The latest national Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) framework for actuarial, benefits and governance consultancy services has gone live, providing funds with a refreshed route to receive pensions support while meeting new governance requirements.

The fourth iteration of the framework has been designed to support LGPS funds in complying with the governance standards set out under the government’s 'Fit for the Future' reforms.

It enables LGPS funds, investment pools and wider public sector bodies to access a range of pre-qualified providers across five specialist service areas.

These include actuarial services, benefits consultancy, governance consultancy, funding risk advisory services, and consultancy support for specialist projects.

The framework is the first national LGPS framework to be established under the Procurement Act 2023 and will run for eight years, expiring in January 2034.

Contracts awarded under the framework can be let for up to 10 years.

The framework has been developed collaboratively by a group of LGPS funds, including the Environment Agency Pension Fund, Essex Pension Fund, Hampshire Pension Fund, Kent Pension Fund, Norfolk Pension Fund and Surrey Pension Fund, with procurement and legal support from Norfolk County Council.

A range of consultancy firms have been appointed across the five lots, giving LGPS stakeholders access to actuarial, governance, funding and specialist advisory expertise through a compliant and standardised procurement process.

The National LGPS Frameworks programme, which has been operating since 2012, is intended to reduce procurement costs and complexity while allowing individual funds to retain flexibility over local service requirements.

According to the framework team, LGPS funds have collectively achieved more than £220m in savings through national frameworks to date.

Framework users benefit from pre-agreed terms and conditions, regulatory compliance and access to value-for-money services from qualified providers, helping funds streamline procurement while supporting effective scheme governance.

The latest framework follows the government’s proposed reforms to LGPS following the ‘Fit for the Future’ technical consultation.

Launched in November 2024, the consultation sought views on proposals to increase the scheme's investment potential through greater consolidation, governance, and local investment.

The government published its responses in May 2025.

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