Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
North Western Universities Purchasing Consortium
Salford Innovation Forum, Room 210, 51 Frederick Road
Salford
M6 6FP
Contact
Shelley Watson
Telephone
+44 1612348015
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UK - United Kingdom
National registration number
04045190
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
https://uk.eu-supply.com/ctm/Company/CompanyInformation/Index/91080
one.2) Information about joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Other type
Sub-central contracting authority
one.5) Main activity
Education
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Global Mobility Services
Reference number
PFB3160 NW
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 79000000 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
NWUPC is seeking to establish a multi-provider Framework Agreement on behalf of the members of NWUPC, APUC, HEPCW, LUPC, NEUPC, and SUPC for Global Mobility Services.
The Framework Agreement will be split into three lots as follows:
Lot 1 – Overseas Taxation, Payroll, Immigration and Advisory Services
Lot 2 – Employee Relocation Services
Lot 3 – Employer of Record Services
This Framework Agreement will commence on 1st July 2025 for an initial period of 24 months until 30th June 2027 with the option to extend the Agreement for 12 months until 30th June 2028 and a further 12 months until 30th June 2029 subject to satisfactory Economic Operator performance.
The following organisations have committed to this procurement, All Lots: NWUPC, NEUPC,LUPC, SUPC, APUC, HEPCW.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: Yes
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £9,000,000
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Overseas Taxation, Payroll, Immigration and Advisory Services
Lot No
1
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 79000000 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Lot 1 - Overseas Taxation, Payroll, Immigration and Advisory Services includes, but is not limited to, the following scope: the provision of advice and support to the Member Institution on its management of global employees' working or travelling arrangements in an overseas host country for the following aspects: international taxation, international payroll, and immigration services. Advisory services (comprising specialist advice on international employment law, international pensions, feasibility assessments and cost projections, business traveller and remote working, permanent establishment, employer of record model) are included on a non-mandatory basis.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Customer Requirements / Weighting: 70.00%
Price - Weighting: 30.00%
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
two.2.14) Additional information
Lotted suppliers may sub-contract part of the work to a third party which includes supplier firms (partner companies that form part of the same group) and/or sub-contractors providing a service on behalf of the main supplier.
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Employee Relocation Services
Lot No
2
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 79000000 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Lot 2 – Employee Relocation Services includes, but is not limited to, the following scope: the provision of employee relocation services including advice and support to a Member Institution and its global employees. Relocation services can be provided inbound and outbound of the UK via a managed service or through an expense management service (with an option to also provide this with relocation support services). The suite of relocation services comprise advice & service coordination, settling-in, removal & storage for household goods, home search, orientation services, cultural support, school/education search and partner support services. Relocation services may also be required for Global Employees moving within the UK only (domestic relocation) and moves from one Host Country to another. Both of these are included on a non-mandatory basis.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Customer Requirements / Weighting: 70.00%
Price - Weighting: 30.00%
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
two.2.14) Additional information
Lotted suppliers may sub-contract part of the work to a third party which includes supplier firms (partner companies that form part of the same group) and/or sub-contractors providing a service on behalf of the main supplier.
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Employer of Record Services
Lot No
3
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 79000000 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Lot 3 – Employer of Record Services comprises of employer of record services where a Customer is seeking a global employment outsourcing provider to operate overseas on its behalf as a legal employer of record. The Supplier will fulfil the employer responsibilities in an overseas location on behalf of the Customer for its global employees to prevent any unintended compliance risks on workforce arrangements. The services comprise employer administration, HR support, payroll and tax compliance requirements in the Host Country.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Customer Requirements / Weighting: 70.00%
Price - Weighting: 30.00%
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
two.2.14) Additional information
Lotted suppliers may sub-contract part of the work to a third party which includes supplier firms (partner companies that form part of the same group) and/or sub-contractors providing a service on behalf of the main supplier.
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
four.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2025/S 000-006805
Section five. Award of contract
Contract No
1
Title
Lot 1 - Overseas Taxation, Payroll, Immigration and Advisory Services
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
16 June 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 6
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 2
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 6
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 6
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
AAB Employer Solutions LLP
Aberdeen
AB15 8PU
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Grant Thornton UK LLP
London
EC2A 1AG
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
KPMG LLP
London
E14 5GL
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £7,500,000
Section five. Award of contract
Contract No
2
Title
Lot 2 - Employee Relocation Services
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
16 June 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 4
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 2
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 4
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 4
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Pickfords Move Management Limited
London
NW10 0TG
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Sterling Relocation Limited
Uxbridge
UB8 1DH
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
TTHCurzon Relocation Ltd
Bournemouth
BH2 5BD
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £500,000
Section five. Award of contract
Contract No
3
Title
Lot 3 - Employer of Record Services
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
16 June 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 5
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 3
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 5
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 5
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
The Briars Group Limited
Surrey
GU8 6LB
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
National registration number
733740832
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £1,000,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
Please note, the contract conclusion is still to be finalised with further suppliers on Lots 1 and 3. Once the contracts are concluded, a further contract award notice(s) will be published for those suppliers concerned. The organisations intending to use this agreement are:
NWUPC https://www.nwupc.ac.uk/members/
APUC http://www.apuc-scot.ac.uk/#!/members
HEPCW https://www.hepcw.ac.uk/members/
LUPC https://www.lupc.ac.uk/member-list
NEUPC http://www.neupc.ac.uk/our-members
SUPC https://www.supc.ac.uk/about-us/our-members/our-members
At some point during the life of the Framework Agreement the current members of the following may wish to utilise the Agreement and should have access at any point with the permission of NWUPC. This Agreement is not intended to replace any current Agreements that either participating or non-participating Institutions may already have in place. A list of the current members is available as follows:
Central Government Departments, Local Government and Public Corporations that can be accessed at the Public Sector Classification Guide
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations
Local Authorities
https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council
NDPBs
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations
National Parks Authorities
Police Forces in the United Kingdom
http://www.police.uk/?view=force_sites
Fire and Rescue Services in the United Kingdom
https://www.nationalfirechiefs.org.uk/fire-and-rescue-services
NHS Bodies England
https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/nhs-provider-directory/
Hospices in the UK
https://www.hospiceuk.org/hospice-care-finder
Registered Social Landlords (Housing Associations)
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/registered-providers-of-social-housing
Third Sector and Charities in the United Kingdom
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/charity-commission
Citizens Advice in the United Kingdom
http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/getadvice.htm
Scottish Police
NI Public Bodies
Northern Ireland Government Departments
https://www.northernireland.gov.uk/topics/your-executive/government-departments
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/contacts/government-departments-in-northern-ireland
Northern Ireland Public Sector Bodies and Local Authorities
https://www.finance-ni.gov.uk/articles/list-public-bodies-which-ni-public-procurement-policy-applies
Schools and Universities in Northern Ireland
https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/
Health and Social care in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland Housing Associations
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/contacts/housing-associations
Police Service of Northern Ireland
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
NWUPC Ltd
Salford Innovation Forum, Room 210, 51 Frederick Road
Salford
M6 6FP
Country
United Kingdom