The Provision of Temporary Agency Workers for the Northern Ireland Civil Service, Agencies and Non-Departmental Public Bodies tender, published by the Department of Finance, represents one of the largest public sector temporary staffing contracts in Northern Ireland. With an estimated total value of £1.44 billion (excluding VAT) and potential extensions to 2034, this procurement aims to secure long-term partnerships with suppliers capable of delivering a wide range of temporary staffing solutions across nine distinct lots. These lots cover various job categories including Administration, Professional and Technical, Environmental and Scientific Services, Industrial, Legal, Youth and Social Care, Finance and Governance, and ICT roles. Each lot will be awarded to a single supplier based on the Most Advantageous Tender (MAT), weighted 55% on quality and 45% on cost, making it a significant opportunity for large recruitment and workforce solutions providers with proven capacity, compliance systems, and sector-specific expertise.

This tender will be of particular interest to multi-sector recruitment agencies, managed service providers (MSPs), and specialist staffing firms capable of supplying high volumes of vetted, compliant temporary workers to government departments. Suppliers with experience in public sector recruitment, framework management, and robust systems for contract administration, social value delivery, and ethical employment standards will be well-placed to compete. Given the contract’s scale, diversity of roles, and long-term nature, it offers a valuable opportunity for established suppliers looking to expand their footprint in Northern Ireland’s public sector workforce supply chain, as well as for consortiums or joint ventures combining administrative, technical, and professional staffing capabilities.