- Lot 1. Lot 1A: Temporary Specialist Roles
- Lot 2. Lot 1B: Permanent Specialist Roles
- Lot 3. Lot 2A: Temporary Executive level roles for Professional Services
- Lot 4. Lot 2B: Permanent Executive level roles for Professional Services
- Lot 5. Lot 3A: Temporary Executive level roles for Academic Operations
- Lot 6. Lot 3B: Permanent Executive level roles for Academic Operations
- Lot 7. Lot 4: International Roles for Overseas Locations
Scope
Reference
250286
Description
The University wishes to establish a framework for the provision of Specialist and Executive Search Services. The appointed suppliers will deliver diverse, high-quality candidates as required for the role, through a combination of market search, networking and advertising.
The successful suppliers must be able to demonstrate a strong working knowledge of the employment markets from which candidates may be drawn. This will include Higher Education institutions but also other sectors where relevant candidates may be found. There should be a strong focus upon the employment markets within the island of Ireland as well as Great Britain, the EU and internationally.
The appointed suppliers will be expected to have a proven track record to work closely with the relevant leadership team in attracting a suitable and diverse pool of highly qualified candidates for the scope of the positions covered under the respective lots they are appointed under.
Further detail is provided within the Specification.
Queen’s intends, following the process outlined in this ITT, to establish a closed Framework Agreement for the provision of Specialist and Executive Search Services.
The Framework Agreement will be split into Lots as further detailed below and Queen’s envisages that, following the process outlined in the ITT and TRP.
Lot 1A: Temporary Specialist Roles
Lot 1B: Permanent Specialist Roles
Lot 2A: Temporary Executive level roles for Professional Services
Lot 2B: Permanent Executive level roles for Professional Services
Lot 3A: Temporary Executive level roles for Academic Operations
Lot 3B: Permanent Executive level roles for Academic Operations
Lot 4: International roles for overseas locations
Following the process outlined in this ITT and TRP, Queen’s intends to appoint 3 Suppliers to each lot of the Framework Agreement and Call-Off Contracts will be awarded in accordance with the Call-Off Procedure provided with this ITT.
Commercial tool
Establishes a framework
Total value (estimated)
- £4,362,500 excluding VAT
- £5,235,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 June 2026 to 31 May 2027
- Possible extension to 1 June 2030
- 4 years, 1 day
Description of possible extension:
The Framework shall be for a period of 1 year, subject to satisfactory annual review, with the option to extend the contract by up to a further 36 Months.
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 79600000 - Recruitment services
- 79630000 - Personnel services except placement and supply services
Lot 1. Lot 1A: Temporary Specialist Roles
Description
This lot is for the search and selection of highly qualified candidates for specialist temporary roles in both academic and professional services areas.
The Supplier is required to identify suitable candidates to fill roles normally at Grade 7 to 10 (or academic grades AC2 to Professorial Range 4).
Temporary positions are likely to be for a minimum of 12 months’ cover, such as interim appointments or maternity leave cover, in some cases appointments may be required for a shorter period.
Lot value (estimated)
- £0 excluding VAT
- £0 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
Same for all lots
CPV classifications and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 2. Lot 1B: Permanent Specialist Roles
Description
This lot is for the search and selection of highly qualified candidates for specialist permanent roles in both academic and professional services areas.
The Supplier is required to identify suitable candidates to fill roles normally at Grade 7 to 10 (or academic grades AC2 to Professorial Range 4).
Lot value (estimated)
- £0 excluding VAT
- £0 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
Same for all lots
CPV classifications and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 3. Lot 2A: Temporary Executive level roles for Professional Services
Description
This lot is for the search and selection of highly qualified candidates for executive level temporary roles in Professional Services (Non-Academic Operations).
The Supplier is required to identify suitable candidates to fill the roles of Director and above, with a salary of over £112k per annum.
Temporary positions are likely to be for a minimum of 12 months’ cover, such as interim appointments or maternity leave cover, in some cases appointments may be required for a shorter period.
Lot value (estimated)
- £0 excluding VAT
- £0 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
Same for all lots
CPV classifications and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 4. Lot 2B: Permanent Executive level roles for Professional Services
Description
This lot is for the search and selection of highly qualified candidates for executive level permanent roles in Professional Services (Non-Academic Operations).
The Supplier is required to have the expertise in both national and international markets to identify suitable candidates to fill the roles of Director and above.
Lot value (estimated)
- £0 excluding VAT
- £0 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
Same for all lots
CPV classifications and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 5. Lot 3A: Temporary Executive level roles for Academic Operations
Description
This lot is for the search and selection of highly qualified candidates for executive level temporary roles in Academic Operations.
The Supplier is required to have the expertise in both national and international markets to identify suitable candidates to fill the roles of Head of School and above.
Temporary positions are likely to be for a minimum of 12 months’ cover, such as interim appointments or maternity leave cover, in some cases appointments may be required for a shorter period.
Lot value (estimated)
- £0 excluding VAT
- £0 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
Same for all lots
CPV classifications and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 6. Lot 3B: Permanent Executive level roles for Academic Operations
Description
This lot is for the search and selection of highly qualified candidates for executive level permanent roles in Academic Operations.
The Supplier is required to have the expertise in both national and international markets to identify suitable candidates to fill the roles of Head of School and above.
Lot value (estimated)
- £0 excluding VAT
- £0 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
Same for all lots
CPV classifications and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 7. Lot 4: International Roles for Overseas Locations
Description
This lot is for the search and selection of highly qualified candidates for both academic and professional services roles based in overseas locations.
The Supplier is required to have the expertise in both national and international markets to identify suitable candidates to fill the roles based in overseas locations normally with a salary from £45,349 per annum (for example, any international Queen’s University campus).
Lot value (estimated)
- £0 excluding VAT
- £0 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
Same for all lots
CPV classifications and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Framework
Maximum number of suppliers
Unlimited
Maximum percentage fee charged to suppliers
0%
Framework operation description
Following the process outlined in the ITT and TRP, Queen’s intends to appoint 3 Suppliers to each lot of the Framework Agreement and Call-Off Contracts will be awarded in accordance with the Call-Off Procedure provided with the ITT. Price is calculated as the combined total of the cost of one appointment in each salary range(s) under each lot. Each appointment cost is made up of the end‑to‑end recruitment service delivery fee—derived by applying the tendered percentage to the assumed salary for the applicable range plus the associated campaign cost.
Award method when using the framework
With competition
Contracting authorities that may use the framework
Establishing party only
Submission
Enquiry deadline
23 February 2026, 4:00pm
Tender submission deadline
2 March 2026, 4:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
13 May 2026
Recurring procurement
Publication date of next tender notice (estimated): 4 February 2030
Award criteria
| Name | Description | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Simple description | The award criteria is divided into Technical (70%) and Price (30%).Technical Criterion is made up of Methodology, Quality Assurance, Responsible Procurement, Quality, Diversity and Inclusion, while... |
Price |
Weighting description
The award criteria is divided into Technical (70%) and Price (30%).Technical Criterion is made up of Methodology, Quality Assurance, Responsible Procurement, Quality, Diversity and Inclusion, while the Price Criterion is made up of Price and Discount
Other information
Description of risks to contract performance
Risks that Queen's considers could either jeopardise the satisfactory performance of the public contract, or may require a subsequent modification to the contract under paragraph 5 of Schedule 8 to the Procurement Act 2023 are detailed within the Specification. The Specification forms part of the associated tender documents, which can be accessed via the link provided within this notice
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Open procedure
Documents
Associated tender documents
https://in-tendhost.co.uk/queensuniversitybelfast/aspx/Home
Tender documents are accessible from web address provided
Contracting authority
Queen's University Belfast
- Charity Commission for Northern Ireland: 101788
University Rd
Belfast
BT7 1NN
United Kingdom
Email: procurement@qub.ac.uk
Region: UKN06 - Belfast
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government
Devolved regulations that apply: Northern Ireland