NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) has unveiled the third iteration of its framework agreement, Modular Buildings 3, to – as it puts it – ‘accelerate the construction of vital infrastructure across the UK’.
The corporate services provider said: “Tailored to meet the urgent needs of the NHS, schools, housing providers, and other public services, NHS SBS’s framework agreement offers a cost-effective procurement route for buyers to access modular building solutions from pre-vetted vendors – be it for new-builds, hire, or lease.
“The Modular Buildings 3 framework agreement offers an opportunity to fast-track the construction of homes, schools, and NHS facilities, aligning with the government’s commitment outlined in the recent Spending Review to tackle the housing crisis, modernise healthcare infrastructure, and improve education environments,” explained Kat Jackson, Principal Category manager, NHS SBS.
“The framework facilitates rapid access to and delivery of essential infrastructure, enabling all public sector organisations to compliantly procure modular solutions from reputable suppliers.”
In addition, NHS SBS adds, the latest framework agreement will ‘play a vital role in addressing maintenance backlogs, like the NHS estate’s maintenance backlog’. It said: “Following the Chancellor’s announcement of £30 billion over the next five years for maintaining and repairing NHS facilities, with £5 billion specifically allocated to the most critical repairs, modular buildings offer an ideal solution for providing temporary or permanent spaces while critical repairs are underway.”
NHS Shared Business Services was created in 2004 by the Department of Health and Social Care to deliver corporate services to the NHS, and is described as ‘a unique joint venture’ with Sopra Steria, ‘a European leader in digital services and software development’.