Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
North Western Universities Purchasing Consortium
04045190
Salford Innovation Forum, Room 210, 51 Frederick Road
Salford
M6 6FP
UK
Contact person: Sarah Dye
Telephone: +44 1612348016
E-mail: sarah.dye@nwupc.ac.uk
NUTS: UK
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://nwupc.ac.uk/
Address of the buyer profile: https://uk.eu-supply.com/ctm/Company/CompanyInformation/Index/91080
I.2) Joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
https://uk.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/rwlentrance_s.asp?PID=89289&B=NWUPC
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
https://uk.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/rwlentrance_s.asp?PID=89289&B=NWUPC
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent to the abovementioned address
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Other: Sub-central contracting authority
I.5) Main activity
Education
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Pension Scheme (Defined Contribution) and Employee Benefits
Reference number: PFB3038NW
II.1.2) Main CPV code
66520000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
NWUPC in conjunction with UCEA has a requirement to establish a Framework Agreement for the provision of a Defined Contribution Master Trust Pension Scheme and Employee Benefits including Group Life Assurance, Group Income Protection and the provision of a customisable benefits platform for the management of employee benefits through a single centralised portal. NWUPC is establishing the Framework Agreement as a central purchasing body for itself and its Members (Other Contracting Bodies (OCB)). NWUPC is managing this procurement process in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (the “Regulations”) on behalf of members of APUC, HEPCW, LUPC, NEUPC, NWUPC and SUPC.
The Framework Agreement will be split into three lots as follows:
Lot 1 – Defined Contribution Pension Scheme (Master Trust)
Lot 2 – Group Life Assurance & Group Income Protection
Lot 3 – Flexible Benefits Platform
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
19 000 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
Yes
Tenders may be submitted for all lots
II.2) Description
Lot No: 1
II.2.1) Title
Lot 1- Pension Scheme (Defined Contribution) Master Trust
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
66131100
66141000
66522000
66523100
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
NWUPC is seeking to set up a section in a pre-existing authorised master trust as a tailored solution for Member Institutions of the participating consortia that can be used to meet (or exceed) automatic enrolment requirements as a minimum, to be available for H2 2025 eligibility. The scheme will be available to Member Institutions to enrol staff as defined by each Employer into the DC arrangement. This may include staff employed by the Member Institution or through a wholly owned subsidiary across both academic and academic-related posts and/or professional services. This may include new employees only or existing employees. The new DC arrangement could also be made available to staff in existing Defined Benefit schemes should they choose to opt-out of the existing scheme subject to the rules and regulations of the DB scheme.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Customer Requirements
/ Weighting: 85.00%
Price
/ Weighting:
15.00%
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start:
01/05/2025
End:
30/04/2032
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
This Framework Agreement will commence on 1st May 2025 for an initial period of five years until 30th April 2030 with the option to extend the Agreement for two years until 30th April 2032 subject to satisfactory Economic Operator performance.
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Lot No: 2
II.2.1) Title
Lot 2- Group Life Assurance & Group Income Protection
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
66510000
66511000
66512000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The provision of Group Life Assurance and Group Income Protection to staff of participating consortia Member Institutions as an employee benefit. It will be at the discretion of the Member Institution which of the available policies they elect to take-up. This lot does not include a requirement for any insurance broking services.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Customer Requirements
/ Weighting: 75.00%
Price
/ Weighting:
25.00%
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start:
01/05/2025
End:
30/04/2032
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
This Framework Agreement will commence on 1st May 2025 for an initial period of five years until 30th April 2030 with the option to extend the Agreement for two years until 30th April 2032 subject to satisfactory Economic Operator performance.
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Lot No: 3
II.2.1) Title
Lot 3- Flexible Benefits Platform
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
48000000
75310000
79900000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The provision of a largely off the shelf flexible benefits platform for the management of employee benefits through a single centralised online platform that is customisable to the requirements of the participating consortia member institutions. The platform will offer a range of benefits that shall be available to employees who meet any relevant qualifying criteria established by the member institution. This will cover employees across the UK and may include employees overseas. The platform must be configurable and facilitate the incorporation of existing employee benefits and offer access to benefits from reputable providers. This lot covers the provision of all software and any associated licensing. Potential Services include, but are not limited to system implementation and migration, and professional services around the range of benefits the member institution may seek to make available to employees.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Customer Requirements
/ Weighting: 70.00%
Price
/ Weighting:
30.00%
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start:
01/05/2025
End:
30/04/2032
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
This Framework Agreement will commence on 1st May 2025 for an initial period of five years until 30th April 2030 with the option to extend the Agreement for two years until 30th April 2032 subject to satisfactory Economic Operator performance.
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information
III.1) Conditions for participation
III.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
III.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
III.2) Conditions related to the contract
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
IV.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement with several operators.
Envisaged maximum number of participants to the framework agreement: 3
Justification for any framework agreement duration exceeding 4 years: See section VI Additional Information
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2024/S 000-035563
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
17/03/2025
Local time: 13:00
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date:
17/03/2025
Local time: 14:00
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
No
VI.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
VI.3) Additional information
This framework agreement is offered on behalf of the UK Higher and Further Education Sector. The sector currently has access to a variety of Defined Benefit schemes and some institutions have existing DC Scheme provision. Engagement with the sector in scoping the agreement indicated interest in a centrally procured solution from 50 institutions. 10 have an immediate requirement to implement this within the first 12 months. The other interested institutions indicated varying degrees of readiness to implement the scheme throughout the stated duration of the agreement. Participating institutions are seeking value for money through a centralised procurement which leverages economies of scale. This is best achieved through a contract duration that facilitates scheme participation by all interested institutions, maximising assets and offering stability to the appointed provider to deliver competitive rates for the sector. The agreement duration recognises this and the lengthy governance and implementation processes that accompany the implementation of a DC Scheme in the sector. Lots 2 and 3 are complementary provisions to support the implementation of a Defined Contribution scheme within the sector and, as such, should be co-terminus. As value for money is a driver of the procurement, the Authority reserves the right to review the competitiveness of the scheme in any decision to extend.
The following organisations have committed to this procurement and intend to utilise the Framework Agreement as soon as possible after award. As such, the members and their wholly owned subsidiaries of the following Consortia may wish to utilise the Agreement and should have access at any point:
NWUPC https://www.nwupc.ac.uk/our-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, higher education providers registered by the Office for Students at the following link (OfS Register) 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.
The following individual Organisation (not its individual members) is also eligible to join the Framework Agreement:
Universities and Colleges Employers Association http://www.ucea.ac.uk/
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
NWUPC Ltd
Salford
M6 6FP
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
13/02/2025