Choosing Your Path: A Practical Guide to Procuring Specialist Policing Services

In today's complex public sector landscape, finding the right support for operational challenges is only half the battle. Navigating the procurement process to access that support in a compliant, efficient, and timely manner is a challenge in itself.

At Peel Solutions, we believe in making things simpler for our clients. Our goal is not just to provide expert-led managed teams, but to ensure that accessing our services is a straightforward and transparent process.

Following our recent appointment to the Crown Commercial Service's MCF4 framework, we now offer three distinct, fully compliant pathways for UK law enforcement and public sector bodies to engage with us. This guide is designed to explain these options clearly, helping you choose the most effective route for your specific needs.

Route 1: The Direct Engagement

This is the most traditional and straightforward procurement route. A direct engagement involves establishing a one-to-one contractual relationship between your organisation and Peel Solutions.

How it works: We work directly with your commercial and operational teams to scope your requirements and agree on terms for service delivery.

When is this the right route?

This path offers the greatest flexibility and is ideal for highly bespoke or complex projects that may not fit neatly within the predefined categories of a formal framework. If you have a unique challenge that requires a truly tailored solution from the ground up, a direct engagement can be the most effective option.

• Key Benefit: Maximum flexibility to create a bespoke contract and solution.

Route 2: The Partner-Led Route: Matrix Milestone

Peel Solutions is an approved specialist delivery partner within the Matrix Milestone managed service, which UK public sector bodies can access via the Ealing Procurement Framework (epf). This is a partner-led route where Matrix Milestone acts as a neutral vendor, providing a managed procurement service and technology platform.

How it works:

Your organisation uses the Ealing Procurement Framework (epf) to appoint Matrix Milestone. Their dedicated commercial and procurement team then works closely with both us and you to define requirements and facilitate access to our services. Our strong partnership ensures this process is rapid and seamless, allowing for fast deployment of our teams.

When is this the right route?

This option is ideal if your organisation is looking for a managed service to handle the procurement process itself. It provides access to a broad marketplace of suppliers for various needs, all managed through a single platform with expert procurement support and governance from the Matrix team.

• Key Benefit: A rapid, partner-led managed procurement process with access to a wide marketplace of pre-vetted suppliers.

You can read more about Matrix Milestone on their website here: https://landing.teammatrix.com/police-digital-service 

Route 3: The National Framework Route: MCF4

Our newest route to market is via the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) Management Consultancy Framework Four (MCF4). This is a major national framework where Peel Solutions is an approved supplier for Lot 1 - Business Consultancy.

How it works:

The framework is designed for speed and efficiency. After defining your requirements, you can conduct a desktop evaluation of the approved suppliers and proceed directly to a Direct Award without a lengthy tender process. This three-step process (Define, Evaluate, Award) is fully compliant and auditable.

When is this the right route?

MCF4 is the perfect choice when speed is critical. For urgent operational needs, such as standing up a surge team to tackle an investigative backlog, this framework allows you to get a contract in place and a team deployed in a matter of days or weeks, not months.

• Key Benefit: Unmatched speed and simplicity for procuring services under a compliant, government-approved national framework.

Which Route is Right for Me? A Quick Comparison

A Partner in Procurement

Whatever your challenge, and whatever your procurement preference, Peel Solutions has a simple, compliant, and effective pathway to help you achieve your goals.

If you are unsure which route is the best fit for your organisation, please contact James Jeram at james@peelsolutions.co.uk. We would be happy to walk you through the options in more detail.