Executive & Non-Executive Search 3
Framework Description
Executive & Non-Executive Search 3 (RM6394) is a framework, closed to new applications, from the Government Commercial Agency (GCA, formerly Crown Commercial Service), let under the Procurement Act 2023. It replaces RM6290 and covers senior recruitment across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The agreement started on 3 August 2026 and ends on 2 August 2029, with an option to extend by 12 months to 2 August 2030.
Context & Use Case
Public sector organisations use RM6394 to fill senior permanent, fixed-term and inward secondment roles, from Grade 6 up to SCS4 or equivalent, as well as board and public appointments. Services are modular, so a buyer can buy only candidate attraction or a full campaign through to appointment. Appointed firms compete for call-offs within the relevant lot.
Scope of Services
Lot 1: Executive search for Grade 6, SCS1 and SCS2 roles (and equivalents) Lot 2: Executive search for SCS3 and SCS4 roles (and equivalents) Lot 3: Non-executive and public appointments Across lots: candidate attraction, assessment, offer and appointment Talent mapping, market mapping, psychometrics and international search
Lots
Lot 1: Executive Search - Grade 6, SCS1 & SCS2 (and equivalents); Lot 2: Executive Search - SCS3 & SCS4 (and equivalents); Lot 3: Non-Executive and Public Appointments
Who Can Apply
RM6394 was awarded in 2026 to executive search and board recruitment firms, and its membership is now fixed. Search firms that missed this round cannot join until it is re-procured, which is likely around August 2029, or August 2030 if the extension is used.
Buyer Benefits
Senior roles are costly to leave empty and costly to fill twice. Buyers value specialist search firms that reach passive candidates, produce diverse shortlists and raise fill rates for hard-to-recruit leadership posts. The modular service model means buyers do not pay for stages they can run in-house, and UK-wide coverage suits devolved bodies.
Next Steps
Appointed firms should get to know the RM6394 call-off rules on the GCA page and build a library of senior public sector placements for competition responses. Firms not appointed should sign up for GCA updates and track the end date of 2 August 2029, plus the possible 12-month extension, to time their preparation for the next iteration.
How Athena Can Help
Athena helps search firms on RM6394 turn call-off invitations into placements. We shape win themes around your candidate networks and diversity of shortlists, model your likely score against rival firms and set fee structures that win and still pay. That is the core of our mini-competition bid support.
Firms outside the framework can use the years before re-procurement well: our framework pipeline planning lines up the right recruitment frameworks, and our bid consultancy for public tenders prepares the evidence a successor bid will need.
