UK government buys management and policy consulting in four ways: national frameworks such as Management Consultancy Framework Four (MCF4), open supplier lists (dynamic purchasing systems and dynamic markets), its own tenders on Find a Tender, and small quotes. In our count, about 680 consulting tenders were published across the UK in the 12 months to 2 November 2026. In our data for England, a typical one stated a value of £100,000 to £250,000, and small firms won 65% of 350 contracts over two years.
Terms are explained in our glossary.
Management Consultancy Framework Four (MCF4)
MCF4 (RM6309) is run by the Government Commercial Agency (GCA), which was called the Crown Commercial Service until 1 April 2026. GCA’s page says (GCA RM6309):
- it was set up under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, the rules before the Procurement Act 2023;
- it has 219 suppliers across 10 lots;
- all lots expire on 28 July 2027, with no option to extend;
- further competition is the standard way to buy, and direct award is possible in specific circumstances.
Show the table (10 rows)Hide the table
| Lot | Suppliers |
|---|---|
| 1 Business | 71 |
| 2 Strategy and policy | 56 |
| 3 Complex and transformation | 36 |
| 4 Finance | 36 |
| 5 HR | 32 |
| 6 Procurement and supply chain | 37 |
| 7 Health, social care and community | 46 |
| 8 Infrastructure | 45 |
| 9 Environment and sustainability | 43 |
| 10 Restructuring and insolvency | 15 |
A standard framework does not take new suppliers during its term, so a firm not on MCF4 cannot join now. Its predecessor, MCF3 (RM6187), expired on 23 August 2025 (GCA RM6187).
What comes next. People search for “MCF5”, but GCA does not use that name. Its replacement for MCF4 is “Consultancy and Professional Services” (RM6399), tendered under the Procurement Act 2023, with 10 lots. It covers business, strategy and policy, finance, HR, procurement, health and social care, infrastructure, environment, and restructuring and insolvency (GCA RM6399). Its tender notice went on Find a Tender on 15 September 2026. Its tender deadline is 15:00 on 9 November 2026 (Find a Tender notice 087183-2026). GCA expects to award the framework around July 2027, and the notice gives 24 June 2027 as the lots’ start date. Our guide to MCF4 and RM6399 follows it.
Dynamic purchasing systems and dynamic markets
A dynamic purchasing system (DPS) is an open list: you can apply to join at any time while it runs. Under the Procurement Act 2023, new ones are called dynamic markets. Under a dynamic market, each contract still needs a tender notice, but only members can win. The minimum bidding time can be 10 days (Find a Tender notice types; gov.uk dynamic markets guidance; gov.uk planned procurement guidance).
Our reports list nine consulting supplier lists open to join on 2 November 2026. They include the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s technical specialist advisory DPS, open until October 2029. Another is Great British Energy – Nuclear’s planning services list, open until March 2031 (Tenderhooks reports). If you join early, you are on the list when the next competition goes out.
Direct tenders
Many departments and public bodies tender consulting work themselves. Above £135,018 (central government) or £207,720 (other bodies), including VAT, the full tender rules apply (gov.uk thresholds guidance). In England, the regular consulting buyers in our data include the British Council (22 tenders in two years), the Office of Rail and Road (20), Westminster City Council (17) and NHS England (14) (Tenderhooks consulting report).
Sizes vary widely. In our data, 438 English consulting tenders stated a value in the last 12 months. About one in five was under £50,000, and about one in four was over £1 million.
Below-threshold work
Smaller jobs follow lighter rules. In England and Wales, a buyer may advertise a contract worth at least £12,000 (UK central government) or £30,000 (councils, most other bodies and the Welsh Government). If it does, it must first publish a notice on Find a Tender (Procurement Act 2023, section 87; Procurement (Wales) Regulations 2024). Welsh work under £30,000 needs no Find a Tender notice; when advertised, it is usually on Sell2Wales. A buyer can also ask chosen suppliers for quotes without advertising. In England, when it tenders below the threshold, it cannot add a separate suitability stage to cut the field (gov.uk below-threshold guidance). Small first jobs build the track record that larger bids ask for.
The small-firm angle
The Act asks buyers to think about small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs):
- buyers must consider the barriers SMEs face and whether they can be removed or reduced;
- buyers must consider splitting contracts into lots, which can make them easier for smaller firms (gov.uk lots guidance);
- 30-day payment terms now reach a broader range of public sector contracts, and buyers must give bidders an assessment of their final tenders (gov.uk short guide for suppliers).
In practice, aim at the lot or the job size you can deliver well, and bid where small firms already win. In our data, small firms won 65% of English consulting contracts over two years.
Social value
Procurement Policy Note (PPN) 002 covers central government departments, their agencies and non-departmental public bodies. In procurements under the Act, they must give social value at least 10% of the total score, where it is relevant and proportionate (PPN 002). A new model, PPN 026, focuses on good British jobs, skills and opportunities. It applies to in-scope procurements that start on or after 1 January 2027. The minimum weighting is 10% for contracts from £1 million to under £5 million, and 20% from £5 million (PPN 026). Other public bodies may adopt the same approach. Give specific, measurable commitments that fit the contract.
Questions people ask
How do I get government consulting contracts?
Watch Find a Tender for direct tenders and join open DPSs and dynamic markets in your field. Bid for small jobs to build a record, and watch the next central consultancy framework.
What are the MCF4 lots?
Ten: business; strategy and policy; complex and transformation; finance; HR; procurement and supply chain; health, social care and community; infrastructure; environment and sustainability; and restructuring and insolvency.
Is there an MCF5?
Not by that name. GCA’s replacement for MCF4 is “Consultancy and Professional Services” (RM6399), under the Procurement Act 2023. Its tender opened on 15 September 2026, and GCA expects to award it around July 2027.
Can I join MCF4 now?
No. MCF4 is a standard framework and expires on 28 July 2027 with no option to extend.
How Tenderhooks helps
Tenderhooks reads Find a Tender, Contracts Finder and Public Contracts Scotland, and picks the consulting tenders that fit your firm. Each comes with the buyer’s record from award data, where there is one. It also shows early notices as “Coming up”. Your bid plan arrives every Monday at 7:00 UK time, by email, and in Slack or Microsoft Teams if you like.
Sources
All checked on 2 November 2026.
- Government Commercial Agency: MCF4 (RM6309), MCF3 (RM6187), Consultancy and Professional Services (RM6399), upcoming agreements
- Find a Tender: RM6399 tender notice, notice types
- Gov.uk guidance: frameworks, dynamic markets, planned procurement notice, thresholds, below-threshold contracts, lots, short guide for suppliers
- PPN 002 and PPN 026
- Legislation: Procurement Act 2023, section 87, Procurement (Wales) Regulations 2024
- Our figures: Tenderhooks consulting report for England and free reports
This page explains official rules and guidance in plain English, checked on the date above. It is not legal advice. The official sources it links to are what apply.
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