Award

HR and Payroll Systems

  • Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service

F15: Voluntary ex ante transparency notice

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-083464

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-05f6ef

Published 16 December 2025, 3:14pm



Section one: Contracting authority/entity

one.1) Name and addresses

Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service

Saughton House, Broomhouse Drive

Edinburgh

EH11 3XD

Contact

Procurement

Email

Procurement@scotcourts.gov.uk

Telephone

+44 1314443300

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKM - Scotland

Internet address(es)

Main address

http://www.scotcourtstribunals.gov.uk

Buyer's address

https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00396

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Body governed by public law

one.5) Main activity

Other activity

Justice


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

HR and Payroll Systems

Reference number

SCTS-2025-088

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 79631000 - Personnel and payroll services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

Provision of HR and Payroll services through the iTrent system, including software licensing, maintenance, and support.

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)

Value excluding VAT: £855,500

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 79631000 - Personnel and payroll services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKM - Scotland

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Provision of HR and Payroll services through the iTrent system, including software licensing, maintenance, and support. The contract ensures continued delivery of core HR functionality such as payroll processing, absence management, and employee self-service, supporting the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service’s operational and statutory requirements.

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


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.1) Type of procedure

Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below

  • The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations

Explanation:

SCTS has recently completed the full organisational implementation of the iTrent HR and Payroll system. Introducing an alternative solution at this stage would require significant investment in terms of cost, time, and resources, and would not represent good value for money or an efficient use of public sector resources.

The holistic package required to implement a new system after only five years would involve:

Extensive data migration and validation

Organisational change management

Comprehensive staff training

Updating of policies and processes

These activities would incur substantial financial and administrative burdens and introduce operational risk. For these reasons, there are no financially or administratively reasonable, viable alternative systems or substitute products that can meet SCTS’s requirements during the proposed contract period.

Furthermore, the required licensing and support for the iTrent product can only be provided by MHR International, due to technical reasons and the supplier’s exclusive rights in and to the proprietary iTrent software.

Accordingly, the proposed award of contract to MHR International is considered compliant with Regulation 33(1)(b)(ii) and (iii) of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes


Section five. Award of contract/concession

Contract No

SCTS-2025-088

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract/concession

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

15 December 2023

five.2.2) Information about tenders

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire

MHR International UK Limited

Ruddington Hall, Loughborough Road

Nottingham

NG11 6LL

Telephone

+44 1159456000

Fax

+44 1159456000

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKF1 - Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME

No

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)

Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot/concession: £855,500

Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £855,500


Section six. Complementary information

six.3) Additional information

(SC Ref:818757)

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

Edinburgh Sheriff Court

27 Chambers Street

Edinburgh

EH1 1 LB

Country

United Kingdom