Planning

Provision of Integrated HR & Payroll System

ACADEMIES FOR CHARACTER & EXCELLENCE

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

22 Jan 2026 at 10:50

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process has been initiated by the Academies for Character & Excellence, a Multi-Academy Trust located in Totnes, United Kingdom. The contract, titled "Provision of Integrated HR & Payroll System," falls under the services industry category, specifically targeting personnel and payroll services. The process is currently in the planning stage, with pre-market engagement activities scheduled for early February 2026. Suppliers interested in participating should note that key engagement events will be held on the 11th or 12th of February, with a deadline for input set for 13th February 2026. The objective is to deploy an integrated HR and payroll system between September and November 2026, aiming for a seamless and efficient solution to support organisational growth to 25 schools and beyond.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in HR and payroll services, especially those with expertise in the education sector. Companies offering modern, cloud-based platforms that seamlessly integrate with existing systems, such as Bromcom, are particularly well-suited. The Trust seeks robust solutions that ensure data security and scalability, emphasising service quality and continuity rather than just software delivery. Furthermore, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are encouraged to participate, as the contract considers SME suitability. These businesses will benefit from the contract's financial scope, valued at £450,000, and have the potential to establish themselves as key service providers in the education sector through this long-term partnership opportunity.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of Integrated HR & Payroll System

Notice Description

The Academies for Character and Excellence is a growing primary school Multi-Academy Trust currently comprising 20 schools, with anticipated growth to 25 schools during the tender period with future further growth anticipated in coming years. The Trust is undertaking pre-market engagement to inform a forthcoming procurement for an integrated HR and Payroll solution, including the delivery of a fully outsourced payroll service. The Trust is seeking a modern, cloud-based platform to support the full employee lifecycle, providing a single, secure source of workforce data across the Trust. Core requirements are expected to include employee records management, recruitment and onboarding, contract and position management, absence and leave management, HR reporting, DfE Workforce Census, employee self-service and integration with payroll processing. A key objective of this procurement is to secure a provider with demonstrable payroll expertise within the education sector, delivering a resilient, accurate, and compliant outsourced payroll service. This is expected to include monthly payroll processing, statutory and year-end submissions, pensions administration, handling of complex pay arrangements, and appropriate support services for payroll and HR queries. The Trust places strong emphasis on service quality, continuity, and sector knowledge and expertise, not solely the provision of software. The Trust currently uses Bromcom as its Management Information System and would welcome engagement with suppliers whose HR and payroll solutions can integrate effectively with this platform. Seamless integration between HR and payroll is a priority, alongside improved access to payroll data, enhanced reporting capability, and reduced reliance on manual processes. Scalability, data security, and automation will be key considerations to support the Trust's ongoing growth. The contract start date will be between September and November 2026

Planning Information

https://uk.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/rwlentrance_s.asp?PID=101607&TID=100106841&B= This pre-market engagement is intended to inform the Trust’s detailed specification and procurement strategy, and the Trust welcomes dialogue with interested suppliers to help shape a future tender that delivers a robust, education-focused HR and payroll solution. Suppliers will be offered a 1-hour slot on the 11th or 12th of February for a brief meeting/demo focussed on specific areas of enquiry which will be provided in advance. If you wish to book in a slot, please message the request through the tendering portal EU Supply with your email address with your preferred date and time for the 11th or 12th February. Slots will be allocated on a first come first serve basis. Once all slots are booked out we will have to respectfully decline any further requests. However all information from these meetings will be shared within the tender pack, where it has been deemed as not commercially sensitive.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-060bed
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/005644-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME
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

CPV Codes

48450000 - Time accounting or human resources software package

79211110 - Payroll management services

79631000 - Personnel and payroll services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£450,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 Jan 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
13 Feb 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Sep 2026 - 31 Aug 2030 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
ACADEMIES FOR CHARACTER & EXCELLENCE
Additional Buyers

PHP LAW LLP

Contact Name
Claire Jones
Contact Email
claire.jones@phplaw.co.uk
Contact Phone
+44 01234567890

Buyer Location

Locality
TOTNES
Postcode
TQ9 5RW
Post Town
Torquay
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK4 Devon
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK43 Devon CC
Delivery Location
TLK South West (England)
Local Authority
South Hams
Electoral Ward
Totnes
Westminster Constituency
South Devon

Further Information

Notice Documents

Notice URLs

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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