Where can I find Crown Commercial Service (CCS) tender?

A Crown Commercial Service (CCS) tender can be found (free of charge) on the CCS website: 
https://ccs-agreements.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/procurement-pipeline
and on the Tenders Electronic Daily (TED) and Contracts Finder website. 
Read more about how to find tenders for free in our blog post here.

Who do Crown Commercial Service (CCS) buy for?

CCS procure on behalf of the following healthcare government departments: Department of Health & Social Care, NHS Supply Chain, NHS Digital and NHS England, as well as NHS Trusts, CCGs and CSUs. 

Why are CCS tenders competed? ​

The Crown Commercial Service publish their tender opportunities to adhere to EU procurement regulations, as implemented in the UK by the Cabinet Office. The procurement regulations require all public bodies (spending public money) to provide suppliers with an equal opportunity to supply to government in a fair and transparent way, without discrimination. You can read more about procurement legislation here.

Who can use Crown Commercial Service (CCS) framework agreements?

A CCS tender can be used by all public organisations in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to procure common goods and services. The NHS can use any CCS framework where they are named (or collectively named) as a participant in the CCS tender notice or Invitation to Tender (ITT).

The CCS customer base is strongest within government departments who are mandated to use CCS frameworks. The NHS can use any framework agreement with the exception of recruitment frameworks which require NHS Trusts to use an employment agency who is on an NHS Improvement approved framework. 

Do suppliers pay a fee to supply through a Crown Commercial Service (CCS) framework? ​

Yes, CCS, charge suppliers a management fee for winning business under a CCS framework agreement. The fee is calculated monthly as a percentage of the total amount invoiced to the customer, by the supplier.

The percentage charge usually ranges from 0.5% to 1.5% but sometimes it can be higher. Procurement Hubs also charge a management fee to suppliers winning business under their frameworks, this is often called an Activity Based Income (ABI) charge and ranges from 1% - 3% but on occasion this can also be higher.

What about procurement and tenders in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland?

The Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland government departments
have their own government procurement organisations who publish government tenders on their behalf: NHS Wales Shared Service Partnership, the Scottish Government and the Central Procurement Directorate in Northern Ireland.

Why is there more than one government framework agreement?

Multiple frameworks provide choice and prevent a monopoly situation. For popular government frameworks, such as recruitment and temporary staffing, there were 7 NHS Improvement, approved framework agreements for the NHS in England to access agency workers from. Each framework contains a similar list of suppliers and pricing is capped by NHS Improvement. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own recruitment agency agreements. 

Which Crown Commercial Service (CCS) tenders will be advertised in 2019?

A list of Crown Commercial Service tenders and Crown Commercial Service framework agreements to be published in  2019 by the Crown Commercial Service is provided below:

Human Resources (HR), Temporary Staffing, Recruitment Agency and Workforce Management Tenders 

CCS Tender Flexible Resource Pool – Staff Bank (RM6158)
CCS Tender Health Sector Resourcing Framework 
CCS Tender Workforce Framework
CCS Tender Temporary Staffing Framework
CCS Tender Medical Locums Framework
CCS Tender Nursing Framework 
CCS Tender Allied Health Professionals Framework
CCS Tender Permanent Recruitment Framework
CCS Tender Executive Search Dynamic Purchasing System Framework 
CCS Tender Supply Teachers Framework
CCS Tender Payroll, HR and Finance Framework
CCS Tender Employee Benefits  
​CCS Tender Apprenticeships Training Marketplace

Professional Services Tender ​

CCS Tender Legal Services
CCS Management Consultancy 2
​CCS Tender Financial Analysis and Monitoring Services Framework 
CCS Tender Leasing Finance and Advisory Services Framework

Business Services Tender 

CCS Tender Research Marketplace ​
​CCS Tender National Fraud Initiative - Data Matching Services
​CCS Tender Payment Solutions Framework
​CCS Tender Payment Acceptance 
CCS Tender Office Supplies
​CCS Tender Self Service Print Platform Framework 
CCS Tender Postal Goods Services and Solutions ​​
​CCS Tender GovPrint Project
​CCS Tender Insurance Framework
CCS Tender Government Mobile (RM62112)

Schools and Education Tenders

CCS Tender Awarding Organisations
CCS Tender Education Technology Framework

Marketing, Media & Creative Tenders 

CCS Tender Media Buying Framework
CCS Tender Media Monitoring and Related Services ​
​CCS Tender UKGI PR Agency RM6015 Framework

Transport Tenders

​CCS Tender Public Sector Passenger Transport Services DPS (Taxis & Coaches)
​CCS Tender Public Sector Vehicle Hire Solutions
CCS Tender Vehicle Lease and Fleet Management Framework ​

IT & Technology Tenders

CCS Tender Technology Products 3 Framework ​

Construction & Works Tenders ​

CCS Tender Construction Works Contractors Framework 
CCS Tender Workplace Services (FM Marketplace Phase 2) Framework
CCS Tender Workplace Services Soft Facilities Management 
CCS Tender Construction Products, Consumables and Materials Framework
​CCS Tender Supply, delivery and installation of furniture and associated services (RM6119)
CCS Tender Smart Cities - Transport Technology Infrastructure (RM6099) 
​CCS Tender Waste services (RM6150)
​CCS Tender Catering Food Procurement (RM6131)

How can I increase my chances of winning a Crown Commercial Service (CCS) tender?

​Naomi Clews Consultancy is a boutique NHS procurement, bid and tender writing company, based in the cathedral city of Lichfield, 17 miles north of Birmingham UK. We provide professional tender writing services, for businesses and non profit organisations who want to bid for NHS and healthcare tenders, read more about our healthcare tender writing services here. 

Discuss your tender writing requirements with a member of our friendly healthcare team today. We provide a FREE no obligation 30 minute telephone consultation call 01543 308498 or request a call back (UK only).