This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Tender

19 Aug 2026 at 15:03

Planning

16 Feb 2026 at 16:23

Summary of the contracting process

Oxford City Council is procuring a cloud-hosted software-as-a-service HR and payroll solution, together with implementation and ongoing support. The service is intended to cover the Council’s human resources, payroll, recruitment, workforce management and employee self-service requirements. The scope includes the associated software, configuration, implementation, data migration, integration with corporate systems, testing, training and continuing SaaS support. This is a public-sector services opportunity for suppliers providing integrated HR and payroll technology and related professional services. Delivery is for Oxford City Council in the United Kingdom, with the buying organisation based at Oxford Town Hall in Oxford. The requirement combines software provision with the practical delivery and support services needed to operate the system.

The process has reached tender: Oxford City Council invited offers through an above-threshold open procedure using a competitive flexible procedure. Bids are submitted electronically through the Council’s Intend portal, in English. The buyer set 4 September 2026 at 14:00 for enquiries and 15 September 2026 at 14:00 for submissions. Evaluation comprises 45% quality of the response to the specification, 40% price and 15% supplier demonstration. The process includes preliminary assessment, down-selection to three bidders, demonstrations and a preferred-supplier stage before award. The contract is scheduled from 1 February 2027 to 31 January 2032, with possible renewals extending to 31 January 2037. The estimated total value is £1,833,333 excluding tax and £2,199,997 including tax; the lot record states AED 1,833,333 excluding tax and AED 2,199,997 including tax.

This opportunity suits suppliers with a proven integrated HR and payroll platform delivered through a cloud SaaS model, supported by experienced implementation and support teams. Competitors should be able to demonstrate capability across HR administration, payroll processing, recruitment, workforce management and employee self-service. Relevant delivery experience is likely to include configuring a complex public-sector system, migrating existing employee and payroll data, integrating with corporate systems, testing the solution and training users. Suppliers will need the capacity to provide reliable ongoing support throughout the contract and any renewal periods. The evaluation places greater emphasis on the specification response and supplier demonstration than on price alone, so businesses able to evidence functional fit, implementation quality and a credible support model are well placed.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

HR and Payroll

Notice Description

A cloud-hosted SaaS HR and Payroll solution that supports the Council's HR, payroll, recruitment, workforce management and employee self service elements, together with all implementation and ongoing support services set out within the Specification.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: 2 periods of 2 years and 1 further period of 1 year, on the same terms and conditions

Planning Information

The Authority intends to engage with the market in advance of a future procurement for a modern HR and Payroll Management System. The purpose of this Market Engagement is to obtain supplier insight and feedback to help shape the forthcoming procurement strategy, commercial approach and output‑based specification. The Authority seeks supplier input on implementation approaches, data migration, integration with corporate systems, configuration, testing, training, and ongoing SaaS support models, to inform the design of a robust, deliverable and outcome‑focused specification. Participation in this Market Engagement will not form part of any future evaluation process. Oxford City Council is hosting a Market Engagement Day to inform the forthcoming procurement of a new HR and Payroll system, expected to be delivered as a cloud‑based Software as a Service (SaaS) platform. The purpose of this market engagement is to: • share the Council's objectives, scope and anticipated requirements; • obtain supplier views on feasibility, innovation, delivery approaches and potential challenges; and • help shape a proportionate, effective and outcome‑focused procurement process. The event will be held at Oxford Town Hall, St Aldate's, Oxford, OX1 1BX, on 24 March 2026 at 10:00am. Agenda • 10:00 - 11:00 - Oxford City Council Presentations • 11:00 - 11:30 - Q&A Session • 11:45 - 13:45 - 1:1 Supplier Meetings (15 minutes each) • 14:00 - Event Close The 1:1 session will provide suppliers with an opportunity to offer insight regarding delivery approaches, implementation considerations, integration capability, innovation, pricing models, and any early risks or dependencies. These sessions are not product demonstrations. Due to capacity limitations, suppliers must register to attend by Wednesday 18 March. Suppliers will also be able to request a 1:1 session. Please note, each supplier should submit one registration, listing all attendees. https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=OQ89nyteiE-dQ-k0T5qgLSBzzjlhThRHk5Y7IsYriKJUNUZQODlWNVc4UEVPWkxQV05NVEo4VUQ4Ry4u Participation in this Market Engagement Day does not constitute any commitment to take part in a future procurement, nor does attendance confer any advantage. Any subsequent procurement will be advertised separately, and all interested organisations will be required to respond in line with that formal process. Suppliers who do not attend this Market Engagement Day will still be able to participate in the tender. Information shared during the event will be made available to all bidders at the point the tender documents are published. Suppliers wishing to tender for this or other opportunities should register on the Council's e‑tendering portal: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/oxfordcc/aspx/Home Local Government Reorganisation Oxford City Council, along with all local authorities in Oxfordshire is involved in the process of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) as set out in the Government's English Devolution White Paper published in December 2024. This sets out an ambition for remaining two-tier areas to be restructured into single-tier unitary authorities. The future shape of unitary local government in Oxfordshire will be decided by Government in the summer. Ahead of that decision, Oxford City Council is working collaboratively with neighbouring councils to compile data on all contracts and will collectively start to consider how these might be consolidated within the new unitary council(s) that will vest in April 2028. Oxford City Council at the point of publishing this Market Engagement Notice can provide details of the current scope of requirements to interested suppliers. It is however anticipated, that during the delivery of the contract, the LGR decision on future structure of local government in Oxfordshire will be made by Government, which will lead to the replacement of Oxford City Council and may impact the delivery and scope of this contract.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06554b
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079089-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
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

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

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


CPV Codes

48450000 - Time accounting or human resources software package

72212450 - Time accounting or human resources software development services

79211110 - Payroll management services

79631000 - Personnel and payroll services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,833,333 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£1,833,333 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
19 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
15 Sep 20263 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
1 Aug 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Feb 2027 - 31 Jan 2032 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Oxford City 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
OXFORD
Postcode
OX1 1BX
Postcode Area
Oxford
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ14 Oxfordshire CC
Delivery Location
TLJ14 Oxfordshire CC

Local Authority
Oxford
Electoral Ward
Holywell
Westminster Constituency
Oxford West and Abingdon

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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