50 firms win spot on NHS consultancy and advisory framework
Over 50 consulting firms have won a spot on a £200 million consultancy and advisory framework from the University Hospitals of Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust.
The over 8,700 staff of the NHS Trust deliver healthcare services to the population of Coventry and Rugby from two sites – University Hospital Coventry (1,000 beds and 26 operating theatres) and the Hospital of St Cross in Rugby (10 beds and 6 operating theatres). The Trust provides both emergency and elective care and specialises in cardiology, neurosurgery, stroke, joint replacements, in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and maternal health, diabetes and kidney transplants.
In a bid to advance its primary health care, as well further professionalise its internal operations, the University Hospitals of Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust works with dozens of external consulting firms that provide expert knowledge, skills and capacity. Consultancies play a key role in the realisation of the Trust’s long term strategy and in the delivery of its change, digital and innovation portfolio.
To streamline how the NHS Trust and its subsidiaries hire consultants, including the way of working, terms and conditions and pricing, the Trust four years ago developed a framework agreement for consultancy and advisory services. With the framework up for renewal last month, the NHS Trust commissioned procurement body HealthTrust Europe to create a new framework agreement.
Over 70 consulting firms signed up for the competitive tender process, and following a due diligence on firm credentials and their bids, 57 consulting firms were appointed to the scheme across seven lots spanning management consulting, human resources, supply chain, finance, audit, digital transformation and property development.
Four consultancies were named a preferred supplier on six of the seven lots: Big Four firms KPMG and PwC, UK-origin PA Consulting and Oxford-headquartered Unipart. Three firms landed a spot on five lots – strategy consultancy Boston Consulting Group, accounting and advisory firm Grant Thornton and London-based Private Public.
Meanwhile, six firms were selected for four of the seven lots: Deloitte, Liaison Financial Services, Linea Partners, Moorhouse Consulting, RSM and The Retearn Group. Other well-known consulting firms selected include GE Healthcare Finnamore (a healthcare specialist), BDO, McKinsey & Company, Prederi (part of BearingPoint), Efficio (a procurement specialist) and Nous Group (an Australian management consultancy).
Consulting firms appointed to the framework
Lot one: Business consultancy and advisory services (£75 million)
Provision of consultancy and advisory service that include management consultancy services, process redesign and improvement, and programme and project management. The consulting firm will help the NHS Trust to improve its performance, through the analysis of existing organisational problems and development of plans for improvement and address their most critical challenges, transforming their organisation. This lot also includes services such as design, marketing and advertising as well as public relations and advice on corporate social responsibility.
33N
Acuity Business Solutions
Atos
Attain Health Management Services
BDO
Berkshire Consultancy
Boston Consulting Group
Catering Consultancy Bureau
Clarity Tech
Deloitte
Frontline Consultants
Fujitsu
FutureGov
GE Healthcare Finnamore
Grant Thornton
Green and Kassab
IBM
IKON Architecture
KPMG
Liaison Financial Services
Linea Partners
Low Carbon Europe
Mason Advisory
McKinsey & Company
Meridian Productivity
Moorhouse Consulting
NHS Arden GEM CSU
North of England Commissioning Support (NECS)
Nous Group
PA Consulting
Pick Everard
Private Public
Prederi
Premier Change Consulting
PwC
Process Evolution
The Retearn Group
Rider Levett Bucknall
RSM
The Change Maker Group
Trueman Change
Unipart
Verita
Lot two: Resource consultancy services – HR management and workforce optimisation (£25 million)
Consultancy and advisory services that include human resource management and workforce optimisation services. This lot focuses on the strategic and administrative discipline of hiring and developing employees so that they become more valuable to the organisation. The consulting firms are expected to provide knowledge and understanding of national policies and initiatives, with the pragmatism to apply these.
Berkshire Consultancy
Boston Consulting Group
Deloitte
Frontline Consultants
FutureGov
GE Healthcare Finnamore
KPMG
Liaison Financial Services
Linea Partners
Moorhouse Consulting
PA Consulting
Private Public
Premier Change Consulting
PwC
RSM
The Change Maker Group
Unipart
Pulse Healthcare
Workforce Employment Solutions
Lot three: Supply chain management consultancy and advisory services (£25 million)
Consultancy and advisory services that span insourcing and outsourcing, procurement and supply chain management and optimisation. This lot focuses on advising the participating authority on procurement and sourcing strategy and maximising value from its supply chain activities. This may include benefits realisation, core business analysis, offshoring and ‘in-shoring’, business process outsourcing and knowledge process outsourcing.
Acuity Business Solutions
Atos
Attain Health Management Services
Boston Consulting Group
Efficio
Grant Thornton
KPMG
Linea Partners
Moorhouse Consulting
NHS Arden Greater East Midlands
Odesma
PA Consulting
Prism Business Consulting
Private Public
PwC
The Retearn Group
Rider Levett Bucknall
Unipart
Lot four: Financial consultancy and advisory services (£20 million)
Consultancy and advisory services focused on financial management, accountancy, pension fund management, insurance, actuarial and risk management services. Under this lot the consultancy will provide the participating authority with financial advice and support, identifying the right financial solution for the organisation.
Boston Consulting Group
Deloitte
Grant Thornton
KPMG
Liaison Financial Services
Linea Partners
PA Consulting
Private Public
PwC
Lot five: Audit, counter-fraud and spend analysis (£20 million)
Consultancy and advisory services such as internal audit and counter fraud, external audit, account payable reviews – this includes in depth review of among others accounts payable data, identifying monies in overpayments, missed supplier credit and payments in order to recover cash, VAT reconciliation/reclaim and contract compliance reviews.
BDO
Grant Thornton
KPMG
Liaison Financial Services
Pick Everard
PwC
The Retearn Group
RSM
Unipart
Lot six: ICT and digital consultancy and advisory services (£25 million)
Under this lot the consultancy will work with the NHS authority to identify where they can better employ technology and digital solutions to improve service delivery and maximise productivity. The action plan produced should look at innovative use of information and technology and how this can support improvements and create efficiencies in the internal operations.
Acuity Business Solutions
Atos
Boston Consulting Group
Cloud21
Deloitte
Fujitsu
FutureGov
Gartner
GE Healthcare Finnamore
KPMG
Mason Advisory
McKinsey & Company
Moorhouse Consulting
North of England Commissioning Support (NECS)
PA Consulting
Phoenix Software
Private Public
Prederi
PwC
RSM
Software Box
The Retearn Group
Unipart
Lot seven: Estates, construction and building management consultancy services (£10 million)
Consultancy and advisory services focused on energy efficiency, construction, environmental economics, health and safety and all building consultations. Under this lot the consulting firm will work with the NHS authority to scope plans and/or designs for building modification and new build projects.
Archus
ETA Projects
Gilling Dod
Grant Thornton
IKON Architecture
Mace
PA Consulting
Pick Everard
Pinnegar Hayward
Rider Levett Bucknall
Unipart