This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

04 Sep 2026 at 17:07

Tender

04 Sep 2026 at 17:05

Summary of the contracting process

Dŵr Cymru Cyfyngedig, trading as Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, is procuring a hybrid managed recruitment service to support its in-house recruitment function. The requirement covers temporary agency workers, interim workers, fixed-term employees and permanent employees, including candidate attraction, sourcing, screening, presentation, onboarding and pre-employment compliance. It also includes IR35 and tax compliance, payroll and bill-pay administration, workforce administration, management information and expenditure reporting. Seven specialist recruitment lots cover customer service; scientific and laboratory roles; professional and finance; technical and operational roles; engineers; IT and data; and retail, catering and activities. The work supports Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water’s recruitment requirements across Wales.

The procurement has reached tender: the buyer invited offers through a three-stage competitive flexible procedure, with possible negotiation. Stage 1 covers conditions of participation, then shortlisted suppliers proceed to an Invitation to Tender and potentially a final tender or BAFO. Enquiries were due by 25 September 2026 at 14:00, and tender responses by 9 October 2026 at 14:00. The framework is planned to run from 31 March 2027 to 30 March 2031, with two possible two-year extensions to 31 March 2035. Its estimated value is £20m excluding VAT (£24m including VAT), with the same stated value for each lot. Up to three suppliers may be appointed to each lot. Evaluation uses pass/fail requirements and technical quality, including three case studies weighted 40%, 20% and 40%.

This opportunity suits recruitment agencies and managed service providers with specialist candidate networks across one or more of the seven disciplines. Suppliers can bid for any combination of lots, provided they demonstrate the capability and capacity to deliver the relevant recruitment services. Strong candidates will have experience of supplier performance management, capacity and demand planning, value-for-money and savings management, and the sourcing and screening of suitably qualified workers. The service also requires capability in onboarding, pre-employment checks, Welsh-language service provision, IR35 and employment compliance, payroll, bill-pay administration and workforce reporting. Financial and insurance information is required, alongside three relevant case studies. Suppliers must meet the stated pass/fail requirements and technical threshold.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

DCWW 2015 - Recruitment Services Procurement

Notice Description

Dwr Cymru Cyfyngedig, trading as Dwr Cymru Welsh Water (DCC), is seeking to establish a Hybrid Managed Service Provider (MSP) Recruitment Framework to support its in-house recruitment function with the provision of temporary, interim, fixed-term contract (FTC) and permanent recruitment services across a range of specialist disciplines. DCC currently operates a combination of in-house direct recruitment and recruitment agency support. The purpose of this procurement is to introduce a Hybrid MSP model that will provide DCC with greater control, visibility and consistency across its external recruitment activity, while retaining access to specialist recruitment expertise where required. The Framework is intended to support enhanced value for money, improved management information and expenditure visibility, robust compliance management, effective management of IR35 and payroll requirements, and a streamlined recruitment and workforce management process. Under the Hybrid MSP model, DCC will retain its in-house recruitment function and overall governance and oversight of its recruitment requirements, while outsourcing defined recruitment and workforce management activities to MSP Suppliers appointed to the Framework. There will be no single lead MSP across the Framework. Instead, MSP Suppliers will be appointed to individual Lots according to their relevant specialist recruitment capability. For requirements referred to the Framework, the relevant MSP Supplier will be responsible, as applicable, for candidate attraction, sourcing, screening and presentation; onboarding and pre-employment compliance activities; operational management of IR35 and other applicable tax and employment compliance requirements; payroll and bill-pay administration; workforce administration; and the provision of management information, expenditure reporting and associated workforce management services. DCC will retain overall oversight of these activities, responsibility for its recruitment strategy and final candidate selection and appointment decisions, and responsibility for monitoring and managing MSP Supplier performance against the Service Levels, KPIs and other requirements established under the Framework. Permanent and FTC recruitment requirements will ordinarily be managed through DCC's in-house recruitment function in the first instance. Where internal sourcing routes have been exhausted, or where a requirement is particularly specialist, difficult to fill or time-critical, DCC may release the requirement to MSP Suppliers appointed to the relevant Lot. Temporary and interim recruitment requirements may be released to the MSP Suppliers appointed to the relevant Lot according to the nature and specialist requirements of the role. Where more than one MSP Supplier is appointed to a Lot, requirements may be released to capable Suppliers in accordance with the allocation methodology established under the Framework. MSP Suppliers will be responsible for identifying and presenting suitably qualified candidates who meet DCC's requirements. The Framework is intended to cover the following worker categories: * Temporary Agency Workers - agency workers engaged on a temporary basis, typically paid hourly, to support requirements such as sickness cover, operational demand or specific projects. * Interim Workers - contractors or freelance workers, typically paid on a daily-rate basis, engaged temporarily to support specific business requirements. * Fixed-Term Contract Employees - individuals employed and paid directly by DCC for a defined contractual period, with MSP Suppliers providing candidate-finding services where required. * Permanent Employees - individuals employed and paid directly by DCC on an ongoing basis, with MSP Suppliers providing candidate-finding services where required. The requirement is divided into seven Lots, defined by recruitment specialism. DCC intends to appoint up to three MSP Suppliers to each Lot, providing resilience, competition and access to a broader candidate market. Suppliers may tender for one Lot, any combination of Lots, or all seven Lots, subject to demonstrating that they have the capability and capacity to meet the requirements of each Lot for which they tender. The Lot structure reflects the breadth of general business and specialist recruitment requirements across DCC and is intended to ensure that recruitment requirements are supported by Suppliers with the appropriate market knowledge, capability and access to suitable candidates. The commercial arrangements applicable to MSP Suppliers, including recruitment fees, agency mark-ups, MSP management charges and any other relevant charges, will be defined at the ITT stage.

Lot Information

Customer Service

This lot contains omni-channel customer service roles such as Customer Service Advisors, Vulnerable Customer Advisors, Complaint Handlers, Debt Advisors, Receptionists, IT Service Desk Analysts and Social Media Advisors.

Renewal: Two 2-year extension opportunities

Scientific

This lot contains roles such as Sampling Technicians, Process Scientists, Water Quality Scientists, Microbiology Analysts, and laboratory personnel such as Technicians, Analysts and Team Leaders.

Renewal: Two 2-year extension opportunities

Professional & Finance

This lot contains professional and finance roles such as Accountants, Finance Professionals, Financial Analysts, Management Accountants, Procurement Specialists, Planning and Forecasting roles, Service Delivery Specialists, Quantity Surveyors, and HR & Legal Professionals.

Renewal: Two 2-year extension opportunities

Technical & Operations

This lot contains roles such as Industrial Electricians, Mechanical Fitters, Instrumentation and Automation Technicians, Process Operators, Tanker Drivers, HGV Technicians, and Clean and Wastewater Network Inspectors.

Renewal: Two 2-year extension opportunities

Engineers

This lot contains roles such as Civil, Process, Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, as well as Design Technicians.

Renewal: Two 2-year extension opportunities

IT & Data

This lot contains roles such as Data Scientists, Cyber Security Specialists, SAP Specialists, Technical Delivery Leads, Database Developers and Analysts, Desktop Engineers, Desktop Applications Support, Network and Telecommunications Engineers, Technical Architects, Solution Architects and Enterprise Architects.

Renewal: Two 2-year extension opportunities

Retail, Catering & Activities

This lot contains roles such as Cafe and Catering Staff, Chefs, Retail Assistants, Activity Instructors, Rangers, and other leisure and activity-based roles.

Renewal: Two 2-year extension opportunities

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f2d7
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084120-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
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

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


CPV Codes

79600000 - Recruitment services

79610000 - Placement services of personnel

79620000 - Supply services of personnel including temporary staff

79631000 - Personnel and payroll services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£20,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£20,000,000 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
4 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
9 Oct 20264 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2027 - 30 Mar 2031 4-5 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
Dwr Cymru Cyfyngedig
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
CARDIFF
Postcode
CF3 0LT
Postcode Area
Cardiff
Country
Wales

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLL Wales
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLL5 South East Wales
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLL52 Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Cardiff
Electoral Ward
Trowbridge
Westminster Constituency
Cardiff East

Further Information

Notice Documents

Notice URLs

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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