Vertical Markets

NHS facilities framework

by Mark Rowe

A part Department of Health owned joint venture, aiming to save the NHS £1 billion in efficiencies by 2020, has launched a new procurement framework. Organisers say it’s designed to save the NHS, local government and the wider public sector millions of pounds on everything from security to catering.

NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS), which has already helped the NHS deliver £350m of savings, said its new facilities management framework is the first to offer such a range of services needed by the NHS and other public sector bodies, from national suppliers and small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs).

The framework has been developed in consultation with NHS SBS’ hundreds of customers in the NHS and public sector, for a complete set of requirements to be matched.

It is estimated by the SBS that efficiencies in security services alone could conservatively save both the NHS and local government £6m a year. Given the breadth of services on offer and the volume of NHS and public sector buyers that are being given access to the framework, total savings for the taxpayer could be much higher.

Peter Akid, Director of Procurement at NHS Shared Business Services said: “This framework is a real opportunity for the NHS and other organisations across the public sector to harness their buying power and to start realising considerable savings on widely used services immediately. Fully compliant with European procurement laws and offering virtually every service required in NHS and public sector estates, the facilities management framework really is a one stop shop for the public sector. It means procurement teams will no longer need to manage multiple frameworks or embark on costly and time-consuming local tendering.”

NHS SBS has ensured that the framework is OJEU complaint, saving time and money in procurement processes for buyers. A typical OJEU procurement can take up to nine months, at a cost of up to £90,000 per procurement, but through the framework, this can be avoided. At the same time, mini-competitions can also be run off the back of the framework, to allow any bespoke requirements to be met.

Suppliers are also being encouraged to continue to offer new products and services through the framework, which offers protection to buyers with terms and conditions, and with fixed prices for a minimum of two years.

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