Provision of BACs Processing System

Description

The Council is exploring the market for BACS‑approved, cloud‑based solutions and is seeking feedback on how suppliers can support The Council is seeking a BACS‑approved, cloud‑based (SaaS) BACS payment and Direct Debit processing solution to support its high‑volume, mission‑critical payment operations. The solution must enable secure access to BACS for both inbound and outbound transactions, including the receipt of payments via BACS Direct Credits, payroll processing, outbound supplier and beneficiary payments, and Direct Debit collections. The BACS system must be implemented and operational by 17 July 2027. The following describes the Council’s current assumptions and initial view of its needs. Suppliers are encouraged to challenge these assumptions and propose alternative approaches where appropriate. We are interested in understanding how supplier solutions support: The solution should support: Core Capabilities All standard BACs payment types, including payroll, payments (Direct Credits), and Direct Debits Submission of AUDDIS files Sterling payments to and from UK bank accounts 24/7 browser-based access, allowing multiple authorised users to operate concurrently Reporting and audit access, including historical transaction and user activity data Processing of Payments for 10 independent business areas/External Systems Scalability and configurable Security and Risk Management Key security and control features to include: Multi-factor authentication, including options for smartcard-based (allowing digital signing of payment files), and/or smartcard‑free access Granular user permissions and authorisation levels, supporting segregation of duties Confirmation of Payee and payer name verification, to reduce misdirected payments and fraud risk Validation of bank account numbers, sort codes and payment dates, including bank holiday awareness These controls must be designed to support compliance, reduce failed payments and minimise operational risk. Operational Flexibility and Automation As part of an ongoing review of how we work, we would like the potential to: Automate Direct Debit processing Manage Direct Debit mandates, schedules, and transaction types electronically Configure payment approval workflows aligned with organisational governance requirements This flexibility would support the continued use of manual processing where required, while providing the option to progress towards increased automation over time, informed by the outcomes of the review. Architecture and Deployment Delivered as a Software as a Service (SaaS) solution Accessible from standard web browsers, preferably Microsoft Edge Support multi‑bank operation, enabling bank‑agnostic payment processing and future flexibility Availability and Reliability High system availability to ensure consistent access for users Reliable end‑to‑end performance across submission, validation, and payment management Support and Implementation Configuration and implementation support User training (on‑site or remote) Documentation, user guides and helpdesk support The high-level requirements set out above are not exhaustive. Please include any additional information you consider relevant or beneficial.

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