FAQs

Bloom is an innovative private limited company that provides a single supplier solution for consultancy and specialist professional service suppliers to the UK public sector.

We are the delivery partner of the neutral vendor framework for specialist professional services from the North East Procurement Organisation.

As supply chain specialists, Bloom’s philosophy is underpinned by an ‘outcome focused’ approach to procurement. We focus on driving value for money by giving contracting authorities the best choice of large and small suppliers in a quick, compliant and collaborative way.

A neutral vendor helps clients source goods and services. It acts as a single point of contact for clients with no affiliation or interest in any one supplier.

As a neutral vendor, Bloom does not deliver consultancy services itself but helps the buyer select the best subcontractor available based on the brief. We then manage and assure delivery to the client’s satisfaction.

Bloom is the trusted partner to more than 400 public sector clients from across the UK. The neutral vendor approach from Bloom handles all the complexities of supplier management for the client, as we contract back to back with suppliers.  Download our guide to Bloom for more detail.

We provide greater control and transparency of expenditure, whilst also ensuring compliance and helping support strategic ambitions. Such as creating greater social value.

We believe Bloom’s neutral vendor model is unique to the procurement of specialist professional services for the UK public sector. This makes it a safe and viable alternative to traditional procurement methods.

There’s no minimum or maximum value of the project and it’s simpler than traditional frameworks. The only procurement decision and contract is with Bloom; via a compliant route.
First, we help to create the best brief possible. Then we present the client with a selection of the most relevant suppliers that meet the brief. Download our guide to Bloom for more detail.

Clients choose from mini competition or direct award; our experience shows the best value is achieved through mini competition; generating average savings of between 11% and 19% against budget. Our diverse supplier community means we can source suppliers with the right capabilities, capacity and experience for each project.

Our supplier accreditation process ensures all standard documentation; such as professional indemnity insurance, collateral warranties, right to work and recent references are in place. We assure delivery by putting in place all necessary contractual agreements and managing the relationship with the chosen supplier. That means risk is mitigated and quality assured.

You might think that the Bloom approach is only available for North East based organisation. But that’s not true! We work with over 400 public sector clients across the UK meaning Bloom is now recognised as a nationally available solution.

A significant amount of our clients are based across the UK, outside the North East. We’re based in offices across the UK, with our Head Office in Gateshead.

This Framework Agreement is available for use by all UK Contracting Authorities. This includes, but is not limited to; Government Departments and their Agencies, Non-Departmental Public Bodies, Central Government, NHS Bodies, Local Authorities, Emergency Services, Educational Establishments and Registered Charities; who have a need to purchase specialist professional services.

The Association of Greater Manchester Authorities and the Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium are also specifically named in the framework agreement.

The North East Procurement Organisation (NEPO) will be happy to help you access this framework, if you’re based outside the North East.

Bloom is a delivery partner, awarded by the North East Procurement Organisation (NEPO). We source, appoint and manage specialist professional services for its Member Authorities and Associate Members.

Bloom is a private limited company and has no shareholding or other commercial arrangement with NEPO. We also deliver frameworks with other organisations like Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation (YPO).

As part of their OJEU compliant framework tender process, the North East Procurement Organisation requested daily rates for each of the 20 categories, as well as the typical grades and roles from potential suppliers in the UK Consultancy Market.

This not only tested the market for categories ‘in-scope’ as part of this solution but can also be used by contracting authorities for benchmarking purposes, pre/post appointments. This information is available on request from NEPO, please contact adam.smith@nepo.org.

The North East Procurement Organisation holds regular performance reviews with Bloom. It’s the opportunity for NEPO and its members to share management information and review the quality of the service provided by Bloom.

Each client of Bloom joins the North East Procurement Organisation as a member or associate member. That gives access to the NEPO team, supplier and Contracting Authority networking days

Bloom achieved Cyber Essentials certification in May 2017.  Cyber Essentials is a government-backed cybersecurity certification scheme that defines baseline cybersecurity.  Having certification means we’ve been checked against five controls that the government believes when implemented, can prevent around 80% of cyber attacks.

Traditional procurement frameworks can take 100 days from requirement to project start. Bloom provides an average turnaround of 20 days from the requirement. That’s based on receipt of a complete project brief. Turnaround times differ depending on the level of support you require from Bloom.

Consultants are typically registered companies employed to deliver a specific outcome in a defined time period. Interims are usually employed to fill a role, one which could be done by an employee. They work to an agreed job description and are usually paid by the hour.

Working with Bloom to appoint consultants means getting the best value and the best choice of suppliers. This is backed up by supply-chain expertise and delivery assurance.

Yes. Bloom provides an alternative option for delivering outcomes, for which an interim is typically used.

We can facilitate interim appointments where there’s delivery of specialist professional services. But, agency and temporary recruitment is out of scope.

There are 20 categories of Specialist Professional Service (SPS) covered by the Bloom framework, including consultancy services.
Just take a look at our category list to see all the consultancy services available on this framework.

The Bloom solution is typically cost neutral to clients. The supplier community working with Bloom is charged a 5% management fee on the successful delivery of a project. For that, Bloom provides an efficient route to market for suppliers of all sizes. With Bloom, large and small suppliers can access significant public sector contracts without the need for complex tender responses.

On average public sector clients save between 11% and 19% against budget with Bloom.

Read what our customers say about us.

Of course. Just get in contact with Bloom on 020 3948 9400 or by email to hello@bloom.services

That depends on how you want to work with Bloom. Our supply chain experts are on hand to help you at every stage of your project. We run a diagnostic with you to analyse your spending and needs. To get started, you’ll need to sign a call-off agreement
If you’d like to fully adopt Bloom we can attend any meetings required, to help inform your stakeholders. Templates are available to help you. Equally, if you’d like to work on a more ad-hoc approach, we’re available to walk you through each project.

Just get in touch to understand how we can help to get you started.

To join the Bloom supplier community, all suppliers go through a full accreditation process, before working on any project.
Our supplier accreditation process is robust ensuring all documentation is in place.

We conduct regular updates through project reports, confirming the quality and standard of the services being delivered. Each project ends with a full client satisfaction review.

Bloom clients have access to our dedicated service delivery team and a single point of contact to assure successful project delivery. If any challenges or issues are encountered, that is the first place to contact to help the project run smoothly again.

We ask clients to complete a full satisfaction questionnaire after project delivery. We have a robust complaints procedure if there’s anything that needs more immediate or senior attention.
See what our customers say about us.

Suppliers register and then go through an accreditation process to become part of the Bloom supplier community.  Registration is the first stage when you give us initial contact details. Accreditation is the Bloom quality evaluation process that all suppliers go through to access our opportunities with the public sector.

For NEPRO³, you’ll need to decide which categories to register for.  See our category list for full details.  Then download the suppliers’ guide to getting started with Bloom, and visit our cloud-based portal Pro-vide 2.0 to begin.

A growing number of public sector bodies are choosing a neutral vendor approach across all procurement categories, including professional services. Bloom is the trusted partner to more than 400 public sector clients from across the UK.

To access these opportunities through Bloom, suppliers need to be accredited. This gives you the opportunity to prove your suitability for the projects on offer and ensures that you’re on the radar for future opportunities.

You’ll then be able to promote your accreditation with Bloom. This offers you an efficient route to market, via a national framework for professional services.  Download our guide to Bloom for more detail.

Once accredited, suppliers receive automated alerts, giving them the chance to evaluate the opportunity and whether or not to respond. These are pre-qualified, well-defined and genuine opportunities to win public sector business.

Our service delivery team works between you and the client to ensure the smooth running of the project. You’ll get open and honest feedback on bids. There’s also the chance to network and partner with complementary suppliers to access wider opportunities.

To join the Bloom supplier community, specialist professional service providers go through a detailed accreditation process. It’s all done through Pro-vide 2.0, our cloud-based system.  Take a look at our step by step guide getting started with Bloom for suppliers.

Registration on Pro-vide 2.0 has been designed to be quick and easy. To become a Bloom Accredited Supplier on Pro-vide 2.0, you need to register and complete your basic profile, this includes agreeing to Bloom’s terms and conditions. Your basic profile will be checked by Bloom and you will receive confirmation in due course to confirm your Bloom Accredited Supplier status. This will give you access to all Bloom procurement frameworks.

To be able to win work on individual frameworks you will need to ensure your extended profile is complete; within this section you will also need to agree to the SDA (Supplier Delivery Agreement) terms of each individual procurement framework.

To get started on a project, we’ll require a purchase order number for the work before it begins.

We have designed the Pro-vide 2.0 registration process to be as quick and easy as possible whilst ensuring the process is robust.

During registration you will be asked to confirm your Professional Indemnity Insurance; as insurance requirements are different for each framework and project, you will not be asked to upload Professional Indemnity Insurance certificates until you receive a relevant opportunity and complete the ITT (Invitation to Tender).

You will be asked to provide case studies and references each time you submit an ITT, allowing you the flexibility to provide the most relevant and up-to-date case studies to showcase your service offering. You will not be required to upload case studies when completing your basic and extended profiles as part of the registration process.

The following documents are specifically required for registering under the Construction, Design & Engineering category, these documents are required within your extended profile section:

• Health and safety (including training) policy
• Work equipment procedure policy
• First Aid policy
• Risk assessment and COSHH assessment policy
• Accident reporting policy
• Fire risk assessment policy
• Electrical safety policy
• Manual handling assessment policy

Bloom offers your business an efficient route to market offering pre-qualified, well defined opportunities for suppliers of all sizes, across the UK. We help suppliers like you by supporting established client relationships and helping to create new ones, opening up access to public sector procurement opportunities as never before.  Download our guide to Bloom for more detail.

As neutral vendor, Bloom works with you to provide a valuable resource to ensure project success.

There’s access to established processes and CIPS-qualified staff that guide the client from the initial statement of requirements to appointment. Meaning your projects with Bloom have the best possible start.

We are then on-hand with as much or little assistance as required to ensure delivery. That means you get unbiased support to ensure project success, working between you and the client as required.

Suppliers are not charged for registration, accreditation or participation in bid opportunities. The only charge is a 5% management fee for any services delivered via our NEPRO³ neutral vendor solution. How much of this fee you choose to include in your proposal costs is your commercial judgment. Bloom Accredited Suppliers have access to the 5% management fee calculator, available on the Suppliers Resources Page.