Workforce Solutions
Framework Description
Workforce Solutions (RM6288) is a PCR 2015 agreement from the Government Commercial Agency (GCA, formerly Crown Commercial Service) with a single managed service provider, Alexander Mann Solutions (AMS). It covers contingent and permanent workers for public sector bodies. It began on 6 February 2024 for six years plus an 18-month transition period, and call-offs must not run beyond 5 August 2031. It builds on RM3749 Public Sector Resourcing.
Context & Use Case
Public sector buyers use RM6288 to hire specialist, operational and administrative workers for short and long-term needs. Call-offs are directly awarded to the managed service provider, choosing the service lines needed, and the provider then sources workers through its supply chain. That makes the managed service provider, not the buyer, the customer for most recruitment agencies.
Scope of Services
Temporary workers on hourly or daily rates Statement of work engagements Permanent recruitment Resource augmentation Recruit-train-deploy Campaigns for complex requirements
Lots
Single lot
Who Can Apply
RM6288 has a single managed service provider, so recruitment agencies cannot join the agreement itself. Specialist agencies and statement of work suppliers reach this work by joining the managed service provider's supply chain.
Buyer Benefits
Buyers get account management, workers compliant with Cabinet Office controls, Fieldglass cloud software for requests, timesheets and invoicing, and clear management information on cost and spend. Direct award to one provider makes hiring quick and keeps contingent labour spend visible, and referral nomination lets a hiring manager quickly re-engage a contractor they already know.
Next Steps
Agencies wanting this work should approach the managed service provider about joining its supply chain, with evidence of compliance, fill rates and specialist talent pools. Also follow the GCA page (https://www.gca.gov.uk/agreements/RM6288) for news of future workforce agreements, as the current arrangement runs until August 2031.
How Athena Can Help
Supply chain onboarding with a managed service provider is still a competitive process. Athena's supplier onboarding bid support helps agencies present fill rates, compliance and niche talent pools persuasively.
We also look beyond RM6288: our recruitment framework identification finds staffing frameworks and DPSs you can join directly, and our bidding for staffing contracts covers tenders from councils and other bodies. Each submission is checked for compliance. Rate cards are reviewed for margin too.
