Staff Benefits
Framework Description
ESPO's Staff Benefits framework (reference 319_23), run in collaboration with YPO, offers staff benefit schemes from single schemes such as cycle to work and car leasing to fully managed benefits services. Eight lots make up the agreement, which ESPO tendered under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015; it is not a dynamic purchasing system. It runs from 7 August 2023 to 6 August 2027, with no extension option.
Context & Use Case
Councils, schools, academy trusts and other public employers use 319_23 to set up benefits that help them recruit and keep staff, such as salary sacrifice cycle and car schemes, discounts, financial wellbeing support and recognition schemes. Some buy one scheme; others appoint a managed service to run a whole benefits platform. Pricing and provider documents sit behind ESPO's Access & Confidentiality Agreement.
Scope of Services
Lot 1: Managed service Lot 2: Cycle to work Lot 3: Financial wellbeing support Lot 4: Technology products Lot 5: Leisure and retail discounts Lot 6: Car leasing Lot 7: Childcare vouchers Lot 8: Reward and recognition schemes
Lots
Lot 1 Managed Service; Lot 2 Cycle To Work; Lot 3 Financial Wellbeing Support; Lot 4 Technology Products; Lot 5 Leisure And Retail Discounts; Lot 6 Car Leasing; Lot 7 Childcare Vouchers; Lot 8 Reward and Recognition schemes
Who Can Apply
Suits employee benefits providers, salary sacrifice scheme operators, car leasing and cycle to work providers, and reward platforms. Applications for 319_23 are closed, and as it ends on 6 August 2027 with no extension, a replacement procurement is the next opportunity for new providers.
Buyer Benefits
Public employers that cannot compete with private sector pay use benefits to attract and keep staff. This framework lets them add one scheme quickly or bring several together under a managed service, and having ESPO and YPO behind it gives buyers confidence on salary sacrifice compliance and pricing.
Next Steps
With under ten months left and no extension, watch ESPO and YPO frameworks pages and Find a Tender for a replacement of 319_23. Prepare evidence of public sector take-up rates, data security, salary sacrifice administration and employee communications. Appointed providers should keep competing for call-offs until 6 August 2027.
How Athena Can Help
The replacement for 319_23 is the next way onto this market, and preparation should start now. Athena's framework application writers can pick the right lots, from single schemes to the managed service, and write evidence-led answers on take-up and data security.
For appointed providers, our mini-competition support helps win employer call-offs with clear win themes, and our public sector bid pricing helps set fees and commission levels that win without hurting margin.
