This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

15 Jul 2026 at 14:43

Tender

01 Jun 2026 at 13:43

Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process initiated by Queen's University Belfast involved a contract for staff payment and management services in Sub-Saharan Africa. This procurement falls under the recruitment services category and is part of the university's effort to maintain a presence and support student recruitment in the region. The process has progressed to the award stage as of 15th July 2026. The project location is based in Nigeria, with contractual commitments running from 2nd August 2026 to 1st August 2028, with potential extensions. Conducted under an open procedure, the procurement was structured to comply with public authority regulations specific to Northern Ireland.

This contract presents an excellent opportunity for businesses that specialise in payroll and management services, especially those with an interest or presence in Sub-Saharan Africa. SMEs with expertise in cross-border employment services would be well-suited to engage, particularly if they can facilitate local legal frameworks and effectively manage operational logistics in Nigeria. The procurement strategy underscores a significant investment in international engagement, offering participating businesses a stable contract with growth potential through long-term extensions based on performance reviews. Additionally, with a budget of £432,000, it provides a lucrative opportunity for growth within the international education support sector.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

260094 Contract for Staff Payment & Management Services in Sub Saharan Africa

Notice Description

Queen's profile in the wider Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region continues to grow and the University has developed meaningful engagement with a number of key strategic recruitment partners. The SSA student population at Queen's has grown over the past 5 years, with the University first investing in a local presence around 5 years ago to engage with educational agents, high schools and our INTO Joint Venture partner locally and, critically, to support prospective students in their application journey. To continue to support this arrangement, Queen's requires a supplier to continue to facilitate the employment of our Regional Manager and provide payroll services through a legally registered company in Nigeria. This will enable Queen's to maintain a visible market presence in Sub-Saharan Africa market, supporting the University's wider student recruitment and international engagement objectives.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: The Contract shall be for an initial period of 2 years, with the option to extend the contract by up to a further 48 Months subject to satisfactory annual review.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06aa73
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/066894-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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


CPV Codes

79000000 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

79600000 - Recruitment services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£360,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£360,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
£360,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
15 Jul 20263 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
26 Jun 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
9 Jul 20263 weeks ago
Contract Period
1 Aug 2026 - 1 Aug 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
2032-05-01

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY BELFAST
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BELFAST
Postcode
BT7 1NN
Post Town
Northern Ireland
Country
Northern Ireland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLN Northern Ireland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLN0 Northern Ireland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLN06 Belfast
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Belfast
Electoral Ward
Central
Westminster Constituency
Belfast South and Mid Down

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

AFARAED

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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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