As new Crown Commercial Services (CCS) frameworks are on the horizon, there are numerous opportunities for companies to secure public sector contracts.
What is the Management Consultancy Framework 4?
Management Consultancy Framework 4 (MCF4) is a pan-government collaborative agreement facilitated by the Crown Commercial Service for the provision of management consultancy services. It provides access to a range of specialisms including business, strategy, policy, infrastructure, procurement and health and social care.
Essentially, the framework is the fourth iteration and provides the public sector with access to a variety of cost-effective consultancy advice from a range of vetted suppliers. MCF4 can be utilised by central government departments and all other UK public sector bodies, including local authorities, health, police, fire and rescue, education, charities, third sector, housing associations and devolved administrations.
What are the benefits for the public sector?
Some of the key features identified by the Crown Commercial Service are:
- a wide range of suppliers from small to medium-sized enterprises to large multinationals
- all suppliers are Cyber Essentials accredited
- standard terms and conditions
- comprehensive customer guidance and templates
- a choice of pricing models including time and materials, fixed, or risk and reward
- a dedicated and knowledgeable contract management team.
What are the benefits for suppliers?
- Increased visibility to the public sector
- More efficient and streamlined procurement processes
- Standard terms and conditions, and comprehensive customer guidance and templates
- A variety of pricing strategies.
Proposed lot structure and number of suppliers
The framework total value is worth an estimated £5.7 billion. The services are divided into ten lots:
- Lot 1: Business
- Lot 2: Strategy and policy
- Lot 3: Complex and transformation
- Lot 4: Finance
- Lot 5: HR
- Lot 6: Procurement and supply chain
- Lot 7: Health, social care and local community
- Lot 8: Infrastructure
- Lot 9: Environmental and sustainability
- Lot 10: Restructuring and insolvency
What are the mandatory service requirements?
All suppliers will need to have:
- a current and valid Cyber Essentials certificate, ensuring robust cybersecurity measures are in place
- a carbon reduction plan which includes a net zero commitment
- certificates of technical and professional ability (COTPA)
- financial viability risk assessment (gold)
- prompt payment
- insurances
- a modern slavery statement.
CCS requires suppliers to demonstrate they are committed to social value throughout the lifetime of the contract, reporting annually from the framework start date. Suppliers are to also asked to consider the following social value policy themes as a minimum:
- COVID-19 recovery
- tackling economic inequality
- fighting climate change
- equal opportunity
- wellbeing
What does the timeline look like?
The first round of the customer engagement event was held in September and October 2023. Slides from the event are available on the Crown Commercial Service platform. In February 2024, the second round of customer engagement included an indicative timeline, lot and service line proposals and evaluation criteria drafts.
