✓Tender information last checkedLast checked 15 Oct 2026, 13:26.
Opportunity overview
The Contracting Authority intends to establish a multi-supplier Framework Agreement for the provision of suitably qualified, experienced and compliant Agency Workers to meet temporary staffing requirements across a range of services and schemes operated by Apex Housing.
The Framework Agreement for each Lot shall commence on the Commencement Date and shall continue for an initial period of two (2) years.
The Contracting Authority shall have the option to extend the Framework Agreement by up to two (2) further periods of twelve (12) months (2+1+1).
The Framework Agreement will facilitate the provision of Agency Workers for ad hoc, emergency and short-term assignments on an as-required basis.
The requirements have been divided into the following Lots:
• Lot 1 – Provision of Agency Nursing Staff
• Lot 2 – Provision of Agency Care, Support and Ancillary Staff
Each Lot will be assessed and awarded independently and will result in a separate Framework Agreement. Apex intends to appoint a maximum of three Suppliers to each Lot, based on their final ranking.
Classification
CPV79620000 — Supply services of personnel including temporary staff
CPV79622000 — Supply services of domestic help personnel
CPV79624000 — Supply services of nursing personnel
CPV85300000 — Social work and related services
Lots
Provision of Agency Nursing Staff£2.5m · Including VAT
Agency Care, Support and Ancillary Staff£14.5m · Including VAT
Additional information from the published procurement release. Fields appear only when supplied by the source; check the original notice and tender documents before acting.
The Framework Agreements will be procured using the Competitive Flexible Procedure in accordance with section 20(2)(b) of the Procurement Act 2023 (“the Act”).
The procedure will comprise:
(i) a Conditions of Participation Stage, assessed on a Pass/Fail basis
(ii) an Award Stage, at which quality and price submissions will be evaluated in accordance with the published award criteria, assessment methodology and weightings.
Responses to both the Conditions of Participation and Award Stage requirements must be submitted together through eTendersNI by the Closing Date and Time.
Each Lot will be assessed and awarded independently and will result in a separate Framework Agreement.
Apex intends to appoint a maximum of three Suppliers to each Lot based on their final ranking. The Contracting Authority may progress and conclude the award of one Lot independently of the other.
Following assessment of the final Tenders, the Contracting Authority may undertake an Optional Preferred Supplier Stage in accordance with section 5.3.12 of Document 01 – Instructions to Suppliers before concluding the award and entering into the relevant Framework Agreement.
Suppliers will be notified through eTendersNI of the outcome of each stage of the procurement process, including whether their Tender has been successful or unsuccessful.
Tenders received after the Closing Date and Time may not be considered.
Special regime
lightTouch
Techniques
Has Framework Agreement
Yes
Framework Agreement
Method
withoutReopeningCompetition
Type
closed
Description
The Framework Agreement will operate as a ranked multi-supplier framework.
Up to three suppliers will be appointed to each Lot and ranked 1st, 2nd and 3rd based on the outcome of the tender evaluation.
Where the Contracting Authority requires Agency Workers, assignments will be offered to the highest-ranked supplier in the first instance.
If that supplier is unable to meet the requirement within the timescales specified in the Framework Agreement, the Contracting Authority may offer the assignment to the next-ranked supplier, and thereafter to the third-ranked supplier where necessary.
No guarantee is given as to the volume or value of Services to be procured under the Framework Agreement.
Submission terms
Electronic Submission Policy
allowed
Languages
en
Tender Period
Ends
30 Oct 2026, 12:00
Expected award period
Ends
1 Dec 2026, 23:59
Recurrence
Dates
Entry 1
Starts
9 Sept 2030, 23:59
Amendments
Entry 1
Description
Conditions of Participation amended for Lot 1- At the Tender Submission Deadline, the Supplier must hold current RQIA registration as a Nursing Agency. Evidence of registration must be provided in response to Question 15 of the PSQ. A pending application for registration will not satisfy this Condition of Participation.
This requirement applies only to Lot 1. Suppliers tendering only for Lot 2 should respond “Not Applicable” to Question 15 of the PSQ.
Id
097400-2026
Lots and requirements
Entry 1
Id
1
Title
Provision of Agency Nursing Staff
Description
This Lot covers the provision of suitably qualified Agency Nursing Staff and Residential Officers to support nursing and residential care services operated by Apex Housing.
Status
active
Has Renewal
Yes
Value
Including VAT
2,500,000
Currency
GBP
Award criteria
Criteria
Criterion 1
Type
price
Name
Tender Evaluation Sum
Numbers
Entry 1
Number
60
Weight
percentageExact
Criterion 2
Type
quality
Name
Proposed Methodology for the Provision of Agency Staff
Numbers
Entry 1
Number
25
Weight
percentageExact
Criterion 3
Type
quality
Name
Staff Training, Compliance & Safeguarding
Numbers
Entry 1
Number
15
Weight
percentageExact
Selection criteria
Criteria
Criterion 1
Type
economic
Description
At the Tender Submission Deadline, the Supplier must hold current RQIA registration as a Nursing Agency. Evidence of registration must be provided in response to Question 15 of the PSQ. A pending application for registration will not satisfy this Condition of Participation.
This requirement applies only to Lot 1. Suppliers tendering only for Lot 2 should respond “Not Applicable” to Question 15 of the PSQ.
Contract period
Starts
4 Jan 2027, 00:00
Ends
3 Jan 2029, 23:59
Max Extent Date
3 Jan 2031, 23:59
Renewal
Description
Framework may be extended for two additional 12 month periods.
Entry 2
Id
2
Title
Agency Care, Support and Ancillary Staff
Description
This Lot covers the provision of suitably qualified and experienced Agency Care, Support and Ancillary Staff to provide temporary cover for ad hoc, emergency and short-term assignments across a range of services and schemes operated by Apex Housing.
Status
active
Has Renewal
Yes
Value
Including VAT
14,500,000
Currency
GBP
Award criteria
Criteria
Criterion 1
Type
price
Name
Tender Evaluation Sum
Numbers
Entry 1
Number
60
Weight
percentageExact
Criterion 2
Type
quality
Name
Proposed Methodology for the Provision of Agency Staff
Numbers
Entry 1
Number
25
Weight
percentageExact
Criterion 3
Type
quality
Name
Staff Training, Compliance & Safeguarding
Numbers
Entry 1
Number
15
Weight
percentageExact
Contract period
Starts
4 Jan 2027, 00:00
Ends
3 Jan 2029, 23:59
Max Extent Date
3 Jan 2031, 23:59
Renewal
Description
Framework may be extended for two additional 12 month periods.
Items and delivery
Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1
Additional Classifications
Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
79624000
Description
Supply services of nursing personnel
Delivery locations
Entry 1
Region
UKN
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Item 2
Id
2
Related Lot
2
Additional Classifications
Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
85300000
Description
Social work and related services
Entry 2
Scheme
CPV
Id
79620000
Description
Supply services of personnel including temporary staff
2 published notice versions reviewed by ProcuraAxis.
2 VERSIONS
1
093857-2026Tender notice on Find a Tender ·
2
097400-2026Tender notice on Find a Tender ·
PROCURAAXIS ANALYSIS
ProcuraAxis Analysis
Our approved analysis of the opportunity appears below the official tender information.
ANALYSIS PREVIEW
Opportunity intelligence at a glance
Apex Housing Association is seeking up to three suppliers per lot for two separate frameworks covering temporary agency personnel: nursing/residential officers (Lot 1) and care, support and ancillary staff (Lot 2). Assignments will be ad hoc, emergency and short-term. The framework term is two years with options for two further 12-month extensions.
Who this may suit
Suitable for temporary staffing agencies able to provide qualified and experienced nursing, residential, care, support or ancillary workers for housing-operated services in Northern Ireland.
Key points identified
Qualified, experienced and compliant agency workersAgency workers must be suitably qualified, experienced and compliant.Evidence: "provision of suitably qualified, experienced and compliant Agency Workers"
Temporary staffing availabilityProvide workers for ad hoc, emergency and short-term assignments on an as-required basis.Evidence: "Agency Workers for ad hoc, emergency and short-term assignments on an as-required basis"
Lot 1 personnelAgency nursing staff and residential officers.Evidence: "Lot 1 – Provision of Agency Nursing Staff"; "Agency Nursing Staff and Residential Officers"
95% approved-analysis confidence6 supplier criteria identified4 risks or unknowns
ProcuraAxis structures information found in published procurement records, checks the result for consistency and publishes only approved analysis. Confidence describes the completeness and consistency of the available source information; it is not a guarantee of eligibility or contract award.
Apex Housing Association is seeking up to three suppliers per lot for two separate frameworks covering temporary agency personnel: nursing/residential officers (Lot 1) and care, support and ancillary staff (Lot 2). Assignments will be ad hoc, emergency and short-term. The framework term is two years with options for two further 12-month extensions.
Who this may suit
Suitable for temporary staffing agencies able to provide qualified and experienced nursing, residential, care, support or ancillary workers for housing-operated services in Northern Ireland.
Key deliverables
Lot 1: agency nursing staff and residential officers.
Lot 2: agency care, support and ancillary staff.
Temporary cover for ad hoc, emergency and short-term assignments.
SUPPLIER REQUIREMENTS
6 criteria identified
Qualified, experienced and compliant agency workers
96% confidence
Agency workers must be suitably qualified, experienced and compliant.
View supporting evidence
"provision of suitably qualified, experienced and compliant Agency Workers"
Temporary staffing availability
98% confidence
Provide workers for ad hoc, emergency and short-term assignments on an as-required basis.
View supporting evidence
"Agency Workers for ad hoc, emergency and short-term assignments on an as-required basis"
Lot 1 personnel
98% confidence
Agency nursing staff and residential officers.
View supporting evidence
"Lot 1 – Provision of Agency Nursing Staff"; "Agency Nursing Staff and Residential Officers"
Lot 2 personnel
99% confidence
Agency care, support and ancillary staff.
View supporting evidence
"Lot 2 – Provision of Agency Care, Support and Ancillary Staff"
Supplier appointments per lot
98% confidence
A maximum of three suppliers are intended to be appointed to each lot, based on final ranking.
View supporting evidence
"Apex intends to appoint a maximum of three Suppliers to each Lot, based on their final ranking."
Other selection requirements
94% confidence
Unknown from the supplied notice content.
View supporting evidence
No specific financial, insurance, registration or exclusion requirements are supplied.
As-required temporary cover for ad hoc, emergency and short-term assignments.
View supporting evidence
"ad hoc, emergency and short-term assignments on an as-required basis"
Specific service sites
96% confidence
Unknown.
View supporting evidence
The supplied delivery location has no locality or postal code.
PROCEDURE
How to respond
Status
99% confidence
Open tender.
View supporting evidence
Opportunity fields: "stage": "tender" and "display_status": "open".
Procedure
97% confidence
Selective; competitive flexible procedure.
View supporting evidence
Opportunity fields: "procurement_method": "selective" and "procurement_method_details": "Competitive flexible procedure".
Submission deadline
99% confidence
30 October 2026, 12:00 UTC.
View supporting evidence
Opportunity and both lot fields: "submission_deadline": "2026-10-30T12:00:00+00:00".
Lot award structure
99% confidence
Each lot will be assessed and awarded independently under a separate framework agreement.
View supporting evidence
"Each Lot will be assessed and awarded independently and will result in a separate Framework Agreement."
RISKS AND UNKNOWNS
Points requiring attention
No guaranteed demand
98% confidence
The framework is for assignments on an as-required basis; no minimum volumes are stated.
View supporting evidence
"on an as-required basis"; no minimum volume is supplied.
Competitive capacity restriction
98% confidence
Only up to three suppliers are intended to be appointed to each lot.
View supporting evidence
"maximum of three Suppliers to each Lot"
Commercial detail unavailable
96% confidence
Pricing, payment mechanisms and call-off terms are not provided in the supplied content.
View supporting evidence
No pricing schedule, payment terms or call-off terms are supplied.
Compliance evidence unspecified
97% confidence
Workers must be compliant, but the required checks, registrations or named credentials are not stated.
View supporting evidence
"suitably qualified, experienced and compliant Agency Workers"
ProcuraAxis analysis supplements, but does not replace, the original notice and tender documents. Always verify eligibility, deadlines and commercial terms with the issuing authority.
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