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DWP Strategic External Resourcing Programme

Department for Work & Pensions

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

17 Aug 2026 at 16:26

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Work and Pensions is planning the Strategic External Resourcing Programme to provide scalable external augmented resources for its Digital & Transformation Group. The programme will support digital services used by millions of people across the UK, helping DWP move from reactive, tactical contracting to planned and flexible resourcing, while improving contract compliance, management, reporting and performance. The scope covers Digital Specialists and PMO roles across engineering, product and delivery, user-centred design, architecture, data, cyber security, project and programme management, and artificial intelligence. The work is IT consultancy and support services (CPV 72000000), delivered to support DWP digital activity across the UK. The buyer is DWP, a central government department based in London.

This procurement is at planning and is currently market engagement, not an invitation to tender. DWP expects future procurement activity but has not yet defined the specific requirements, agreements or route to market. Its initial view is that the Digital Outcomes and Specialists 7 framework (RM1043.9) may be the primary route, subject to supplier feedback. The programme is expected to be worth around £1 billion over several years and split across multiple agreements. DWP expects a contract from 4 October 2027 to 3 October 2031, with possible renewal to 3 October 2033. Market-engagement webinars are planned for 25 and 27 August and 3 September 2026. Questions are due by 7 September 2026 at 17:00, and RFI responses by 11 September 2026 at 17:00.

This exercise is intended for suppliers able to provide augmented digital resources at substantial scale, including multidisciplinary teams and specialist practitioners aligned with the Government Digital and Data capability framework. Relevant capabilities include engineering, product and delivery, user-centred design, architecture, data, cyber security, PMO and artificial intelligence. DWP is seeking evidence of market interest, supplier readiness, capacity and capability, together with views on routes to market and how to achieve value for money. The arrangement may require agreements covering individual practice areas as well as multidisciplinary provision across most roles. Small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community or social enterprises are identified as suitable participants. Responses will inform DWP’s commercial strategy and any later procurement.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

DWP Strategic External Resourcing Programme

Notice Description

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is responsible for welfare, pensions, and child maintenance policy. As the UK's biggest public service department, it administers the State Pension and a range of working age and disability benefits to over 20 million UK citizens. DWP is committed to doing everything it can to enhance the overall citizen experience of our citizens. DWP's Digital & Transformation Group (DTG) plays a central role in delivering DWP's Strategy for 2030. DTG design, build and run the digital services that support millions of customers across the UK - from finding work to supporting families to retirement and later life. The focus is on making services simpler to use, better joined up, and ready to meet growing demand as customer needs become more complex. DTG is modernising systems and ways of working so customers can get the right help more easily and colleagues have better tools to do their jobs. The Strategic External Resourcing Programme (SERP) is a high-value programme of work to implement a scalable resourcing model that will underpin all long-term DTG augmented resource requirements to enable a strategic shift from reactive and tactical contracting to planned, scalable and flexible-driven resources. The Programme is expected to be in the region of PS1bn over multiple years and split across several agreements. The aim is to consolidate the procurement and contract management of external augmented resources to enhance contract compliance, standardise contract management procedures, improve reporting practices and improve overall contract performance. SERP is focussed on augmented resource contracts which can provide Digital Specialists and PMO roles, this includes: Engineering, Product & Delivery, User Centred Design, Architecture, Data, Cyber Security, PMO and Artificial Intelligence. The roles will largely align to the Government Digital and Data (GDaD), formally known as Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT), framework which can viewed at - https://ddat-capability-framework.service.gov.uk/ It is to be determined whether any future agreements will be specifically aligned to practice areas, however, it is expected that even if they are, there will also be a requirement for multi-disciplinary agreements covering the entirety, or at least majority, of roles. DWP is commencing market engagement to gather insights from suppliers to help shape and inform the direction of SERP. This process intends to facilitate DWP being able to examine the readiness, capacity and capability of all interested potential suppliers. DWP's initial analysis has identified the Digital Outcomes and Specialists (DOS) 7, RM1043.9 framework as the primary route to market. However, this is to be tested as part of the market engagement process and therefore all suppliers who are capable of delivering augmented resources are invited to participate. The aims and objectives for this exercise will be to: a) Brief interested suppliers on potential future activity within SERP. b) Engage with suppliers to better understand: i. The potential interest from the supply market ii. The drivers within the market and how DWP may achieve increased value for money iii. Potential routes for market for future commercial activity It is expected that procurement activity will take place as part of SERP, however, no specific activity has yet been defined. Instead, following the conclusion of this market engagement exercise, DWP will collate and review the responses received, consider options in the marketplace, review its existing requirements, consider the most appropriate route to market, and update its commercial strategy. If a decision is made to commence a procurement(s) as part of SERP, the relevant notices will be published in accordance with the selected route(s) to market. It is expected that once the relevant procurement(s) have been identified, further market engagement will be undertaken.

Planning Information

DWP wishes to invite interested suppliers to attend an initial market engagement webinar to allow DWP to brief suppliers regarding the Strategic External Resource Programme. These will be held across multiple dates to maximise the opportunity for suppliers to attend, however you need only attend one session. Any questions and responses during the sessions will be captured and shared with all registered suppliers shortly following the conclusion of the sessions. This will be followed by a questionnaire for interested suppliers to complete. Interested suppliers should complete the following steps: 1. Register on the Portal: Suppliers not already registered on DWP’s Atamis Portal should do so here - https://dwp2.my.site.com/ProSpend__eSourcing_Community_Registration?locale=uk 2. Express Interest on the Portal: Suppliers should navigate to the ‘Find Opportunities’ page, click on the title of the opportunity (‘Strategic External Resourcing Programme - RFI’), and click Register Interest. 3. Review the RFI and Attend the Webinar: The RFI document will be able to view in the documents area of the opportunity. DWP will host several Meet the Buyer webinars on Microsoft Teams to provide background and context to our requirement and answer any initial questions, these will be held on the following dates: 1) Tuesday 25th August 2026, 10:00-11:00 2) Thursday 27th August 2026, 10:30-11:30 3) Thursday 3rd September 2026, 14:00-15:00 To ensure capacity limits are not exceeded, Suppliers should use the ‘Message Centre’ to confirm which date they wish to attend and the contact details of attendees. We request that suppliers limit their participants to two individuals per company. These attendees will then be sent a Microsoft Teams link for the relevant date. Following the webinars, DWP will publish the associated slides and any captured Q&A, as well as a recording of one of the sessions. 4. Engaging with the RFI: Suppliers are encouraged to participate and be as open and detailed in their responses as possible. Any decision not to participate in this market engagement will not preclude any supplier from participation should the Department decide to proceed with any procurement activity. Nor will any responses prejudice any such exercise. Once registered on the Portal, you will be able to use the ‘Message Centre’ functionality to seek any clarifications. The deadline for questions to be submitted is Monday 7th September 2026, 17:00. In the interests of openness and transparency, anonymised and commercially desensitised Q&A will be shared with all registered suppliers. DWP will aim to respond to all questions received prior to the deadline within a reasonable timeframe for suppliers to factor these answers into their response but, if this is not possible, DWP does not anticipate moving the RFI response deadline. 5. Responding the RFI: Please upload your response as an attachment within the Requirement Section of the Portal prior to Friday 11th September 2026, 17:00. Submissions must be made using the portal and submitted before the deadline. Please note that the market engagement activity will not be used to formally evaluate suppliers. Any information shared will be for information purposes only to provide insights and inform DWP of market capabilities. 6. RFI Follow-Up & One-to-Ones: DWP may request further clarifications of aspect of any of the RFI responses received, and/or engage in further detailed supplier discussions to gather deeper insights. Specifically, DWP may invite some or all of the respondents to discuss their capabilities. Suppliers who have not responded to the RFI will not be invited to a one-to-one session. Should DWP decide to progress with one-to-one sessions, these will be scheduled following review of all of the responses received and confirmation of dates and times will be issued to suppliers as soon as practicable.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e5ef
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078259-2026
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, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
20 Sep 20272 years to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
4 Oct 2027 - 3 Oct 2031 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
Department for Work & Pensions
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1H 9NA
Postcode Area
South West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

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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