This procurement process follows the announcement last December of the findings of an internal BBC review which proposed that a number of services should be outsourced. This was one of the measures identified to help provide extra resources to reinvest into programmes, and part of the BBC's radical plans to transform the organisation into a simpler, more agile and creative digital broadcaster.

BBC People director Stephen Dando said, "This is a progressive step for us. I am confident that we will be able to find a long-term partner that can not only help us continue to deliver outstanding quality of service back to the BBC, but also help us to develop and improve that service. I want to make it clear that staff issues and achieving the right cultural fit will be an important part of this deal."

The BBC is now looking for a supplier or suppliers to several functions. one of these is recruitment. This involves a full recruitment process including attracting and selecting candidates, offers, recruitment marketing (including events and work experience) and contract administration. Another area that an HR service provider will look at is remuneration. This will include pay administration and transaction, benefits administration (excluding pensions), pay and benefits enquiry management.

Then there is the Development area - specifically a 360 degree assessment and feedback, outplacement, training and development for broadcast engineering skills, technical services support. HR administration services will involve HR process administration, provision of HR information, guidance on HR processes and routing of other enquiries.

The BBC sattes that it prefers to award one contract for all of the services. However the BBC will award more than one contract where it is deemed commercially advantageous to do so, or where this is necessary to achieve the required service standards. Potential bidders have 36 days to reply and the pubcaster will then conduct a rigorous evaluation process in order to compile a shortlist of bidders.