National Framework for the Provision of Clinical and Healthcare Staffing
Framework Description
The National Framework for the Provision of Clinical and Healthcare Staffing (RM6281) is part of the NHS Workforce Alliance portfolio, run with the Government Commercial Agency (GCA, formerly Crown Commercial Service) and approved by NHS England. It covers temporary and fixed-term clinical and healthcare workers across all roles and bands in the UK. It replaced RM6161 and runs until 4 May 2027, across six lots including master and neutral vendor services. This framework is used by Crown Commercial and NHS Workforce Alliance.
Context & Use Case
NHS contracting authorities and any UK public sector body use RM6281 to fill temporary and fixed-term clinical shifts and posts compliantly. Trusts typically use the staffing lots to appoint agencies directly, or a master or neutral vendor under lots 5a and 5b to manage their agency supply chain. Call-offs can include service elements to meet local and regional needs, by further competition or direct award.
Scope of Services
Lot 1: Nursing and midwifery Lot 2: Medical staffing Lot 3: Allied health professionals, health science services and emergency staff Lot 4: Social care staffing Lot 5a: Vendor and managed service, master vendor Lot 5b: Vendor and managed service, neutral vendor
Lots
Lot 1: Nursing and Midwifery; Lot 2: Medical Staffing; Lot 3: AHP, HSS and Emergency; Lot 4: Social Care Staffing; Lot 5a: Vendor and Managed Service - Master Vendor; Lot 5b: Vendor and Managed Service - Neutral Vendor
Who Can Apply
Membership is fixed until RM6281 is re-tendered, so healthcare staffing agencies and managed service providers not on it must wait for the successor, as the framework ends on 4 May 2027. Applicants will need to meet NHS employment check standards, which current suppliers are audited against.
Buyer Benefits
Access is free for NHS and public sector bodies, and every supplier is managed and regularly audited against NHS employment check standards, which lowers patient safety and compliance risk. Buyers can direct award for urgent cover or run a further competition for larger managed service contracts.
Next Steps
With RM6281 ending on 4 May 2027, a successor is likely to come to market soon; monitor the GCA page (https://www.gca.gov.uk/agreements/RM6281), NHS Workforce Alliance updates and Find a Tender. Prepare audit results, fill rates, NHS employment check compliance and trust references now.
How Athena Can Help
The successor to RM6281 is the next opportunity, and Athena can help agencies get ready now. Our staffing bid writing turns fill rates, audit results and worker safety evidence into scoring answers, with a compliance check against the evaluation criteria.
We map the timeline with a healthcare framework pipeline, so policies and accreditations are ready when it opens. For incumbents, our bid pricing for temporary staffing helps margins survive trust competitions.
