Provision of Workforce and Associated Services
The appointed Neutral Vendor will be responsible for the sourcing, and fulfilment of temporary clinical staffing requirements, acting as an intermediary between the Trust and a diverse range of approved staffing agencies. The service will support the Trust in maintaining safe staffing levels, ensuring continuity of care, and delivering value for money.
The scope of services includes, but is not limited to:
Provision of temporary clinical staff across a range of disciplines and grades.
Management of a compliant and high-quality agency supply chain.
Implementation of robust governance, assurance, and framework compliance measures (e.g. monitoring of agency compliance, right to work, mandatory training and professional registration).
Delivery of real-time workforce management, booking, and reporting systems.
The Provider should provide a system that ensures software functionality, a system portal, provision of direct and non-direct engagement staff costing data.
The Software must have Electronic Communication Functionality with other Software within the Trust.
The Neutral Vendor will be expected to work collaboratively with the Trust to:
Ensure compliance with NHS workforce regulations and relevant frameworks (NHS Workforce Alliance).
Reduce off-framework agency usage and mitigate associated risks.
Deliver measurable efficiencies and demonstrate continuous improvement.
Maintain high levels of service performance against agreed KPIs and service levels.
The service will operate across all NCIC sites, with flexibility to accommodate future service changes, expansion, or rationalisation in line with organisational and system-wide requirements.
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust (the “Authority”) intends to procure the provision of Temporary Clinical Workforce services to support the delivery of safe, effective and responsive healthcare services across its sites.
The procurement is conducted in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015) via Crown Commercial Service Framework RM6281 – Workforce Alliance Clinical and Healthcare Staffing.
Call-offs under the Framework Agreement will be undertaken via mini-competition, in accordance with the terms of RM6281 and PCR 2015. The framework will be multi-supplier, with suppliers appointed based on their ability to meet the Authority’s requirements in terms of quality, compliance, availability and value for money.
The duration of the framework agreement is 12months, with the option to extend for a 12 month + 12 month period subject to the terms set out within the procurement documentation and framework agreement.
The procurement will be managed electronically via the Authority’s e-procurement portal, and all communications will be conducted in accordance with the provisions of PCR 2015 and the framework rules.
