A practical guide for NHS and public sector organisations
If you work in NHS procurement or workforce planning, you already know that engaging an external consultant requires a compliant procurement route. Running a full open tender is time-consuming, resource-intensive, and often disproportionate for the scale of support needed. Procurement frameworks exist to solve this problem, and the Bloom framework is one of the routes that NHS and public sector organisations can use to engage specialist suppliers like Dobson Consulting quickly and compliantly.
What is the Bloom procurement framework?
Bloom is a procurement framework that connects public sector organisations, including NHS Trusts, with accredited suppliers across a range of service categories. Suppliers on the framework have already been through a rigorous pre-qualification and evaluation process, which means the compliance and due diligence work has been done. Public sector buyers can then engage these suppliers through a simplified call-off process rather than starting from scratch with a full tender.
For NHS organisations, this means you can access specialist workforce and recruitment consultants without the months-long delay of running your own procurement exercise.
How does the Bloom framework work for engaging a workforce consultant?
The process is straightforward:
- Identify your requirement. Define the scope of work, whether that is a workforce strategy review, recruitment process redesign, or hiring optimisation project.
- Check the relevant lot. Bloom frameworks are organised into lots by service category. Find the lot that covers workforce advisory or consultancy services.
- Review accredited suppliers. Look at the suppliers listed on the relevant lot. Each supplier will have been evaluated on capability, experience, and commercial terms during the framework’s own procurement process.
- Choose your call-off method. Depending on the framework rules, you may be able to make a direct award if a single supplier clearly meets your requirements, or run a mini-competition where you invite a shortlist of suppliers to submit proposals.
- Award and start work. Once you have selected a supplier, the call-off contract is put in place and work can begin. The framework terms and conditions already cover the legal and commercial framework, so there is no need to negotiate contracts from scratch.
Why use a framework rather than running a full tender?
For most NHS Trusts, a full open tender is only necessary for very large, complex contracts. For focused workforce consultancy projects, a framework call-off is faster, cheaper, and fully compliant with public procurement regulations. It also reduces the administrative burden on procurement teams who are already stretched.
The key benefit is speed. A framework engagement can typically be set up in weeks rather than months, which matters when you have workforce gaps to fill or retention issues that need addressing now rather than after a six-month procurement exercise.
Can Dobson Consulting be engaged through the Bloom framework?
Yes. Dobson Consulting is a Bloom accredited supplier on relevant procurement frameworks. This means NHS and public sector organisations can engage Dobson Consulting for workforce strategy, recruitment strategy, recruitment design, and hiring optimisation services through a compliant procurement route without needing to run a full tender.
Dobson Consulting is also fully covered with Hiscox professional business insurance, so the compliance and risk management requirements that NHS procurement teams need to satisfy are already in place.
What types of projects can be commissioned through the framework?
Typical engagements that NHS Trusts commission through frameworks include:
- Workforce strategy development: Creating a Trust-wide or department-level workforce plan that aligns staffing with service demand
- Recruitment process review: Auditing current recruitment processes and redesigning them to reduce time-to-hire and improve candidate quality
- Hiring optimisation: Identifying bottlenecks in existing hiring processes and implementing practical improvements
- Retention planning: Developing targeted retention strategies for high-turnover specialties or staff groups
- International recruitment strategy: Designing ethical, sustainable international recruitment approaches that comply with NHS Employers standards
How do I find Dobson Consulting on the Bloom framework?
You can search the Bloom framework portal for Dobson Consulting or contact us directly at hello@dobsonconsulting.co.uk and we can guide you through the process. If you are unsure which lot applies to your project, we can help you identify the right route.
Is engaging through a framework more expensive?
No. In fact, framework rates are typically pre-negotiated and competitive, and because the procurement process is shorter, there is less internal cost in terms of staff time. Dobson Consulting operates as a boutique consultancy with lower overheads than large firms, so framework rates are straightforward and represent good value for the level of senior expertise provided.
Want to explore this further?
If you are considering engaging a workforce consultant through the Bloom framework, the simplest first step is a conversation about what you need. Email hello@dobsonconsulting.co.uk and we can talk through your requirements and the most efficient route to getting started.