NHS Workforce Alliance Health Workforce Solutions

Gives the NHS and wider public sector access to strategic and bespoke workforce solutions. This includes outsourced staff banks, strategic managed service solutions, temporary and permanent recruitment solutions (domestic and international), workforce management plans and vendor management systems.

Agreement number: RM6380

Start date: 22/01/2026

End date: 21/01/2034

Regulation: PA2023

Agreement type: Open Framework

Available for: NHS central government charities education health local authority blue light (police, fire, ambulance, search and rescue) devolved administrations

Contents

At a glance

Description

RM6380 NHS Workforce Alliance Health Workforce Solutions will  help buyers to secure long-term workforce  solutions aligned to the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan.  

To achieve this successful suppliers will be required to provide  holistic, innovative healthcare resource solutions aligned with the buyer’s strategic and operational targets.

For NHS England buyers, the CPV codes of this agreement do not fall under the Provider Selection Scheme (PSR), therefore PSR does not apply. 

RM6380 NHS Workforce Alliance Health Workforce Solutions replacesRM6278 Managed Staff Banks  and RM6163 Workforce Improvement Services. It contains all of the successful elements of both agreements, while adding improvements to support growth, innovation, technology and ease of use.

 Workforce across all staff groups is within scope, including: 

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

This is an open framework lasting 8 years. It will operate across 3 framework lifecycles:

  1. Framework 1: up to 3 years. 
  2. Framework 2: up to 3 years.
  3. Framework 3: up to 2 years. 

The agreement started on 22 January 2026 and will end on 21 January 2034. 

Benefits

Access to the framework

  • free  use for  all NHS and other public sector bodies. No need for membership as framework fees are collected from suppliers 
  • allows you to award  with and without competition
  • aligned to the NHS England strategy for ICS and regional level collaborations allowing for enhanced strategic solutions
  • enhanced regional working and information sharing 

Framework structure

This framework uses a single lot structure, providing one route to market and a simplified call-off process. 

Available service lines include:

  • managed bank staff
  • managed service solutions 
  • international and domestic permanent recruitment 
  • gainshare models
  • recruit, train, deploy models 
  • statement of work services 

These services support the NHS 10 year health plan and medium-term planning framework.

A wide range of experienced suppliers are available. Suppliers have been assessed for:

  • experience
  • financial stability 
  • delivery capability 

All suppliers have been evaluated using the Sourcing Playbook methodology, including enhanced financial checks. 

Governance and audits

Social value requirements support  the NHS net zero target. 

The NHS Workforce Alliance operates both a  Supplier Relationship Management programme and Strategic Supplier Relationship Management programme to support effective management of suppliers.  

Carbon Reduction

All suppliers must  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, this can be located on their individual supplier details page.

When you can't use this agreement

Any UK public sector body  or Crown dependency can use this agreement. 

You cannot use this agreement if you:

  •  need to supply transactional agency workers in isolation 
  • want to buy a standalone technology system

This agreement is designed for strategic and integrated workforce solutions. 

How to buy

You can award contracts in 2 ways, award without competition and competitive selection. 

Award without competition

You can award directly if:

  • one supplier clearly meets your needs 
  • your requirements are fully covered by the framework specification
  • the supplier offers best value 

Competitive selection 

You should use the competitive selection process if: 

  • you want to adjust the specification 
  • you need additional services or KPIs
  • you want to test the market for best value 

Due to the nature of workforce services, a competitive selection is recommended in most cases. 

Full details of the requirements of the routes to market can be found in the Call-off award procedure.

 

Products and suppliers

Lot 1 NHS Workforce Alliance Health Workforce Solutions
The framework is not sub-divided into lots. Services are designed to be provided as complete workforce solutions. A single supplier may be awarded multiple service lines across the full scope of the framework.

Expires: 21/01/2034

41 suppliers