HR Support Services
Framework Description
KCS Procurement Services' HR Support Services framework (Y25006) is a national agreement running from 10 May 2025 to 9 May 2029, let under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and approved by the DfE for schools. Its five lots cover HR administration and payroll, HR advisory services, employee screening, staff health and wellbeing, and a total HR management service. It is a traditional framework agreement, not a Dynamic Purchasing System.
Context & Use Case
Councils, NHS trusts, schools and emergency services use it when their HR teams need outside support: outsourced payroll runs, employment law and employee relations advice, pre-employment and ongoing screening, occupational health and wellbeing programmes, or a complete outsourced HR function under Lot 5. Smaller bodies such as schools and fire authorities often buy payroll and advice together, while larger employers tend to buy individual services to fill specific gaps.
Scope of Services
Lot 1: HR Administration and Payroll Service Lot 2: HR Advisory Services Lot 3: Employee Screening Lot 4: Staff Health and Wellbeing Lot 5: Total HR Management Service
Lots
Lot 1: HR Administration and Payroll Service; Lot 2: HR Advisory Services; Lot 3: Employee Screening; Lot 4: Staff Health and Wellbeing; Lot 5: Total HR Management Service
Who Can Apply
HR consultancies, payroll bureaus, screening providers and occupational health specialists with public sector experience and strong data protection. Applications for this framework are closed, so firms not appointed cannot join until KCS re-tenders, likely around 9 May 2029. Appointed suppliers compete for call-offs in their lots.
Buyer Benefits
Buyers can bring in specialist HR support without running a full tender, using suppliers KCS has already evaluated, and DfE approval gives schools confidence that the route is compliant. Separate lots let them buy just payroll or screening, while Lot 5 suits organisations wanting to outsource the whole HR function to one accountable provider.
Next Steps
Appointed suppliers should target public employers with payroll or HR contracts ending, and show data protection and accuracy clearly. Others should look at sub-contracting with appointed suppliers and build public sector case studies and security credentials before the re-tender expected before 9 May 2029. Any early market engagement should appear on the KCS site.
How Athena Can Help
HR call-offs are often decided on accuracy, data protection and service levels. Athena's bid writers for HR tenders turn your track record into scored evidence, with win themes and pricing modelled against likely rivals. A bid audit of past awards also shows which public employers buy payroll and HR services, and how.
If you are not on Y25006, our framework access support gets you onto HR routes that are open now, ahead of the 2029 re-tender, and our bid/no-bid advice helps you choose the direct HR and payroll tenders worth chasing.
