Management Consultancy Framework Four (MCF4)
Framework Description
Management Consultancy Framework Four (MCF4, RM6309) is a PCR 2015 framework, closed to new applications, from the Government Commercial Agency (GCA, formerly Crown Commercial Service). It gives UK public sector organisations access to management consultancy across 10 lots, from business strategy to restructuring and insolvency. It runs from 29 July 2025 to 28 July 2027, a two-year term with no option to extend, so its successor should come to market soon. This framework is used by Crown Commercial and APUC.
Context & Use Case
Public sector bodies use MCF4 when they need outside expertise for strategy, policy, transformation, finance, HR, procurement, health and care, infrastructure, sustainability or insolvency work. A lot description document sets out the service lines in each lot, so suppliers compete only for work within the lots they hold.
Scope of Services
Lots 1–2: Business; strategy and policy Lot 3: Complex and transformation Lots 4–5: Finance; HR Lot 6: Procurement and supply chain Lot 7: Health, social care and community Lots 8–9: Infrastructure; environment and sustainability Lot 10: Restructuring and insolvency
Lots
Lot 1: Business; Lot 2: Strategy and policy; Lot 3: Complex and transformation; Lot 4: Finance; Lot 5: HR; Lot 6: Procurement and supply chain; Lot 7: Health, social care and community; Lot 8: Infrastructure; Lot 9: Environment and sustainability; Lot 10: Restructuring and insolvency
Who Can Apply
The MCF4 supplier list is fixed until re-tender, so consultancies not already appointed cannot join before it ends on 28 July 2027. The successor will suit firms from SMEs to multinationals. All current suppliers hold Cyber Essentials, so treat it as a minimum.
Buyer Benefits
Buyers can go straight to consultancies with relevant expertise through ten specialist lots, rather than relying on generalist advisers. The range of suppliers, from SMEs to large multinationals, lets them match the size of the firm to the size of the problem, and Cyber Essentials across the supplier base gives a security baseline.
Next Steps
With no extension available, expect successor market engagement in the coming months. Monitor the GCA page for RM6309 and GCA's upcoming agreements, decide which lots fit your expertise, and gather public sector case studies, CVs and pricing models. Appointed suppliers should keep winning call-offs, as recent delivery strengthens the next bid.
How Athena Can Help
The successor to MCF4 is coming soon, and Athena can help consultancies prepare now. Our framework bid preparation chooses the right lots, builds case studies and checks compliance before submission.
For incumbents, our consultancy call-off support uses our F.V.D. win themes model and competitor scoring to win further competitions. Our public sector fee advice helps you set day rates and fee structures for each lot that win and still make a profit.
