Quick summary: CCS RM6378 is the main Crown Commercial Service framework for facilities management. It covers Total FM (Lot 1), Hard FM (Lot 2), and Soft FM (Lot 3). Buyers include central government departments, NHS trusts, local authorities and wider public sector. Suppliers apply during CCS competition windows. Call-offs are made by direct award or further competition among approved suppliers.
What is CCS RM6378?
CCS RM6378 — formally titled the Facilities Management and Security Services framework — is a Crown Commercial Service (CCS) framework agreement that gives public sector organisations a compliant route to procure facilities management services. It is one of the most extensively used FM procurement vehicles in UK public sector.
The framework provides pre-approved access to FM suppliers across three lots covering the full spectrum of facilities services — from large integrated estate contracts to specialist soft FM services. Central government departments are directed to use CCS frameworks where possible, making RM6378 a critical route to market for FM suppliers targeting government work.
The three lots
Integrated hard and soft FM under a single contract. All services combined with single accountability.
Typical buyers: Large government estates, NHS trusts with complex sites, central government departments.
Mechanical, electrical, HVAC, lifts, fire systems, building fabric, and reactive maintenance.
Typical buyers: Public sector bodies needing specialist M&E and building maintenance services.
Cleaning, security, catering, grounds maintenance, waste management, and other soft services.
Typical buyers: Public sector bodies needing individual soft FM services or bundled soft FM.
Who can buy from RM6378?
RM6378 is an open framework available to all UK public sector contracting authorities, including:
How buyers purchase under RM6378
Direct award
Where there is only one supplier on the relevant lot who can reasonably meet the requirement. The buyer must be able to objectively justify that a further competition would not change the outcome. Direct award is the exception rather than the rule for most FM contracts.
Further competition (mini-competition)
The standard route for most RM6378 call-offs. The buyer invites all suppliers approved for the relevant lot to bid against their specific requirements. This is a shorter tender process than a full open procurement — typically 2-6 weeks rather than months. Suppliers on the framework are automatically invited.
How to get on CCS RM6378
Watch for the competition notice
CCS periodically re-procures the FM framework under new reference numbers. Competition notices are published on Find a Tender. Set a PSIP alert for "Crown Commercial Service" and CPV codes 79710000, 90910000 and 50700000 to be notified immediately when a new competition opens.
Review the selection questionnaire
CCS publishes a Selection Questionnaire (SQ) with the competition documents. This covers financial standing (typically requiring minimum annual turnover of 2x the contract value), technical experience (case studies of comparable FM contracts), insurance requirements, and policies on equalities, health and safety, and environment.
Prepare your technical submission
Demonstrate relevant experience through detailed case studies. CCS typically requires 2-3 examples of comparable FM contracts delivered in the last 5 years — similar in scope, value, and complexity to the lot you are applying for. Prepare references from previous public sector clients.
Submit before the deadline
Framework competition windows are time-limited — typically 4-6 weeks. Late submissions are not accepted. Once approved, you remain on the framework for its duration (typically 4 years) and are automatically invited to all further competitions in your approved lots.
Monitor call-offs via PSIP
Once on the framework, PSIP alerts you to further competition notices from buyers using RM6378. Filter by your lot and geography to see relevant call-offs the morning they are published across all seven UK procurement portals.
Using PSIP to track RM6378 call-offs
Once approved on RM6378, your income depends on being first to respond when buyers run further competitions. Most further competition notices are published with tight response windows — typically 2-4 weeks. Missing a notice means missing the opportunity entirely.
What PSIP tracks for RM6378 suppliers:
- ✓Further competition notices published under RM6378 — across all seven UK portals
- ✓Contract award notices showing which suppliers won RM6378 call-offs and at what value
- ✓Expiring RM6378 contracts — identify renewals before re-tender notices are published
- ✓New competition notices when CCS re-procures the framework under a new reference
- ✓Buyer spending patterns — see which NHS trusts and councils use RM6378 most actively
Other FM frameworks to consider
NHS SBS FM frameworks
NHS-specific FM and estates frameworks for trusts and ICBs. Separate from RM6378 but often used by NHS buyers preferring NHS-managed procurement.
ESPO Property and FM
Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation framework for councils, schools and public bodies in the East and East Midlands.
YPO FM frameworks
Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation FM frameworks widely used by northern local authorities.
Scotland Excel FM frameworks
Scottish collaborative FM frameworks for councils and public bodies — separate from CCS RM6378.
LHC frameworks
Planned and reactive maintenance frameworks for housing associations, councils and public bodies.
Frequently asked questions
What is CCS RM6378?
CCS RM6378 (Facilities Management and Security Services) is a Crown Commercial Service framework agreement that allows public sector buyers to procure hard FM, soft FM, integrated FM, and security services. It is one of the most widely used routes for FM suppliers to access central government, NHS, and wider public sector contracts.
What are the lots in CCS RM6378?
RM6378 has three main lots: Lot 1 (Total Facilities Management — integrated hard and soft FM), Lot 2 (Hard FM — mechanical, electrical, HVAC, building fabric maintenance), and Lot 3 (Soft FM — cleaning, security, catering, grounds maintenance, waste management). Some lots have geographic sub-lots.
Who can buy from CCS RM6378?
RM6378 is open to all UK public sector organisations including central government departments, NHS trusts and ICBs, local authorities, police forces, fire and rescue services, universities, and arm's-length bodies. The framework is one of the most widely used in UK public procurement.
How do I get on CCS RM6378?
CCS RM6378 supplier competitions are run by Crown Commercial Service and advertised on Find a Tender. Suppliers must apply during a competition window, pass a selection questionnaire covering financial standing, technical capability, and insurance requirements, and be approved by CCS. Monitor Find a Tender and psip.co.uk for competition notices.
How do buyers purchase under RM6378?
Buyers can either use a direct award route (where only one supplier can reasonably meet requirements) or run a further competition (mini-competition) among approved framework suppliers. The further competition route is most common and involves inviting all relevant lot suppliers to tender against specific requirements.
Is RM6378 the same as MCF3 or the previous FM framework?
RM6378 is the current iteration of the CCS FM and Security Services framework. It replaced earlier CCS FM frameworks including RM3710 and RM6089. Always check the CCS website for the current live framework reference, as CCS periodically re-procures frameworks under new reference numbers.
Can SMEs apply for CCS RM6378?
Yes. CCS RM6378 has lots designed to be accessible to SMEs, particularly for soft FM services and regional work. Some sub-lots specifically target smaller and specialist suppliers. The key is demonstrating relevant technical experience and meeting financial standing requirements appropriate to your target lot.
Track RM6378 call-offs and competition windows
PSIP alerts you to RM6378 further competition notices, new framework competitions from CCS, and expiring FM contracts across all seven UK portals. 7-day free trial, no credit card required.
Start free trial