Planning

Flexible Benefits Platform (including Brokering Service) and Employee Reward & Recognition Platform

NATIONAL ENERGY SYSTEM OPERATOR LIMITED

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

20 Jan 2026 at 10:15

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

08 Jan 2026 at 18:20

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

08 Jan 2026 at 16:41

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The National Energy System Operator Limited (NESO), located in Wokingham, United Kingdom, is at the planning stage of a tender for a Flexible Benefits Platform and an Employee Reward & Recognition Platform. This procurement, which falls under the services category and operates within the utilities special regime, aims to appoint providers for a software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform for NESO's 2,800 mainly UK-based employees. The estimated total value of the procurement is GBP 13,180,000. Interested organisations are invited to complete a market engagement form by 23 January 2026, which will help NESO understand market capabilities and develop their procurement strategy. The process involves exploring competitive flexible procedures through public sector frameworks, with the contract period proposed to commence on 31 October 2026.

This tender offers significant opportunities for businesses specialising in business transaction software and employee reward systems. Companies that provide comprehensive SaaS solutions, particularly those with experience in the public utility sector, will be well-suited to compete in this procurement. NESO's transition into public ownership makes this an opportune moment for service providers to contribute to an important public undertaking, creating a chance to establish or expand their presence in the public sector market. The engagement process presents an early opportunity to influence the procurement strategy and showcase relevant solutions.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Flexible Benefits Platform (including Brokering Service) and Employee Reward & Recognition Platform

Notice Description

The National Energy System Operator (NESO) is an independent, public corporation at the centre of the energy system with a view to create access to reliable, clean and affordable energy in the UK. Following its transition into public ownership, NESO is seeking to appoint a provider(s) to provide for the People function a reward and benefit software as a service platform solution for their 2,800 primarily UK based employees. Lot 1 Flexible Benefits Platform and brokering service (Estimated spend PS7681779 of which 52% is pass through spend to benefit providers) Lot 2 Employee Reward & Recognition Platform (Estimated spend PS5498319) NESO is exploring competitive options via public sector frameworks and is therefore starting the process as a PA23 engagement to get market insight. We are releasing the Pre Market Engagement questionnaire which will help us validate the strategy at Gate 0 and to understand what the market is able to offer.

Planning Information

NESO would like interested organisations to complete the following form: https://forms.office.com/e/T2MadKHZGP which NESO will then collate in order to develop their understanding of the market and complete their assurance process. Further communication in the form of notices will then be published via Find a Tender Service (FTS).

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06023a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/004650-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

98 - Other community, social and personal services

CPV Codes

48400000 - Business transaction and personal business software package

79900000 - Miscellaneous business and business-related services

98300000 - Miscellaneous services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£13,180,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
20 Jan 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
23 Feb 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Oct 2026 - 30 Oct 2030 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NATIONAL ENERGY SYSTEM OPERATOR LIMITED
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
WOKINGHAM
Postcode
RG41 5BN
Post Town
Reading
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ16 Berkshire West
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Wokingham
Electoral Ward
Winnersh
Westminster Constituency
Wokingham

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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. 

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-06023a-2026-01-20T10:15:09Z",
    "date": "2026-01-20T10:15:09Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-06023a",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "planning": {
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "001614-2026",
                "documentType": "plannedProcurementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK1",
                "description": "Pipeline notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/001614-2026",
                "datePublished": "2026-01-08T16:41:24Z",
                "format": "text/html"
            },
            {
                "id": "001650-2026",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/001650-2026",
                "datePublished": "2026-01-08T18:20:23Z",
                "format": "text/html"
            },
            {
                "id": "004650-2026",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/004650-2026",
                "datePublished": "2026-01-20T10:15:09Z",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ],
        "milestones": [
            {
                "id": "engagement",
                "type": "engagement",
                "description": "NESO would like interested organisations to complete the following form: https://forms.office.com/e/T2MadKHZGP which NESO will then collate in order to develop their understanding of the market and complete their assurance process. Further communication in the form of notices will then be published via Find a Tender Service (FTS).",
                "dueDate": "2026-01-23T23:59:59Z",
                "status": "scheduled"
            }
        ]
    },
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-COH-11014226",
            "name": "NATIONAL ENERGY SYSTEM OPERATOR LIMITED",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-COH",
                "id": "11014226"
            },
            "additionalIdentifiers": [
                {
                    "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                    "id": "PHQL-5234-MWWV"
                }
            ],
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "St Catherine's Lodge Bearwood Road",
                "locality": "Wokingham",
                "postalCode": "RG41 5BN",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKJ11"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "nesoprocurement@neso.energy"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicUndertaking",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public undertaking"
                    }
                ]
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-COH-11014226",
        "name": "NATIONAL ENERGY SYSTEM OPERATOR LIMITED"
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-06023a",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Flexible Benefits Platform (including Brokering Service) and Employee Reward & Recognition Platform",
        "description": "The National Energy System Operator (NESO) is an independent, public corporation at the centre of the energy system with a view to create access to reliable, clean and affordable energy in the UK. Following its transition into public ownership, NESO is seeking to appoint a provider(s) to provide for the People function a reward and benefit software as a service platform solution for their 2,800 primarily UK based employees. Lot 1 Flexible Benefits Platform and brokering service (Estimated spend PS7681779 of which 52% is pass through spend to benefit providers) Lot 2 Employee Reward & Recognition Platform (Estimated spend PS5498319) NESO is exploring competitive options via public sector frameworks and is therefore starting the process as a PA23 engagement to get market insight. We are releasing the Pre Market Engagement questionnaire which will help us validate the strategy at Gate 0 and to understand what the market is able to offer.",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "48400000",
                        "description": "Business transaction and personal business software package"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "79900000",
                        "description": "Miscellaneous business and business-related services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "98300000",
                        "description": "Miscellaneous services"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UK",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UK",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UK",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amountGross": 15816000,
            "amount": 13180000,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Competitive flexible procedure",
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "specialRegime": [
            "utilities"
        ],
        "aboveThreshold": true,
        "techniques": {
            "hasFrameworkAgreement": true
        },
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2026-10-31T00:00:00Z",
                    "endDate": "2030-10-30T23:59:59Z",
                    "maxExtentDate": "2034-10-30T23:59:59Z"
                },
                "hasRenewal": true,
                "status": "planned"
            }
        ],
        "communication": {
            "futureNoticeDate": "2026-02-23T23:59:59Z"
        },
        "status": "planned"
    },
    "language": "en"
}