Planning

653F_27 Managed Services for Temporary Agency Resources (MSTAR5)

LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL, TRADING AS ESPO

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

07 May 2026 at 14:12

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Planning

15 Apr 2026 at 09:30

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Leicestershire County Council, trading as ESPO, is in the planning stage of establishing a national framework for managed services related to temporary agency resources, titled "653F_27 Managed Services for Temporary Agency Resources (MSTAR5)." This involves a supply chain of agencies to meet staffing needs with services like Vendor Management Systems, Talent Pool Technology, and project delivery. The total estimated contract value is £4 billion, and the procurement process initiated with a pipeline notice published on 7th May 2026. Final procurement notices are anticipated around 2nd October 2026, with the framework to be actively managed from 11th April 2027 through 10th April 2029, and may extend until 2031. This initiative fits under the services category and invites expressions of interest and involvement from businesses in the UK.

This framework presents significant opportunities for business growth, especially for companies specializing in recruitment and staffing services. Ideal competitors include Managed Service Providers (MSPs) capable of delivering comprehensive agency management and specific technology solutions. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are encouraged to participate, with preliminary market engagement sessions scheduled between May and July 2026 for further insights and information sharing with potential suppliers. This presents an opportunity for businesses to engage early, understand procurement requirements, and position themselves effectively in this substantial and strategic public sector procurement exercise.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

653F_27 Managed Services for Temporary Agency Resources (MSTAR5)

Notice Description

Please note, this is a Pipeline notice only for ESPO contracts that are forecast to be re-procured or new procurement projects that are expected to be undertaken. However, in this instance interested suppliers may also wish to view the linked UK2: Preliminary market engagement notice that has already been published (Published 15 April 2026) at the time this Pipeline notice was published - see https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/034054-2026 For all current ESPO opportunities, please also visit https://www.eastmidstenders.org/ For details of ESPO Frameworks, please visit https://www.espo.org/frameworks.html This Pipeline notice is being published to alert the supplier market that ESPO expects to establish a national framework for the appointment of a Managed Service Provider to manage a supply chain of agencies to fulfil a customer's staffing needs. Services available include Neutral/Master Vendor, Vendor Management System (VMS), Talent Pool Technology and Statement of Works (Project Delivery).

Planning Information

Suppliers are required to register and complete the relevant stages on the Central Digital Platform if they wish to participate in or bid for this framework. Engagement is initially being undertaken via a Request for Information (RFI) questionnaire, with details being captured on the EastMidsTenders eProcurement Portal (www.eastmidstenders.org). The deadline for responding to the RFI is 17:00 (5pm) on 08 May 2026. Suppliers wishing to participate in the RFI MUST first express an interest as follows: (a) Go to https://www.eastmidstenders.org/; (b) Register (if not already registered on ProContract); (c) Search for opportunity '653F_27' (via "View Opportunities" from the EastMidsTenders Portal); d) Express an interest. Suppliers can access the RFI questionnaire in the Messages section of the eProcurement Portal (via the Activity dashboard once an expression of interest has been registered). Instructions on how to respond are captured in the RFI (a link is provided to respond online). In case of any questions or clarifications, these should be submitted to ESPO as a message on the eProcurement Portal. Following the RFI, 1-2-1 preliminary market engagement sessions will take place between May to July 2026. These will be limited in number (and will be undertaken via in-person or Teams meeting, invites to be issued out by ESPO for these). Meetings will be based on ESPO seeking further information on points raised within the Supplier’s RFI, with these meetings seeking involve a sample of market leaders, incumbents, SMEs and new entrants to the market, to capture a variety of views and ensure our sample of suppliers reflects the diverse range of MSPs within the staffing solutions market. For those not selected to participate in 1-2-1 sessions, outcomes of the engagement piece will be published within the Invitation To Tender Document, access to which will be published via the Tender Notice. Those that do not wish to participate in engagement or are not chosen for 1-2-1 sessions will not be at an unfair disadvantage when bidding for this framework. For the avoidance of doubt those not participating in the engagement piece will not be impacted in being able to participate in any resulting tender exercise, and will not be excluded from tendering.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0682a3
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/042055-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
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

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

CPV Codes

79600000 - Recruitment services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£3,333,333,333 £1B-£10B
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
7 May 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
2 Oct 20265 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
10 Apr 2027 - 10 Apr 2029 2-3 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
LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL, TRADING AS ESPO
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LEICESTER
Postcode
LE19 1ES
Post Town
Leicester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLF East Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLF2 Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLF22 Leicestershire CC and Rutland
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Blaby
Electoral Ward
Enderby
Westminster Constituency
South Leicestershire

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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