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Payroll Services for Spencer Academies Trust

Spencer Academies Trust

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

12 Oct 2026 at 11:38

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Spencer Academies Trust plans to procure a fully managed payroll service for the Trust and its academies, covering around 3,000 employees. The service is expected to process monthly payroll, statutory deductions and payments, HMRC submissions and year-end work. It will also cover administration of Teachers’ Pension Scheme and Local Government Pension Scheme contributions, reporting, compliance support, employee and manager self-service, system maintenance, legislative updates and transition support. The buyer is based in Nottingham, and the service is for the Trust and its academies in the United Kingdom. This is a payroll management services requirement, combining routine payroll operations with pension administration, reporting and ongoing technical and compliance support.

This procurement is at the planning and preliminary market engagement stage; there is no invitation to tender yet. The Trust expects to publish a tender notice on 16 October 2026 and plans to use a Competitive Flexible Procedure. Its proposed process has a participation stage shortlisting up to five suppliers, an invitation to tender for those shortlisted, then a further shortlisting to up to two suppliers, followed by demonstrations and presentations. The buyer intends to award one contract to the supplier offering the most advantageous tender. The estimated value is £1,116,000 excluding VAT (£1,339,200 including VAT). The planned contract runs from 1 September 2027 to 31 August 2030, with a possible extension to 31 August 2032. Suppliers were invited to submit engagement comments and questions by 15 October 2026.

This requirement is likely to suit payroll providers able to deliver a secure, accurate managed service at the scale of approximately 3,000 employees across a multi-academy trust. Relevant strengths include monthly payroll processing, statutory and tax compliance, HMRC submissions, year-end processing, and administration of both teachers’ and local government pension schemes. Providers should be able to support employee and manager self-service, deliver management reporting, maintain systems and apply legislative changes, and manage service transition. The Trust is seeking a suitably qualified and experienced provider, so evidence of delivering compliant payroll services and handling complex public-sector payroll and pension requirements will be relevant preparation. The planned competition includes supplier demonstrations and presentations, and the buyer’s stated award basis is the most advantageous tender. SMEs are identified as suitable for the requirement.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Payroll Services for Spencer Academies Trust

Notice Description

Spencer Academies Trust is seeking to appoint a suitably qualified and experienced provider to deliver a fully managed payroll service for the Trust and its academies. The contract will include the processing of monthly payroll for all employees, statutory deductions and payments, HMRC submissions, year-end processing, pension administration including Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS) and Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), reporting, compliance support, and access to employee and manager self-service facilities. The successful provider will be required to deliver an accurate, secure and compliant payroll service for approximately 3,000 employees across the Trust, ensuring adherence to all relevant employment, payroll, tax and pension legislation. The service will include ongoing support, system maintenance, legislative updates, management reporting and transition services as required.

Planning Information

Spencer Academies Trust is undertaking preliminary market engagement in advance of commencing a Competitive Flexible Procedure for the procurement of Payroll and Associated Services. The purpose of this engagement is to inform the final specification, procurement strategy, evaluation methodology and contract requirements. Interested suppliers are invited to review the information provided and submit comments, observations and clarification questions to assist the Trust in refining its requirements. Expressions of interest and clarification questions should be submitted by email via the Trust's tendering address no later than 15 October 2026. - Tenders@spencertrust.org.uk Following completion of the preliminary market engagement, the Trust intends to publish a Tender Notice on 16 October 2026. The proposed procurement will include: A participation stage, with up to five suppliers shortlisted. An invitation to tender stage for shortlisted suppliers. A further shortlisting exercise to identify up to two suppliers. Supplier demonstrations and presentations. Award of a single contract to the supplier submitting the Most Advantageous Tender. No supplier will receive any advantage through participation in this engagement process, and all relevant information arising from the engagement will be made available to all bidders as part of the procurement process.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-078577
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/095999-2026
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
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

79211110 - Payroll management services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,116,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
12 Oct 2026Yesterday
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
17 Oct 20263 days to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Sep 2027 - 1 Sep 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
Spencer Academies Trust
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
NOTTINGHAM
Postcode
NG9 6RZ
Postcode Area
Nottingham
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLF East Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLF1 Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLF16 South Nottinghamshire
Delivery Location
TLF East Midlands (England)
Local Authority
Broxtowe
Electoral Ward
Toton & Chilwell Meadows
Westminster Constituency
Broxtowe

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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