Payment Solutions 3

Enables UK government and wider public sector customers to buy goods and services using Commercial Cards. Customers can also disburse money through prepaid cards, vouchers and via cash out mechanisms; which could be used to support vulnerable citizens, grants recipients or other urgent needs and requirements. 

Agreement number: RM6383

Start date: 01/10/2026

End date: 30/09/2030

Regulation: PA2023

Agreement type: Closed Framework

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

Contents

At a glance

Description

RM6383 Payment Solutions 3 provides UK government and wider public sector customers with Commercial Cards, Prepaid Cards, Vouchers and Cash Disbursals. 

Commercial Cards can be used to pay for common goods and services, including travel. Prepaid Cards, Vouchers and Cash Disbursals can be used to disburse funds to those who do not have other means of accessing money, such as those in hardship, grant recipients or other urgent needs. 

The solution can provide an online management information system. This will enable the management of purchases and fund dispersal payments effectively and in real time. 

RM6383 replaces RM6248 Payment Solutions 2. It is a closed framework let under the Procurement Act 2023. The agreement will be for an initial term of 4 years.

Suppliers offer both off-the-shelf and bespoke solutions to fit your needs. To access bespoke solutions you will need to run an Award With Competition process. 

Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation

We have ensured that all suppliers on RM6383 hold a Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation. You can ask for a list of all required accreditations by emailing the team.

We will continue to monitor supplier compliance in this area and update our records accordingly. You must always ensure that suppliers meet your requirements before entering into a call-off agreement with them.

Benefits

  • choice of supplier: access a wide range of suppliers who can offer both off-the-shelf and bespoke solutions
  • assured supplier standards: suppliers on this agreement meet the appropriate standards to provide payment solutions
  • receive an annual rebate: Lot 1 customers receive an annual retrospective rebate based on their spend
  • supports government prompt payment policies: Lot 1 suppliers are guaranteed to pay within 3 working days
  • management information insights: understand your behaviours and support future contract negotiations
  • spend control: lot 1 and 2 customers can control spending by setting monthly or single transaction limits
  • suppliers are Cyber Essentials Plus accredited and meet the required security standards

Carbon Reduction

All suppliers have committed to comply with Procurement Policy Note 006, '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.

When you can't use this agreement

How to buy

Before using this agreement, read the buyer guide. The buyer guide will help you understand how the agreement works. You can download the buyer guide from the documents section on this page.

You can access this agreement through two routes:

  • award without competition (previously referred to as direct award)
  • award with competition (previously referred to as further competition)

An award without competition (AWOC) should be considered if your requirement is simple. It uses the pre-agreed framework pricing to allow you to purchase services at pre-agreed rates. An award with competition (AWC) should be considered when the requirement is complex, non-standard or has add-on requirements or bespoke elements. As there is no set pricing for AWC, suppliers may offer preferential rates on an AWC process. 

It is for you to decide the most appropriate route to award on this agreement for your requirements. 

Award with competition 

You can use your own internal eSourcing system to run your award with competition or you can use GCA’s eSourcing portal. If this is your first time using the eSourcing portal, you will need to register for an account.

If you have already registered, sign in to your eSourcing account.

Read more guidance on how to use the eSourcing portal.

To run an award with competition you will need to:

  1. Clearly define your needs by developing a statement of requirements.
  2. Document your evaluation model, markings and weightings. 
  3. Conduct a Request for Information (RFI) to gather market information.
  4. Establish conditions of participation at the start of your procurement. This enables you to limit listed suppliers from proceeding to next stages of the competition. It is essential to clearly define and communicate the criteria and threshold for reviewing a supplier’s ability to meet these conditions.
  5. Once you have prepared your documents, you must decide how to distribute them to the suppliers. This can be by post, email or through the eSourcing portal.
  6. You must give bidders enough time to consider their response and allow time for any clarification questions. GCA recommends 8 working days. 
  7. Carefully evaluate each bid submission against the evaluation model you have previously shared and use the scoring identified.
  8. Let suppliers know if they have been successful or unsuccessful.

Award without competition

To award without competition under this agreement, you should:

  1. Clearly define your needs by developing a statement of requirements.
  2. Assess your needs against the supplier’s responses to both coverage and price. You can request pricing information and detailed award without competition guidance by emailing info@gca.gov.uk. Supplier pricing information is shared anonymously, to help you make an unbiased and transparent evaluation.
  3. Establish your award criteria using framework schedule 7: call-off award procedure.
  4. Evaluate each supplier’s responses to ensure that they are capable of meeting your needs.
  5. Once chosen, email info@gca.gov.uk to request the name of your chosen supplier.
  6. Once you have you own internal approval, award the contract. Do this by signing the order form (framework schedule 6) or the short order form (framework schedule 6a) and sending it to the chosen supplier.

Agreement pricing

You can get pricing information by sending an email to info@gca.gov.uk and quoting RM6383 in the subject line.

The prices given do not include VAT. The prices for each good and service are the maximum price suppliers can ask for. 

Products and suppliers

Lot 1 Commercial Cards
Use this lot to purchase Commercial Cards, which operate similarly to credit cards. Commercial Cards can be used to pay for goods and services immediately, supporting prompt payment initiatives. Cards can be physical and virtual and can be embedded into ERPs and back office systems to reduce time and resource on traditional back office processes. Controls can be placed on the cards using Merchant Category Codes (MCCs) to block the purchase of specified items. Customers receive an annual retrospective rebate based upon their card spend. The rebate is based on how quickly you clear the balance.

Expires: 30/09/2030

5 suppliers

Lot 2 Prepaid Cards
Use this lot to purchase prepaid cards. Prepaid cards are an alternative to cash. They allow for a set amount to be loaded onto the card. Controls can be placed on the card. For example, certain transactions can be blocked or only certain uses can be allowed. This might include ATM withdrawals only or Point of Sale transactions.

Expires: 30/09/2030

5 suppliers

Lot 3 Vouchers
Use this lot to purchase closed loop vouchers, cash out vouchers and other optional voucher types. Closed Loop vouchers can be redeemed at a predetermined retailer or group of retailers. Cash out (or ‘Access to Cash Disbursals’) Vouchers can be exchanged for cash or used to buy specified products. Closed loop vouchers mean the retailer that issues the voucher will redeem the voucher. They are also known as giftcards. Optional ‘open’ loop vouchers could include multiple retailer options against certain merchant categories, such as energy vouchers. 

Expires: 30/09/2030

7 suppliers

Documents

Each section below has the links to the documents, what they are for, when to use them and if you need to enter any information into them.

You might not need all the contractual documents to buy the products or services from this agreement.

Buyer guides

Before buying from this agreement you should read the buyer guide and how to use contractual documents.

The buyer guide will help you understand how the agreement works and what you can or can’t use the agreement for.

This section might also include further guides or lists you will need to look at and make selections from, as well as previous webinar slides and Q&A scripts from sessions with buyers and suppliers.

RM6383 Buyer guide v1.1

 

Core terms and conditions

The core terms form part of the framework and call-off contracts and must be used on every contract. They cannot be changed.

The core terms are GCA’s standard commercial terms. They govern the supplier’s relationship with GCA and every customer who has a call-off contract.

RM6383 General terms v1.1

Joint schedules

Joint schedule 1: definitions Essential

Read only

This is a glossary that clarifies the exact meaning of the words used throughout the contract.

Joint schedule 2: variation form Optional

If you use this document, you must complete the relevant sections

This is the official form you must use to change any part of the contract once it has started.

Joint schedule 3: insurance requirements Essential

Read only

This schedule lists out the insurance policies the supplier must have to cover the cost of accidents or mistakes.

Joint schedule 4: commercially sensitive information Essential

Read only

This schedule lists the specific sensitive information that both buyer and supplier agree to keep private.

Joint schedule 5: sustainability Essential

Read only

This schedule clarifies how the contract will protect the environment and support fair working conditions.

Joint schedule 6: key subcontractors Optional

If you use this document, you must complete the relevant sections

This schedule lists any other companies the supplier hires to help them do the work.

Joint schedule 7: financial difficulties Optional

If you use this document, you must complete the relevant sections

This schedule clarifies what happens if the supplier has serious money problems.

Joint schedule 8: guarantee Optional

If you use this document, you must complete the relevant sections

This is a legal promise from a larger company to finish the work if the supplier fails.

Joint schedule 9: rectification plan Essential

You must complete the relevant sections in this document

This is a step-by-step plan for the supplier to fix a problem if their work is not good enough.

Joint schedule 10: processing data Essential

You must complete the relevant sections in this document

This schedule provides the strict rules for handling personal information and following data protection laws (UK GDPR).

Call-off schedules

Call-off schedules are used when suppliers sell their goods or services to customers.

You can choose which schedules to include and whether to edit these template schedules when they form a call-off contract.

Call-off schedule 1: intellectual property rights Essential

Read only

This schedule clarifies who owns and is allowed to use the work, ideas, and data created during the contract.

Call-off schedule 2: staff transfer Essential

You must complete the relevant sections in this document

This schedule clarifies the rules and costs if staff move to a new employer when a contract starts or ends.

Call-off schedule 3: continuous improvement Essential

Read only

This schedule provides a way for the supplier to improve their service and lower costs over time.

Call-off schedule 4: call-off tender Optional

If you use this document, you must complete the relevant sections

This schedule lists out the specific promises, solutions, and prices the supplier offered when they bid for the work.

Call-off schedule 5: pricing details Optional

If you use this document, you must complete the relevant sections

This schedule clarifies the prices the supplier will charge and how the buyer will pay them.

Call-off schedule 6: ICT services Optional

Read only

This schedule clarifies the technical rules for providing IT, software, and computer services.

Call-off schedule 7: key supplier staff Optional

Read only

This schedule lists out the specific people the supplier must use to do the work.

Call-off schedule 8: business continuity and disaster recovery Optional

Read only

This schedule clarifies the plan for keeping services running if something goes wrong, like a power cut or a hack.

Call-off schedule 9a: security short form Optional

If you use this document, you must complete the relevant sections

This form enlists the security rules needed to protect data, buildings, and people. Use this for low-risk projects that only need basic security.

Call-off schedule 9b: security consultancy Optional

If you use this document, you must complete the relevant sections

This schedule explains the rules for hiring security experts to provide advice for your project.

Call-off schedule 9c: security development Optional

If you use this document, you must complete the relevant sections

This schedule provides the rules for building safe and secure software or systems.

Call-off schedule 9d: security supplier - led assurance Optional

If you use this document, you must complete the relevant sections

This schedule clarifies how the supplier will prove they are following all the security rules.

Call-off schedule 9e: security buyer-led assurance Optional

If you use this document, you must complete the relevant sections

This schedule explains how the buyer will check the supplier’s security systems themselves.

Call-off schedule 10: exit management Optional

If you use this document, you must complete the relevant sections

This schedule lists out the plan for handing over the work when the contract ends.

Call-off schedule 11: installation works Optional

Read only

This schedule provides the rules for fixing or building equipment at the buyer’s site.

Call-off schedule 12: clustering Optional

If you use this document, you must complete the relevant sections

This schedule clarifies how different buyers can group together to buy things as one team.

Call-off schedule 13: implementation plan and testing Optional

If you use this document, you must complete the relevant sections

This schedule lists out the timeline for the project and how you will prove the work is finished.

Call-off schedule 14: performance levels Optional

If you use this document, you must complete the relevant sections

This schedule clarifies the quality standards (KPIs) the supplier must meet every day.

Call-off schedule 15: call-off contract management Optional

If you use this document, you must complete the relevant sections

This schedule provides the rules for how the buyer and supplier will talk and solve problems.

Call-off schedule 16: benchmarking Optional

Read only

This schedule provides a way to check if the supplier’s prices are still fair compared to the rest of the market.

Call-off schedule 17: MOD terms Optional

If you use this document, you must complete the relevant sections

This schedule clarifies the extra legal and security rules for Ministry of Defence (MOD) contracts

Call-off schedule 18: background checks Optional

If you use this document, you must complete the relevant sections

This schedule lists out the security and criminal record checks staff must pass before they can start work.

Call-off schedule 19: Scottish law Optional

If you use this document, you must complete the relevant sections

This schedule clarifies that the contract will follow the laws of Scotland rather than England and Wales.

Call-off schedule 20: specification Optional

If you use this document, you must complete the relevant sections

This schedule provides a detailed list of exactly what the buyer wants to buy.

Call-off schedule 21: Northern Ireland law Optional

Read only

This schedule clarifies the specific laws and tax rules that apply to work in Northern Ireland.

Call-off schedule 22: lease terms Optional

If you use this document, you must complete the relevant sections

This schedule makes renting clear and easy. It helps buyers get the latest kit without paying the full cost upfront.

Call-off schedule 23: HMRC terms Optional

Read only

This schedule provides the tax rules that the supplier must follow, including rules on off-payroll working (IR35).

Call-off schedule 24: corporate resolution planning Optional

Read only

This schedule clarifies what happens if a large supplier has serious money problems or goes out of business.

Call-off schedule 25: additional sustainability requirements Essential

You must complete the relevant sections in this document

This schedule lists out the extra “green” rules the supplier must follow to protect the environment.

Call-off schedule 26: carbon reduction Optional

If you use this document, you must complete the relevant sections

This schedule clarifies the supplier’s specific plan to lower their carbon emissions during the contract.

Call-off schedule 27: procuring steel Optional

Read only

This schedule provides the rules for buying steel and reporting where it came from.

Call-off schedule 28: Lot 1 commercial card terms Optional

Read only

This Schedule sets out additional terms that are applicable to Lot 1 of this Call-Off Contract

Call-off schedule 29: agile development additional terms Essential

Read only

This Schedule supplements Joint Schedule 1 (Definitions) and the definitions in Call-Off Schedule 6 (ICT Services)

Framework schedules

Framework schedules are used by GCA to set up the agreement with suppliers.

Framework schedule 1: specification Essential

Read only

This schedule provides a detailed list of all the goods and services available under this agreement.

Framework schedule 2: framework tender Essential

Read only

This schedule lists out the specific promises, solutions, and expertise the supplier offered to join the agreement.

Framework schedule 3: framework prices Essential

Read only

This schedule sets out the pricing mechanisms for each lot of this agreement.

Framework schedule 4: framework management Essential

Read only

This schedule clarifies how GCA and the supplier will work together to keep the agreement running well.

Framework schedule 5: management charges and information Essential

Read only

This schedule clarifies the fees the supplier pays to use the agreement and the data they must share.

Framework schedule 6: order form template and call-off schedules Essential

You must complete the relevant sections in this document

This schedule provides the blank documents you need to create a legal contract with a supplier.

Framework schedule 6a: short order form and call-off schedules Optional

If you use this document, you must complete the relevant sections

This is a shorter, simpler version of the order form for low-risk or low-cost purchases.

Framework schedule 7: call-off award procedure Essential

Read only

This schedule clarifies the legal steps you must follow to choose a supplier from this agreement.

Framework schedule 8: self-audit certificate Essential

Read only

This is a document where the supplier confirms that the sales and price information they gave to the government is correct.

Framework schedule 9: cyber essentials scheme Essential

Read only

This schedule provides the rules for the security certificates the supplier must have to protect against online attacks.