activities. A strong offer would address service quality and measurable social value as well as price.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Pensions Administration Services

Notice Description

Provision of Pension Administration Services. The Authority intends to award a contract following completion of a Below Threshold Open Competition (Light Touch).

Planning Information

The purpose of the MIS is to: a) Engage with interested parties to explore the current capacity and capability of the market to meet the Pension administration requirements of GFRS The objectives of this MIS are to: a) Confirm available capability and capacity to meet the needs of GFRS. b) Determine potential pricing structures and implementation timescales. c) Identify providers who can offer additional and advantageous solutions in areas of the service to offer longer term effectiveness and efficiency savings. d) Identify providers currently working with UK Fire and Rescue Services, or other public sector bodies, delivering a successful solution and proven track record. e) Identify the availability of Framework contracts Questions Please provide information relating to all requirement areas. Q1. Describe the solution(s) you can offer GFRS based on the above requirements, detailed in section 3.2. Q2. Describe the solution(s) you can offer GFRS based on Section 4 and Section 5. Q3 Detail which UK Fire and Rescue Services or public sector organisations you currently work with Q4 What is the estimated one-off cost of implementing your solution(s) (ex VAT)? Please provide costings and any discounts for multiple length contracts e.g. 3, 4, 5 years. Q5 Detail an estimated timeframe and approach for your solution(s) - to include planning, implementation, data transfer, lead in times and go live. Q6 Are you an awarded supplier on any public sector procurement frameworks/ Dynamic Purchasing Systems or Dynamic Markets. Please details organisation name, framework name and number and applicable lot Q7 What capacity would you have to take on new business in the light of the current issues within the pensions industry In addition to the above questions please provide any further supporting information that you feel would be beneficial Timeline Date Activity 4th June 2025 MIS Publication 24th June 2025 Deadline for any clarification questions 1st July 2025 12noon Deadline for any MIS submission W/C 14th July 2025 Confirm next steps to MIS respondents

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0543b6
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/087497-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

75 - Administration, defence and social security services

CPV Codes

75320000 - Government employee pension schemes

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£325,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£325,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
£374,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
15 Sep 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
3 Dec 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
5 Aug 2025Expired
Award Date
14 Sep 20261 months ago
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 31 Mar 2030 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Gloucestershire County Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
GLOUCESTER
Postcode
GL1 2TG
Postcode Area
Gloucester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK73 Gloucestershire CC
Delivery Location
TLK1 Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol/Bath area
Local Authority
Gloucester
Electoral Ward
Westgate
Westminster Constituency
Gloucester

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

XPS Pensions Group

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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