Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB) has won a leading role on a multi-million pound ‘one-stop shop’ national framework for the NHS.
The new four-year framework is being run by the NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) – a joint venture between the Department of Health and private sector firm Steria.
It can be used by all 600 NHS Trusts and 211 NHS Commissioning organisations to procure consultants for new build and refurbishment works for buildings including hospitals and GP surgeries.
RLB has been appointed the lead consultant in a consortium of 13 organisations, consisting of nine specialist healthcare architects and healthcare planners, as well as two global engineering companies.
The property and construction consultant will provide project management, quantity surveying, architectural and engineering design, specialist healthcare planning and technical author services, building surveying and health and safety services for public sector clients across England, Scotland and Wales as part of its role.
Members of the consortium include AHR, Buro Four, Buro Happold, Scott Tallon Walker, Feilden Clegg Bradley, Hassell, HOK, John Cooper Architecture, NBBJ, MJJ Medical, Steffian Bradley Architects and WSP Group.
The framework breaks down into 12 regional lots and replaces a more limited framework that only covered architecture and quantity surveying.
RLB Director Dean Sheehy said, ‘We are looking forward to working with NHS SBS to deliver full project management and design team services.’
Sharing and developing our portfolio in healthcare
He said the firm will be working with a range of NHS Trusts, local authorities, charities, central government bodies, educational estates, commissioning support units, clinical commissioning groups, plus fire and rescue services.
‘This is a great opportunity for us to share and develop our portfolio in the healthcare sector and SBS is a perfect fit. SBS is the leader in business support services for the NHS and currently works in partnership with more than 50% of all NHS Trusts and organisations,’ he added.
The full list of services covered in the NHS SBS framework includes architectural services, project management, civil and structural engineering, quantity surveying, specialist healthcare planning and technical author role, M&E design, CDM co-ordinator, building surveying, health and safety, environmental and ancillary services.
The 12 regions are the North-east, the North-west, Yorkshire and Humber, the East Midlands, the West Midlands, the East of England, London, the South-east coast, South Central, the South-west, Scotland and Wales.
The new framework was designed to provide best value and greater consistency of service provision for NHS organisations. In Scotland and Wales it is only available to non-NHS public sector bodies such as the police, as each has their own NHS framework.
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