NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) has recently released the third-generation of its Construction Consultancy framework agreement, ‘Healthcare Planning, Construction Consultancy & Ancillary Services (HPCCAS).
The Healthcare Planning, Construction Consultancy & Ancillary Services (HPCCAS) framework agreement offers the NHS and other public sector organisations the opportunity to procure construction-related services, such as architecture, civil and structural engineering and surveying.
The framework will run from 14 August 2023 until 13 August 2027.
Repair backlog
It has been estimated by NHS Digital that the cost to eradicate the backlog of repairs and maintenance of the hospital estate is around £10.2bn, which is more than double the £4.7bn in 2011/12.
The NHS in England has around 1,500 buildings and if these are not regularly renovated, the safety and wellbeing of patients, staff and visitors could be at risk – as we know with the current ongoing RAAC situation.
According to recent figures, there are 42 hospital sites with confirmed RAAC and many are being held up with temporary supports. Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn was built in 1980 and 79 per cent of its hospital buildings have RAAC.
New Hospital Programme
The New Hospital Programme commits to build 40 new hospitals by 2030. This promise is backed by £20 billion of investment into hospital infrastructure.
As part of the hospital 2.0 concept, NHS Hospital Trusts will work with a central programme team, as well as local and regional stakeholders, to design and deliver green, energy-efficient buildings, using state-of-the-art technology to improve the health of the local population.
The concept sets out how to deliver hospital schemes with greater efficiency and reduced cost.
Framework
The new framework offers a comprehensive, convenient and compliant route for NHS and other public sector organisations to purchase services from 179 vetted suppliers operating in the construction space.
The framework is free to use and includes 11 service types.
The 11 services include: architectural services; project management; civil & structural engineering; quantity surveyor; mechanical, electrical and public health (MEP) services; principal designer services; multidisciplinary services; building surveyors; healthcare planning; net zero, environmental consultancy & sustainability; and ancillary services.
The net zero, environmental consultancy & sustainability lot is specifically included to support users achieve cost-effective carbon footprint reduction. The NHS is the UK’s largest employer and is responsible for around 4 per cent of the country’s carbon emissions. The health service has committed to net zero by 2040 and 2045 for those emissions it can influence. Healthcare buildings and construction is one area where significant savings can be made when it comes to emissions.
The Healthcare Planning lot includes all elements of Healthcare Planning and strategy such as developing models of care, demand & capacity modelling, business case development, population health needs assessment, and strategic estates planning.
Melissa King, NHS SBS senior category manager – construction & infrastructure, commented: “To achieve the level of investment and regeneration required across the NHS and public sector, customers need a compliant, secure and trusted route that helps them navigate construction consultancy services through to procurement.
“To cater for regionalised procurement, 78 per cent of the suppliers appointed are small to medium sized enterprises, sitting alongside larger multi-disciplinary (tier 1) suppliers.
“Previous iterations of the framework agreement have achieved 10-15 per cent savings. With £1.6bn expected spend via it over the next four years, the HPCCAS framework agreement has the potential to achieve public sector savings of up £240m.”
The HPCCAS framework offers a convenient and compliant route for NHS and other public sector organisations to procure construction-related services, such as architecture, civil and structural engineering and surveying, while saving time and money.
For more information about the NHS SBS team at sbs.hello.net.
