How we work with our suppliers

NHS Commercial Solutions applies a proactive approach to managing supplier relationships on behalf of members during the contract life-cycle. This involves collecting supplier cost and performance information, and running periodic supplier meetings to review progress and drive improvement initiatives for mutual benefit.

Providing spend and other performance data is a requirement for all framework suppliers as it:

• Supports identification of improvement opportunities for cost reduction and efficiencies.
• Allows category managers to have visibility of framework uptake.
• Provides information for invoicing where rebate arrangements are applicable.

A Senior Category Manager is assigned to each framework agreement to provide a single point of contact for suppliers.

Through our website, social media and conferences we work with our suppliers to promote our frameworks.

We work with other regional collaborative NHS hubs through NHS Procurement in Partnership to identify opportunities to expand the framework agreement nationally and promote greater uptake.