--- title: "Independent Workplace Investigation and Employee Relations Services" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-07844c" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-07844c" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-07844c.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-07844c.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Authority" published: "2026-10-09" --- # Independent Workplace Investigation and Employee Relations Services Buyer: Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Authority Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-07844c [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-07844c) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-07844c.json) ## Summary Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Authority is seeking an external provider of independent workplace investigation and employee relations services for Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service. The service will provide HR and employee relations support on a call-off basis, as cases arise. Work may include investigating complex, sensitive, high-risk or resource-intensive workplace matters, as well as supporting disciplinary and grievance cases. The provider will work alongside the Service’s internal HR, management and legal teams where appropriate. The requirement is for professional services rather than fire and rescue equipment or operational response. The Service operates across Tyne and Wear, and the contracted support is for its employee relations needs. The procurement is described as human resources management consultancy services. The buyer invited offers through an open competition. The enquiry deadline was 2 November 2026 at 12:00, and the submission deadline was 6 November 2026 at 12:00. The contract is scheduled to run from 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2028, with two optional 12-month extensions, potentially extending the term to 31 December 2030. The estimated value is £100,000 excluding VAT (£120,000 including VAT). Price accounts for 20% of the evaluation and quality for 80%. The requirement is arranged as one lot. The contract is below the relevant threshold. The buyer states that work will be called off as required, with no guaranteed minimum volume or value. This opportunity is suited to an organisation with appropriately qualified and experienced HR and employee relations specialists able to provide independent professional support. Relevant capabilities include conducting workplace investigations and handling disciplinary and grievance matters, particularly where cases are complex, sensitive, high-risk or resource-intensive. Providers should be able to work flexibly on a call-off basis and collaborate with the Service’s internal HR, management and legal resources. The requirement is for external support to complement those in-house teams, rather than to replace them. The buyer identifies experience and qualifications as important, while the evaluation places greater weight on quality than price. Suppliers should therefore be able to demonstrate the quality and suitability of their specialist support for employee relations cases. ## Notice TWFRA ('the Authority') is the publicly accountable body that oversees the policy and service delivery of Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service ('the Service') on behalf of the community. The Service successfully leads the operational delivery of fire and rescue services such as public protection, fire and other emergency prevention, operational response and resilience. Our stations, staff and appliances are strategically placed across Tyne and Wear to ensure efficient and effective response to fires and other emergencies. Appliances work across station areas and can be mobilised whilst away from their home station. We also have robust arrangements with neighbouring services to enable additional support during major emergencies. Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) is seeking to appoint a suitably qualified and experienced external organisation to provide independent, professional support with employee relations matters on a call-off basis, as required. The contract will provide flexible access to experienced HR and employee relations specialists to support the Service in the management of complex, sensitive, high-risk or resource-intensive cases, including workplace investigations and disciplinary and grievance matters. The provider will work alongside the Service's internal HR, management and legal resources, as appropriate. There is no guaranteed minimum volume or value of work under the contract. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/095467-2026 | | Notice type | UK4 - Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Below threshold - open competition | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 9 Oct 2026 | | Submission deadline | 6 Nov 2026 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 1 Jan 2027 - 31 Dec 2028 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £100,000 | | Lots value | £100,000 | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Active | | Lots status | Active | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Authority | | Locality | TYNE AND WEAR, | | Postcode area | Sunderland | | Postcode | SR5 3QY | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLC North East (England) | | ITL 2 | TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear | | ITL 3 | TLC44 Sunderland | | Local authority | Sunderland | | Electoral ward | Washington North | | Westminster constituency | Washington and Gateshead South | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security ### Codes - 79414000 - Human resources management consultancy services ## Release History - 9 Oct 2026 at 09:21 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/095467-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/095467-2026 9th October 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://sell2.in-tend.co.uk/blpd/home - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-07844c. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-07844c.json.