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2026 ATS & HRIS

OAK NATIONAL ACADEMY LIMITED

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

08 Oct 2026 at 09:12

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

06 Oct 2026 at 13:48

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Oak National Academy is exploring a replacement for BeApplied, its current applicant tracking system (ATS), and whether to procure a linked human resources information system (HRIS) alongside it. The work is software services for recruitment and HR administration (CPV 72212450). The immediate need is an ATS that can maintain recruitment services when the existing system becomes unavailable. Desired functions include structured and blind sifting, independent reviewer scoring, keeping diversity monitoring data separate from hiring decisions, accessible journeys for candidates and staff, recruitment administration, reporting and exporting records. Oak also wants to explore HRIS needs and transferring new-starter information between systems. The work is for Oak National Academy, with delivery across the United Kingdom. The eventual scope and whether an HRIS is included remain under consideration.

This is at planning and market-engagement stage, not a tender invitation. Oak is gathering supplier input to test requirements, understand implementation times and decide whether ATS and HRIS provision should be combined, split into lots or procured at different times. It expects demonstrations or discussions during October 2026, and expects to publish an ATS tender in late October or mid-November 2026. Suppliers are invited to send written input by 20 October 2026, including indicative three-year ATS and HRIS costs separately; these estimates will not be scored. The engagement is not scored, does not select a preferred supplier and is not required for later bidding. The current system is expected to become unavailable at the end of March 2027. The planned contract period is 1 April 2027 to 1 April 2030. The procurement route, scope, timing and contract value remain subject to review.

The planned work is relevant to established ATS vendors, HRIS vendors, providers of integrated platforms, and suppliers able to connect one system reliably to the other. Suppliers offering only one system can contribute; Oak may use separate ATS and HRIS demonstration scenarios. Products that support accessible candidate and staff experiences, structured and blind application sifting, independent reviewer scoring, privacy-conscious separation of diversity data, recruitment administration, reporting and record export align with the needs Oak is exploring. HRIS suppliers and integration specialists may also be relevant to the transfer of new-starter information. Oak is open to different ways of meeting these working needs, which are not final tender requirements or evaluation criteria. The engagement offers a chance to inform market understanding and requirement development; participation confers no advantage in any later competition.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

2026 ATS & HRIS

Notice Description

Oak National Academy is exploring the replacement of BeApplied, its current Applicant Tracking System (ATS), which is expected to become unavailable at the end of March 2027. Oak is also considering whether to procure a linked HR information system (HRIS) at the same time, procure the systems as separate lots, or address its HRIS needs through a later procurement. The immediate priority is an ATS that can be implemented in time to maintain recruitment services. Oak is undertaking this engagement to understand the market, test its developing requirements, assess realistic implementation times and decide how best to package the ATS and HRIS requirements. No decision has yet been made to include an HRIS in the resulting tender. Oak invites input from suppliers of ATS products, HRIS products, integrated ATS and HRIS platforms, and suppliers able to deliver either system with a reliable integration to the other. Suppliers do not need to offer both systems to participate. Oak's requirements include structured and blind sifting, independent reviewer scoring, separation of diversity monitoring data from hiring decisions, accessible candidate and staff journeys, recruitment administration, reporting and export of records. Oak also wishes to explore HRIS needs and the transfer of new-starter information between systems. These are working needs, not final tender requirements or evaluation criteria. Oak welcomes different ways of achieving the outcomes. Suppliers are invited to respond by 20th October 2026 by email to procurement@thenational.academy. Please state: Whether you offer an ATS, an HRIS, or both, and whether each is an established product or requires development. Indicative three-year costs for the ATS and HRIS separately, including implementation, migration, integrations, licences, support and optional modules. These figures are for planning and will not be scored. Availability for demonstrations to our team: Oak expects to hold live demonstrations or discussions during October 2026 with potential suppliers. It may use separate ATS and HRIS scenarios so suppliers offering only one system can participate meaningfully. All interested suppliers may submit written input regardless of whether they receive a live session. The engagement will not be scored or used to select a preferred supplier. Participation is not required to bid for any subsequent contract and gives no supplier an advantage in that competition. Oak will record the engagement and make information relevant to preparing a bid available to the wider market, while protecting genuinely confidential supplier information. Oak currently expects to publish an ATS tender in late October/mid November 2026, but the timing, scope, procurement route and contract value will be reviewed following this engagement. This notice is not an invitation to tender and does not commit Oak to any particular procurement or award.

Planning Information

Oak expects to hold live demonstrations or discussions during October 2026 with potential suppliers. It may use separate ATS and HRIS scenarios so suppliers offering only one system can participate meaningfully. All interested suppliers may submit written input regardless of whether they receive a live session. The engagement will not be scored or used to select a preferred supplier. Participation is not required to bid for any subsequent contract and gives no supplier an advantage in that competition. Oak will record the engagement and make information relevant to preparing a bid available to the wider market, while protecting genuinely confidential supplier information. Suppliers are invited to respond by 20th October 2026 by email to procurement@thenational.academy. Please state: Whether you offer an ATS, an HRIS, or both, and whether each is an established product or requires development. Indicative three-year costs for the ATS and HRIS separately, including implementation, migration, integrations, licences, support and optional modules. These figures are for planning and will not be scored. Availability for demonstrations to our team

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0781b1
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/095008-2026
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
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

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

CPV Codes

72212450 - Time accounting or human resources software development services

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
8 Oct 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 1 Apr 2030 3-4 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
OAK NATIONAL ACADEMY LIMITED
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
MANCHESTER
Postcode
M3 3AA
Postcode Area
Manchester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD3 Greater Manchester
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD33 Manchester
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Manchester
Electoral Ward
Deansgate
Westminster Constituency
Manchester Central

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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