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003325 - Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) for a Pensions Administration System

Durham County Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

15 Sep 2026 at 16:48

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Durham County Council Pension Fund is exploring a modern, secure and fully integrated Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) administration system. The solution is intended to support pension services for scheme members and participating employers, improve member and employer engagement, increase automation, strengthen data quality, and maintain compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements. The procurement concerns industry-specific software (CPV 48100000), together with the associated solution capability and implementation approach. Delivery will support the Fund in Durham. Suppliers are expected to explain their products, implementation models, innovation, product roadmaps and experience in the LGPS sector. The buying organisation is Durham County Council, acting for the Pension Fund.

This is a preliminary market engagement at the planning stage, rather than an invitation to tender. Durham County Council is using supplier responses to understand the market, inform its future procurement strategy and shape requirements for a later procurement exercise. The anticipated contract is for 1 April 2028 to 31 March 2032, with renewal and a possible maximum extension to 31 March 2036. The estimated value is £1,600,000 excluding VAT and £1,920,000 including VAT. Written engagement responses are expected by 12 noon on 2 October 2026. Interested providers must register on the Open Portal to access and submit the questions. The planned procurement is above the applicable threshold and is currently described as one lot.

This engagement will suit suppliers of LGPS pension administration platforms, including software providers and specialist implementation partners with demonstrable local-government pensions experience. Strong candidates will be able to provide a secure, integrated and modern system, supported by practical implementation and migration planning. Relevant capability includes member and employer self-service, workflow automation, data-quality improvement, integration with existing systems, reporting, and support for legislative and regulatory compliance. Suppliers should be ready to describe current innovation, product development roadmaps and how their solutions can improve engagement and operational efficiency. The exercise is also relevant to businesses that can contribute specialist insight into future requirements, even if they would later compete as part of a wider delivery team. It is preparation for a future procurement, not a bid opportunity now.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

003325 - Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) for a Pensions Administration System

Notice Description

Durham County Council Pension Fund (the Fund) is exploring the market for a modern, secure and fully integrated Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) administration solution to support the delivery of pension services to members and participating employers. The Fund is seeking to understand the capabilities currently available within the market and how technology can support the administration of the LGPS, improve member and employer engagement, increase automation, enhance data quality and ensure ongoing compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements. This Preliminary Market Engagement exercise is intended to inform the Fund's future procurement strategy and help shape detailed requirements for any subsequent procurement exercise. Suppliers are invited to provide information on their solutions, implementation approaches, innovation, product roadmaps and experience within the LGPS sector. Interested providers can access the written response questions, free of charge, by registering on the Open Portal at www.open-uk.org The deadline for completed responses is Friday 2nd October 2026 at 12 noon.

Planning Information

Interested providers can access the written response questions, free of charge, by registering on the Open Portal at www.open-uk.org Deadline for written submissions, via the Open Portal, is Friday 2nd October 2026 at 12 noon.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06fa8a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/087492-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems

CPV Codes

48100000 - Industry specific software package

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,600,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
15 Sep 2026Today
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2028 - 31 Mar 2032 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
Durham County Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
DURHAM
Postcode
DH1 5WB
Postcode Area
Durham
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC41 Durham
Delivery Location
TLC14 Durham
Local Authority
County Durham
Electoral Ward
Framwellgate & Newton Hall
Westminster Constituency
City of Durham

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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