National Framework for the Provision of Clinical and Healthcare Staffing

Temporary recruitment of clinical and healthcare staff for all job roles and bands across the UK, approved by NHS England.

Updates

15/11/2024: We are currently experiencing technical issues, which affect the supplier volumes and contact information relating to this framework. Whilst we work to resolve this issue, please contact info@crowncommercial.gov.uk for accurate supplier listings and information.

Description

This replaces the previous RM6161 agreement which expired on 11 October 2024 and is a part of the NHS Workforce Alliance portfolio.

This agreement is available to all public sector bodies across the UK and gives you access to temporary and fixed-term workers across all clinical and healthcare roles including:

  • nursing and midwifery
  • medical and dental
  • allied health professionals
  • health science services
  • emergency services
  • social care

Benefits

  • a compliant way of sourcing staff for a wide range of clinical roles
  • free to access by all NHS contracting authorities and any public sector contracting body in the UK​
  • offers flexibility to incorporate service elements that meet your individual local and regional needs
  • suppliers are actively managed and audited regularly to ensure full compliance with NHS employment check standards

Carbon Reduction

All suppliers for this agreement have committed to comply with the Procurement Policy Note 06/21: 'Taking account of Carbon Reduction Plans in the procurement of major government contracts' as required. If a supplier is required to publish a carbon reduction plan, you can find it on their individual supplier details page.

Products and suppliers

There are 366 suppliers on this agreement

Lot 1: Nursing and Midwifery

Expires:

300 suppliers

Lot 2: Medical Staffing

Expires:

90 suppliers

Lot 3: AHP, HSS and Emergency

Expires:

116 suppliers

Lot 4: Social Care Staffing

Expires:

179 suppliers

Lot 5a: Vendor and Managed Service - Master Vendor

Expires:

27 suppliers

Lot 5b: Vendor and Managed Service - Neutral Vendor

Expires:

16 suppliers

How to buy

The framework can be accessed by both further competition and direct award.

Further Competition

To award a call-off contract under the framework through a further competition you should:

  • identify the lot which applies to your requirements
  • develop a statement of requirements identifying the framework suppliers capable of providing the services
  • amend or refine the template order form and call-off and joint schedules to reflect the services you need (include these in the invitation to tender pack, along with the award criteria and further competition process)
  • award to the supplier that offers the best value for money based on the criteria you set

For more detailed information on running a further competition, please refer to Framework schedule 7: call-off award procedure.

All customers may run their further competition using our eTendering portal or any other suitable portal. We can offer support in using our eTendering portal.

Direct award

To direct award under the framework without holding a further competition you should:

  • develop a statement of requirements and determine whether this can be met by the supplier(s)
  • determine that all of the terms of the framework and the call-off terms do not require amendment or any supplementary terms and conditions
  • award using the short form call-off contract with the framework supplier that offers the most value for money

More information on making a direct award can be found within Framework schedule 7: call-off award procedure.