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NHS England launches procurement process to accredit the best commissioning support suppliers

NHS England is today launching the start of the process to create a unique  framework agreement for commissioning support services. The lead provider framework will allow Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG’s), NHS England and others to buy some or all of their commissioning support needs, ranging from non-frontline support services to bespoke services that support local and large scale service design change projects. This is essential to enable commissioners to secure the best outcomes for patients and value for taxpayers.

The framework has been developed to answer calls from local clinical commissioners who have asked for a simpler and less costly process for securing the support they need. The framework will be available to other organisations, both within and outside the NHS, who want to procure some or all of their health and social care commissioning support services from the best quality providers.  .

It will be the only framework that provides the full range of health and social care support services in a fast, simple and cost effective manner and over the next four years, it is anticipated that between £3-5bn of services will be procured through it.

NHS England is inviting bids from any organisation or group of organisations that can deliver the services in scope, including NHS bodies, local authorities, private sector  and voluntary sector suppliers.

In March, NHS England will also be launching a separate niche and specialist supplier list for commissioners to find out more about the services that small to medium enterprises and voluntary sector organisations provide. These organisations offer deep subject matter expertise which will support commissioners to secure the very best outcomes for specific patient conditions.

Bob Ricketts Director of Commissioning Support Services Strategy & Market Development for NHS England said:

“By creating this framework we can ensure that local health service commissioners have access to suppliers who have a solid track record and are able meet high quality criteria and specified minimum standards.

“The framework will also cut a typical procurement process from nine months to three months and reduce costs by more than half. Local commissioners have been asking for a faster, simplified approach to choosing and changing their commissioning support provider and I’m pleased that today we are launching the first steps of the process to accredit the best providers in the market.”

To download a pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ) for the lead provider framework, please register here on the NHS Business Services Authority eTendering Service website.