Social Security Scotland and the Scottish Government have published a contract notice for a Testing Services Framework Agreement. For suppliers providing IT testing services, quality assurance, testing resources and digital delivery support, this is a major Scottish public sector opportunity.
The framework has an estimated value of £54 million and will run for 48 months. It is being procured through a restricted procedure, which means bidders must first be shortlisted before being invited to submit a full tender.
As with many public sector digital frameworks, success will depend on more than technical capability. Bidders will need to show relevant experience, robust certifications, clear resource management, strong quality controls and the ability to evidence skills in a way evaluators can score.
Framework summary
The framework covers testing services for IT systems and is divided into two lots.
Lot 1 is Testing Services. This lot is for suppliers providing testing services in any form required, including a full testing service or testing for specific projects or test phases. The notice envisages 10 suppliers being taken through to ITT stage, with a maximum of six suppliers appointed to Lot 1.
Lot 2 is Testing Resources. This lot is for testing resources to augment existing testing teams. Again, the notice envisages 10 suppliers being taken through to ITT stage, with a maximum of four suppliers appointed to Lot 2.
Bidders may submit for all lots, but they should assess carefully whether their evidence is strong enough for each. A supplier that can provide excellent individual testing resources will not automatically have the same evidence base needed for an end-to-end testing service.
Key dates for bidders
The deadline for requests to participate is 12:00pm on 18 June 2026. The estimated date for dispatch of invitations to tender is 8 July 2026. The framework may be re-let at the end of the framework term, with a recurrence date stated as 19 May 2030.
As always, suppliers should check PCS-Tender for the current documents, clarifications and any changes before making decisions or submitting.
Award approach
Both lots have the same stated award weighting: 55% quality and 45% price.
That balance is important. Price will matter, but quality still carries the larger weighting. Bidders should therefore avoid treating the written submission as an administrative exercise. The buyer will need confidence that the supplier can deliver reliable testing support, integrate with public sector teams and maintain capability throughout the framework term.
What bidders need to evidence
The notice sets out a number of participation requirements. Some are pass/fail in nature, while others will be scored as part of the selection process.
Financial standing and insurances
Bidders must have a Dun & Bradstreet failure score of no less than 40. They must also confirm they already have, or can commit to obtaining before the contract starts, the required insurance levels.
At SPD stage, the minimum stated levels include Professional Risk Indemnity of at least £5 million for any one incident and in the aggregate annually, Public Liability of at least £5 million for any one incident and in the aggregate annually, and Employer’s Liability in line with legal obligations.
The notice also explains that different insurance levels may be required at framework call-off, up to £15 million for Professional Risk Indemnity and Public Liability.
Cyber and information security certifications
This is one of the most important areas for bidders to check early. The notice states that bidders will be required to provide certifications demonstrating that they hold Cyber Essentials, Cyber Essentials Plus and ISO 27001.
For IT testing suppliers, these requirements are not peripheral. They are likely to connect directly to the buyer’s confidence in how systems, data, access and information risks will be managed.
If certifications are in progress, bidders should read the procurement documents carefully to confirm what is acceptable and when evidence must be provided.
Relevant testing experience
Bidders will need to provide two examples from the last three years where they have successfully delivered testing services of a similar scope and complexity.
These examples should do more than describe the project. Strong case studies should make the similarity clear. That may include the type of systems tested, testing phases delivered, scale of users or transactions, governance model, resourcing approach, tools used, defect management process, security considerations, stakeholder environment and measurable outcomes.
For Lot 1, evidence may need to show the ability to provide a complete or substantial testing service. For Lot 2, the focus may be more on how testing resources are selected, deployed, managed and integrated into existing teams.
Technical skills and qualifications
The notice refers to examples of technical skills and relevant educational and professional qualifications, such as ISTQB or equivalent, along with experience and an approach to maintaining skills.
This gives bidders an opportunity to show how capability is managed over time. A strong response should explain not only who is qualified, but how skills are kept current, how resources are matched to assignments and how the supplier maintains quality when demand changes.
Quality and environmental management
Bidders must hold ISO 9001 or equivalent, or have a documented quality management policy and procedures meeting the buyer’s requirements. Environmental management is also required, either through ISO 14001, EMAS or equivalent, or through appropriate documented environmental management arrangements.
These requirements can be easy to treat as attachments, but they should be reflected in the written response as well. Evaluators need to see that quality and environmental controls are embedded into delivery, not just held as certificates.
Community benefits
Community benefits are included in the requirement. The notice gives examples such as STEM support activities, guest lectures, career events, work experience opportunities, volunteering, support for local charities, environmental improvements and supply chain development.
For a digital testing framework, this creates a useful opportunity for suppliers to connect their technical offer with wider public value. Strong commitments should be relevant, measurable and deliverable within the framework context.
Bid strategy considerations
A good starting point is to assess each lot separately. Suppliers should consider where they have the strongest evidence and where their offer is most competitive.
For Lot 1, evaluators are likely to be interested in how the supplier can manage testing services, control quality, report progress, handle defects and provide consistent delivery across different projects or test phases.
For Lot 2, the buyer may place more emphasis on how the supplier provides skilled resources, manages availability, matches people to requirements, maintains knowledge and integrates with the buyer’s existing teams.
Across both lots, bidders should prepare clear evidence for certifications, case studies, tech skills, qualifications, insurances, quality systems, environmental management and community benefits before drafting begins.
Common mistakes to avoid
Framework bids often lose marks when the response does not clearly match the scoring criteria. For this opportunity, suppliers should avoid generic statements about being experienced in testing. The buyer needs evidence that is specific to similar services, similar complexity and the Scottish public sector context.
Another common issue is treating certifications and policies as a compliance appendix rather than part of the story. If Cyber Essentials Plus, ISO 27001, ISO 9001 or ISO 14001 are relevant to your control environment, explain how those standards influence day-to-day delivery.
Finally, make sure the lot strategy is clear. A response for Testing Services should not read exactly the same as a response for Testing Resources. The lots are related, but the delivery model and evidence emphasis will differ.
How AM Bid can help
AM Bid supports suppliers with Scottish public sector tenders and frameworks, including restricted procedures, SPD responses and full ITT submissions.
For this framework, we can help you assess which lot or lots to target, map your evidence to the buyer’s requirements and turn technical inputs into clear, compliant responses. Our bid and proposal writing service can help shape detailed technical content into evaluator-friendly answers, while our bid review and comment service can strengthen drafts prepared in-house.
If you need support managing the timetable, clarifications, evidence collection and final checks, our bid and tender management service can help keep the submission controlled and consistent. You may also find our guidance on public tenders in Scotland useful when planning your wider pipeline.
Next steps
If the Testing Services Framework Agreement is relevant to your business, start by reviewing the procurement documents on PCS-Tender and checking the pass/fail requirements. Pay particular attention to certifications, insurance, D&B score, lot fit and the strength of your recent case studies.
A strong submission should make it easy for the buyer to understand what you provide, how you manage quality and how your experience matches the framework. The more clearly you connect your evidence to the scoring criteria, the easier it is for evaluators to award marks.
To discuss support for this framework or another Scottish public sector tender, contact AM Bid.