If there is one question I get asked several times a day, it is this:
“I run an off-framework agency and I want to supply healthcare recruitment services to the NHS – how can I do this?”
The answer is pretty short and sweet – technically you need to be an approved supplier on the relevant framework. These frameworks are usually awarded for 2 years with up to two 12 month extensions. If your timing isn’t good and the frameworks have recently been retendered, you will have a long wait as you can’t get onto a framework mid-term. Running these procurement exercises is incredibly expensive and time consuming, so whilst there are break clauses after 2 years and then annually thereafter, these contracts will usually run for the full 4 year duration.
NHS Healthcare Recruitment Frameworks
Brunton Bid Writing has collated a list of the main NHS frameworks for agency workers, UK permanent and international permanent recruitment and this can be downloaded free of charge HERE.
The frameworks run by HealthTrust Europe, CCS and Workforce Alliance technically cover the whole UK, however Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland run their own and you will find that hospitals in these countries will usually use the local country frameworks.
So if you’re not on a framework, what can you do to supply the NHS?
- Supplying the healthcare recruitment services to the NHS off-framework. This is not easy as technically these NHS frameworks are mandated, meaning that the hospitals can only purchase from an off-framework supplier if they cannot source the staff they need from the framework agencies. If you call Trusts directly, you will almost certainly be asked if you are on one of the relevant frameworks and if the answer is no, they are unlikely to take your enquiry any further. There are, however, off-framework agencies who supply to the NHS, so this is not impossible if you build trusted relationships and are in the right place at the right time. The only way to do this is via traditional business development, networking and relationship building.
- Subcontracting. Some of these contracts do not allow subcontracting at all, others only allow it if the subcontractor has been approved by the Framework (HTE) or if the service is being delivered via an approved Master Vendor or Vendor Neutral supplier. To become a subcontractor, you will need to build a relationship with a framework-approved agency and enter into a contractual agreement with them (usually with approval of the Framework) that is relevant to the Contracting Authority you are wishing to supply.
- Bidding for ad hoc projects. Some NHS organisations run their own tender process for specific projects. These tend to be high volume international permanent recruitment projects and tenders are advertised via Find a Tender Service (or the in country equivalent such as Contracts Finder, Public Contracts Scotland, Sell2Wales or HSC Northern Ireland). You can find current tenders when they are published by subscribing to a tender notification service (do a Google search for tender notification services and you’ll find loads of them!).
- Focus on the private sector. Many agencies focus on developing business within the private sector rather than trying to supply the NHS off-framework until the relevant contract comes up for tender again. This is a very effective way to build up the track record that you are likely to need when these frameworks do finally come up for tender again (it’s also usually more profitable than the public sector!).
As bid writing specialists, we do not offer business development services, so are unable to assist with finding tenders or providing introductions to NHS authorised suppliers.
