This procurement is intended to establish a work agreement compromising a variety of 'off-the-shelf' software products that will enable customers to digitise their human resources service and transform their workforce.

The Lot structure of the work is yet to be defined.

The work agreement has the option to extend for up to a further 24 months. The total estimated value stated includes the option period.

As a central purchasing body as defined by the EU Procurement Directive 2014/24/EU, the work agreement is open for use by Public Bodies (defined at https://www.espo.org/ESPO/media/Documents/FAQs/ESPO-s_powers_to_trade__website_-2016-12-22.pdf) that also fall into one of the following classifications of user throughout all administrative regions of the UK: local authorities, educational establishments (including academies), central government departments and agencies, police, fire and rescue and coastguard emergency services, NHS and HSC bodies, including ambulance services, registered charities, registered social landlords, the corporate office of the House of Lords, The Corporate Officer of the House of Commons or any public body established by or under the Scotland Act 1998 or any Act of the Scottish Parliament. Details of the classification of end user establishments and geographical areas are available at: http://www.espo.org/About-us-%281%29/FAQs/Legal

ESPO has established a commercial trading company, ESPO Trading Ltd, whose target clients are third sector organisations such as national and local charities, public sector mutual organisations and other organisations involved in the delivery of services to or for the public sector. The successful supplier may be asked to enter into an additional separate work agreement (the second work) with ESPO Trading Ltd on materially similar terms to that found in the tender pack to be entered into by ESPO itself.

Any second work agreement will be a purely commercial agreement and will, for the avoidance of doubt, not be governed by the Public Contract Regulations 2015 or other public procurement legislation. ESPO Trading Ltd may enter into the second work agreement with the successful supplier and make it available to third sector clients who themselves are not required to follow the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 or other public procurement legislation. Accordingly, this is provided for bidders' information only.