Open Access Government introduces the Crown Commercial Service, which helps the UK public sector achieve the best value when purchasing products and services. This is illustrated through the example of the RM6309 Management Consultancy Framework Four (MCF4)
Crown Commercial Service (CCS) assists the UK public sector in obtaining the best value when purchasing services and products. As the UK’s leading public procurement organisation and an executive agency of the Cabinet Office, CCS specialises in procurement.
CCS’s expertise helps public sector organisations maximise their budgets, ensuring that valuable resources are allocated where they are needed most. Their services are free for the UK public sector, providing buyers access to a wide range of products and services, including temporary staff, energy, police cars and laptops.
By fostering strategic partnerships and encouraging supplier competition, CCS helps its customers achieve their procurement objectives. They also help ensure compliance with procurement regulations, saving time, enhancing value for money, and meeting social value goals. In the 2023/24 fiscal year, CCS’s customers realised commercial benefits valued at £4.9 billion, which includes cost savings and progress toward carbon net-zero targets. (1)
How do you purchase through the Crown Commercial Service?
The public sector can purchase services or products services from suppliers in a compliant manner using open and closed frameworks. (2) A framework is a kind of commercial agreement that allows the public sector to acquire products or services from pre-approved suppliers. Each framework includes its own terms, conditions, order forms and schedules.
There are three types of frameworks available for purchasing, and the one you choose will depend on your organisation’s needs and the procurement regulations you are following:
- Framework (under Public Contract Regulations 2015).
- Closed framework (under Procurement Act 2023).
- Open framework (under Procurement Act 2023).
All public sector organisations and non-profit entities can purchase through a framework agreement.
A framework under the Public Procurement Contract Regulations 2015 (PCR2015) allows public sector buyers to purchase goods and services. This framework includes a list of suppliers that have already shown their ability to provide the specified products and services.
Once a framework is established and suppliers have been selected, no new suppliers can join that framework. This means that contracts can only be awarded to the pre-approved suppliers listed in the framework agreement.
Framework agreements typically last up to four years. However, some may extend up to eight years if there is a justifiable need for the additional time, such as when providing defence or utility services.
Management Consultancy Framework Four
One example of a current live framework is the (3) RM6309 Management Consultancy Framework Four (MCF4). MCF4, established under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, allows UK public sector organisations to access cost-effective management consultancy services from a diverse range of suppliers.
These services cover a range of specialisms, including business, procurement, policy, strategy, infrastructure, plus health and social care. For a detailed definition of the service lines offered under each category, please refer to the lot description document. This agreement is set to last for two years, with no option to go beyond that.
The key benefits of MCF4 include:
- A diverse selection of suppliers, ranging from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to large multinational companies.
- All suppliers hold cyber essentials accreditation.
- Standardised terms and conditions.
- Customer guidance and templates provided.
- A variety of pricing models to choose from, including time and materials (T&M), fixed pricing, or risk and reward options.
- The support of a knowledgeable and dedicated contract management team.
All suppliers are committed to comply with Procurement Policy Note 006, titled ‘Taking account of Carbon Reduction Plans in the procurement of major government contracts’ as required. In the event a supplier is mandated to publish a carbon reduction plan, it can be found on their individual supplier details page.
At the time of writing (late November 2025), there are a total of 219 suppliers involved in this agreement over 10 lots, detailed further at https://www.crowncommercial. gov.uk/agreements/RM6309 (4)
You can read more about the MCF4 agreement offering better access to management consultancy for the public sector, as reported by Open Access Government in August 2025, here.
Consultancy and Professional Services
Did you also know that the Consultancy and Professional Services agreement established under the Procurement Act 2023 encompasses a range of specialisms? These include strategy and policy, business, human resources, finance, procurement, health or social care and community services, infrastructure and environmental, as well as restructuring and insolvency. This new agreement will replace the MCF4, providing a compliant and cost-effective means for central government and the broader public sector to access a range of consultancy advice from various suppliers. (5)
Best value in the procurement of goods and services
While we have only scratched the surface, we extend our best wishes to the Crown Commercial Service as they continue their critical mission of ensuring that the UK public sector secures the utmost value in its procurement of goods and services. A prime example of their commitment is the MCF4, which enables UK public sector organisations to access cost-effective management consultancy services from a diverse array of suppliers.
