Executive Search Services

The University of Southampton is a research-led University, ranked among the top 1% of universities in the world (QS World University Ranking 2014/15). This Prior Information Notice is to inform the market of an upcoming opportunity whereby the University of Southampton wish to establish, by means of a competitive tender exercise, a Framework Agreement for the provision of Executive Search Services.

The University of Southampton are seeking to better understand which providers are in the market for the services outlined below. Upon publishing a Contract Notice the University of Southampton will be looking to invite proposals from potential suppliers who are able to provide these services for both permanent and interim executive roles. It is intended that the scope shall cover, but not be limited to Senior Academic Roles, Senior Professional Services Roles as well as other specialist roles.

The aim of this project is to secure the services of the most reputable search companies with both national and international reach and ideally who are/or are willing to become participants of Executive Search Firms Voluntary Code of Conduct. This will provide access to top national and international, high calibre talent from a diverse range of sectors and specialisms and to expertise for hard-to-recruit key and specialist roles.

The resultant agreement will involve working in partnership with the relevant nominate selection committee to provide support with role definition, advertising, determining recruitment timelines, psychometrics and other selection methods and stakeholder management.

The resultant agreement will streamline and simplify the process to provide a highly effective pool of search companies and secure best value for the University, including guarantees.

Any Expression of Interest for the provision of these services will not automatically entitle involvement in any future procurement exercise. This procurement shall be advertised separately and all organisations wishing to participate shall need to respond to the procurement advertisement as and when it is published.

Please note: the proposed procurement of the above services will be advertised within the Official Journal of the European Union and within Contracts Finder and will be administered via the University of Southampton e-procurement portal website at the hyperlink shown here: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofsouthampton/aspx/Home

The contract start/end dates (at Section 1 above) may be subject to change. Any contract arising from the tender will be awarded on a framework basis. It is intended that the Framework Agreement will be awarded for a period of four years and will be placed with more than one supplier.

The Value Information (at Section 2 above) will be provided within the Invitation to Tender documentation.