Management Consultancy Framework MCF

The Consultancy playbook, Government guidance on how to commission and engage with consultants more effectively, achieving better outcomes, better value for money and improved civil service capability through the transfer of knowledge and skills was published in May 2021. It was published at the same time as the Sourcing playbook, Government guidance on service delivery, including outsourcing, insourcing, mixed economy sourcing and contracting.

The Consultancy Playbook sets out to provide guidance about how central departments can maximise value for money when sourcing consultancy services. As part of its guidance, the playbook examines the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) routes to market that commercial teams should consider, including but not limited to Management Consultancy Frameworks, which ‘...are multi-lot frameworks with comprehensive customer guidance which should be applied alongside this playbook where appropriate. These frameworks provide buyers with access to a mix of functional lots (e.g. strategy, finance and HR) and sector specific lots (e.g. infrastructure and health and social care).’

In October 2021, CCS announced the replacement of MCF (RM3745) and MCF2 (RM6008) with Management Consultancy Framework Three (MCF3), which is scheduled to run for four years (with no option to extend beyond that period).

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Consultancy playbook.
• Crown Commercial Service CCS.
• Framework contract.
• Public procurement.
• Sourcing in the construction industry.
• Sourcing playbook.
• The Construction Playbook.

[edit] External resources

• Crown Commercial Services, Management Consultancy Framework Three.
• Gov.uk, The Consultancy Playbook.
• Gov.uk, The Sourcing Playbook.