Healthcare Soft FM
Framework Description
Healthcare Soft FM (RM6331) is a framework, closed to new applications, from the Government Commercial Agency (GCA, formerly Crown Commercial Service) for soft facilities management in healthcare settings. It runs from 20 February 2024 to 19 February 2028 and has 16 lots covering laundry, cleaning, waste, catering and a bundled soft FM option. It is built around NHS requirements, including the national standards of healthcare cleanliness and HTM 07-01 for healthcare waste.
Context & Use Case
NHS acute, community and mental health trusts, ambulance services and other public bodies use RM6331. A trust might buy only clinical waste collection from lot 3a, or several services together through the bundled lot 5. Because the framework is built around NHS cleanliness and HTM 07-01 waste standards, call-off evaluations tend to test compliance with them closely.
Scope of Services
Lots 1a–1d: Standard wash linen, theatre pack, bundled and cleanroom laundry Lots 2a–2b: General cleaning and pest control; ambulance and vehicle deep clean Lots 3a–3g: Clinical, general, recyclable, confidential, sanitary and total waste management Lots 4a–4b: Patient catering; retail catering and hospitality Lot 5: Bundled soft FM services Related services such as security, visitor support, grounds maintenance and porterage
Lots
Lot 1a: Standard Wash Linen & Laundry Services; Lot 1b: Specialist Laundry Services (Theatre Packs); Lot 1c: Bundled Standard Wash & Specialist Laundry Services; Lot 1d: Specialist Cleanroom Laundry Services; Lot 2a: General Cleaning and Pest Control; Lot 2b: Ambulance and vehicle deep clean; Lot 3a: Non-Hazardous Clinical Waste; Lot 3b: Hazardous Clinical Waste; Lot 3c: General Waste (Hazardous and Non-Hazardous); Lot 3d: Recyclable General Waste; Lot 3e: Confidential Waste; Lot 3f: Sanitary Waste; Lot 3g: Total Waste Management; Lot 4a: Patient Catering; Lot 4b: Retail Catering & Hospitality Services; Lot 5: Bundled Soft FM Services
Who Can Apply
Supplier membership is fixed until RM6331 is re-tendered, so laundry, cleaning, waste and catering firms not already appointed cannot join before it ends on 19 February 2028. SMEs with NHS experience should prepare for the successor, where specialist lots give smaller providers a realistic entry point.
Buyer Benefits
NHS buyers get a framework written around their own standards for cleanliness and waste, which cuts specification time. They can buy a single specialist service, such as theatre pack laundry or confidential waste, or bundle several under one agreement through lot 5, and the framework is open to all public sector bodies as well as the NHS.
Next Steps
Expect market engagement for the RM6331 successor during 2027, ahead of the 19 February 2028 end date. Monitor the GCA page (https://www.gca.gov.uk/agreements/RM6331) and Find a Tender. Appointed suppliers should respond to further competitions from trusts and keep NHS case studies, cleanliness audit results and HTM 07-01 compliance evidence up to date.
How Athena Can Help
For suppliers on RM6331, Athena's healthcare FM bid writing turns NHS cleanliness scores, waste compliance and net zero plans into win themes, with competitor analysis and pricing models for each trust competition.
Soft FM providers aiming for the successor should start early. We identify the lots worth targeting through our framework selection and application help, then prepare compliant submissions with our NHS and public sector bidding experience, social value included.
