Soft facilities management framework launched
NHS London Procurement Partnership framework helps deliver quality standards across soft facilities
The NHS London Procurement Partnership (LPP) has launched a Soft Facilities Management framework accessible to healthcare organisations across the country.
While the framework deals with specific NHS requirements, its coverage also makes it a valuable and compliant route to market for other non-health sector organisations.
LPP estates and facilities workstream lead, Robert Anthony, said: “In late 2011 we identified a need for a Soft Facilities Management framework which would access suppliers who could efficiently deliver to NHS-specific quality standards and requirements across a much wider range of soft facilities than was available. When pulling this framework together, for example, we assessed suppliers against NHS standards, such as Health Technical Memoranda.
“The result is a framework which provides access to 26 small, medium and large providers, allowing users from across the UK public sector to procure, both, multi-function managed service contracts, as well as individual service, lower-value contracts.”
The framework contains five lots and will run from 2 April 2013 until 1 April 2018, with the option to extend the framework for a further two years in 12 month increments.
The five lots are:
- Lot 1: Fully Managed Service
- Lot 2a: General Cleaning
- Lot 2b: Window Cleaning
- Lot 2c: Pest Control and Prevention
- Lot 3: Catering
- Lot 4: Linen and Laundry
- Lot 5: Security and Manned Guarding
Lot 1 has a series of ancillary services including front of house and switchboard services, portering, waste management and disposal, and accommodation management.
Anthony said: “We have worked with our members to build in a series of potential benefits for framework users, above and beyond an indicative 10% saving. For example, the managed service option will allow users to bundle a number of services together with a single supplier, benefiting from synergies across services and efficiencies. There is also a VAT benefit to trusts moving from a traditional supply model to a managed service model.”
He added: “As lengthy, and often much extended, existing contracts expire, the framework will provide a simple route for users to receive competitive bids from market leading suppliers. The robust specifications will assist public sector organisations in capturing as many of the service elements they require as core services, eliminating unplanned additional service costs.”
Each framework lot is built around a generic service specification which can be tailored by trusts to their specific requirements and released to bidders through a mini competition.
