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National Framework Agreement for the provision of Financial, Payroll and Pensions Services

COUNTESS OF CHESTER HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

14 Oct 2026 at 14:37

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust intends to establish a national framework agreement for outsourced financial, payroll and pensions services. It is intended to give public bodies a compliant route to market for procuring these services. The scope covers financial services, payroll management and personnel and payroll services. The stated delivery coverage is the United Kingdom, so suppliers should be able to support work nationally rather than at a single hospital site. This is a services procurement, centred on organisations able to provide financial operations alongside payroll and pensions support. The framework is still at the planning stage: the Trust is developing its requirements and tender documents, rather than inviting suppliers to submit bids.

The procurement is in planning, with no invitation to tender yet. The Trust plans preliminary market engagement to help develop the requirements and prepare tender documents; suppliers taking part are not guaranteed an invitation to tender or a place on the resulting framework. The buyer’s stated target for this engagement is 4 November 2026. The planned arrangement is a single-lot national framework agreement, with a proposed contract period from 1 March 2027 to 28 February 2031. The procurement is being planned under the open procedure. The planning information does not state an estimated contract value or budget. The Trust has not yet set out an evaluation basis or detailed eligibility requirements, so the final tender documents will determine how suppliers are assessed and what participation conditions apply.

This is most relevant to providers with established capability across outsourced finance, payroll and pensions, particularly suppliers able to combine these services and support public-sector customers across the UK. Payroll and personnel administration specialists, financial services firms, and providers with partnerships or subcontracting capacity spanning these areas may also find the planned scope relevant. The national framework model suggests that suppliers should be prepared to serve more than one public body through a common route to market, while the proposed four-year term calls for sustained delivery capacity. The Trust is seeking supplier input before finalising its requirements, giving experienced providers a chance to contribute to shaping the service specification. No particular accreditation, staffing threshold or minimum track record has yet been set out. Before considering participation, suppliers should assess whether their service range and operational reach match the eventual specification.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

National Framework Agreement for the provision of Financial, Payroll and Pensions Services

Notice Description

The overall aim of the Framework is to provide a compliant route to market facilitating the procurement of outsourced financial services, and payroll and pensions services.

Planning Information

The purpose of this engagement notice is to invite suppliers to participate in preliminary market engagement with a view to developing the authority's requirements and preparing tender documents. Suppliers participating in this market consultation are not guaranteed to receive either an Invitation to Tender (if Invitations to Tender are issued), or a place on any framework agreement which may be awarded following an Invitation to Tender. Please email info@coch-cps.co.uk to express interest in taking part in this market engagement process. We will then be in contact to arrange the next steps.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0787b4
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/097076-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
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

66 - Financial and insurance services

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

CPV Codes

66000000 - Financial and insurance services

79211110 - Payroll management services

79631000 - Personnel and payroll services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
14 Oct 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Mar 2027 - 28 Feb 2031 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
COUNTESS OF CHESTER HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION 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
CHESTER
Postcode
CH2 1UL
Postcode Area
Chester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD6 Cheshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD63 Cheshire West and Chester
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Cheshire West and Chester
Electoral Ward
Upton
Westminster Constituency
Chester North and Neston

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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