Can a public sector organisation engage Vanguard without running a full tender process?
Yes, subject to the organisation's own governance requirements. For lower-value engagements below the relevant financial thresholds under the Procurement Act 2023, a public sector organisation may be able to engage Vanguard directly, subject to its internal standing financial instructions.
For engagements above or below threshold, public sector organisations can also engage Vanguard through Bloom's NEPRO³ framework, operated by NEPO and available to UK public sector bodies. Vanguard is registered as an accredited supplier on the framework, which provides a compliant route to engagement through direct award or further competition without the need for a standalone tender process.
Vanguard is also progressing access to an NHS Shared Business Services framework route to support future engagement by NHS and wider public sector organisations.
Can a private sector company engage Vanguard directly without any formal procurement process?
Yes. Private sector organisations are not subject to public procurement law and can engage professional services on the commercial terms they consider appropriate. There is no framework requirement, no standstill period and no regulatory obligation to run a competitive process.
A commercial organisation can move from initial conversation to agreed scope and signed engagement quickly. The only requirement is mutual agreement on scope, terms and fees.
Is Vanguard IR35 compliant for public sector engagements?
Vanguard Procurement Limited operates as an independent business-to-business consultancy and structures its public sector engagements to support an outside-IR35 position wherever the nature of the assignment permits. The Bloom supplier terms state that no employer/employee relationship is created between the supplier, Bloom or the customer, and require the supplier to remain an independent contractor, determine its own personnel, use its own equipment where appropriate, and retain control over how, where and when the professional services are delivered, subject to the practical requirements of the agreed Statement of Work.
Each engagement is assessed on its own facts, including the Statement of Work and actual working practices. Vanguard will work with the client to ensure the contractual documentation, delivery model and status determination are consistent with the off-payroll working rules.
How are conflicts of interest managed when Vanguard acts for multiple clients simultaneously?
Vanguard maintains appropriate information barriers between concurrent client engagements. Client-specific information, supplier pricing and commercially sensitive data are not shared between clients.
Vanguard does not act for two organisations that are in direct commercial competition with each other on a live procurement exercise. Any specific conflict concerns are addressed transparently at the proposal stage before an engagement begins.
What happens at the end of the commitment period?
Tier 1 and Tier 2 retainer agreements carry a minimum commitment period of six months from the commencement date. At the end of the initial term, the agreement concludes unless both parties agree to extend.
Tier 3 engagements carry a twelve-month commitment with built-in continuity planning and handover from week one. The engagement is structured for either a clean exit or seamless extension depending on where the programme stands — extension by mutual agreement is straightforward where the work warrants continued senior oversight.
What professional indemnity insurance does Vanguard carry?
Vanguard Procurement Limited carries professional indemnity insurance with a limit of indemnity of £1,000,000 for any one claim. The policy is arranged through Qdos Broker & Underwriting Services Limited on behalf of HCC International Insurance Company PLC. The policy provides worldwide geographical cover and worldwide jurisdiction excluding the USA and Canada. A current certificate of insurance is available on request.
Can additional days be purchased outside the retainer scope?
Yes. Where a client has an urgent or significant requirement outside the agreed monthly scope — such as a time-critical tender, major negotiation or unexpected commercial issue — additional days can be agreed at the relevant day rate.
This prevents scope creep within the retainer while giving clients a clear mechanism to flex up when additional support is genuinely required.
