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Senior Civil Servants (SCS) Assessments

Cabinet Office

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

15 Sep 2026 at 17:23

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

21 Aug 2026 at 10:43

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Cabinet Office, with HMTreasury Commercial, intends to procure Senior Civil Servants assessment services for recruitment across the G6 to SCS4 grades. The service will provide an externally recognised psychometric test for all candidates, assessing behaviour in detail. For candidates at SCS2 to SCS4, the scope will also include a second externally recognised psychometric assessment focused on leadership derailment risks, together with an Interactive Work Sample Assessment comprising a suite of assessments. The work is a service within recruitment and will be delivered across the United Kingdom. It is intended to support consistent, evidence-based assessment of senior civil service candidates and covers the full range from G6 to SCS4.

This procurement is at the planning stage and is not yet an invitation to tender. The Cabinet Office expects to make an award under the RM6394 Executive and Non-Executive Search 3 framework using a selective process. Participation is restricted to GCA-approved suppliers holding places on both framework Lots 1 and 2. The planned contract period is 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2028, with renewal provisions allowing the period to extend to 31 December 2030. A Meet the Buyer session is planned for 17 September 2026. Eligible suppliers are expected to submit completed Request for Further Information documents through the e-sourcing portal by 23 September 2026. The planned procurement is above the relevant threshold and is suitable for SMEs.

This will suit GCA-approved executive-search and assessment providers already appointed to both Lots 1 and 2 of the RM6394 framework. Suppliers should be prepared to deliver robust psychometric assessment at senior civil service level, including behavioural assessment across G6 to SCS4 and a recognised leadership derailment-risk assessment for SCS2 to SCS4. Experience designing or operating Interactive Work Sample Assessments, particularly suites that test senior leadership capability in realistic work situations, will be directly relevant. The requirement is likely to favour organisations with established assessment methodologies, suitably qualified assessors, recognised psychometric tools and the operational capacity to support recruitment activity across the UK. Eligible suppliers should use the planning and market-engagement stage to understand the Cabinet Office’s scope, terms and expected delivery model.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Senior Civil Servants (SCS) Assessments

Notice Description

This procurement is for the provision of Senior Civil Servants (SCS) Assessment Services and is being conducted by Cabinet Office (CO) and HMTreasury Commercial on behalf of the CO as the Contracting Authority. The recruitment process for SCS will differentiate between the following grade levels: G6 to SCS1 and SCS2 to SCS4 (SCS2-4) For all levels (G6-SCS4), assessment will include the procurement of an externally renowned psychometric test to explore in detail candidates' behaviours. In addition, assessment for SCS2-4 candidates will include the provision of a second externally recognised psychometric assessment that evaluates leadership derailment risks. Assessment for SCS2-4 candidates will also require the implementation of an Interactive Work Sample Assessment (IWA), which consists of a suite of Assessments.

Planning Information

The intended route to market is via the RM6394 Executive & Non- Executive Search 3 framework. Please note that this opportunity is restricted to GCA approved suppliers with places on both Lots 1 and 2 of this framework. A "Meet the Buyer" session will take place on Thursday 17 September via Google Meet. This event will provide an overview of the Cabinet Office and the relevant business unit, detailing the contract scope, terms, and duration, followed by a live Q&A session. Invitations and a Request for Further Information (RFI) document have been issued to eligible suppliers via the GCA Jaggaer e-sourcing portal. Completed RFI documents must be submitted through the portal by Wednesday 23 September 2026.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e957
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/087509-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Award under framework
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
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
15 Sep 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Jan 2027 - 31 Dec 2028 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
Cabinet Office
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
SW1A 2AS
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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