Frequently Asked Questions
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What is Resilience & Security Frameworks?
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What is Resilience?
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What is Security?
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What is a Framework?
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Why should I use a Framework?
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Why is RSF Unique?
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Why does RSF's approach to Due Diligence matter?
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What can I use RSF for?
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How can I purchase using RSF?
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Isn't it more expensive to purchase through an RSF Framework?
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Which procurement process should I use?
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I’m interested in becoming a supplier. Do I have to wait for a specific time or an invitation to apply and are there application ‘rounds’ like other frameworks?
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Is there an application/joining fee?
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If I’m approved does it mean all of my customers have to buy through the RSF Frameworks in future?
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What about existing customers? Do they have to buy through the Framework in future?
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If a customer buys us through the Framework do they always have to carry on doing that in future?
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How does your fee structure work?
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What of the consultancy services are included if I’m a customer or supplier?
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I’m interested in being a supplier but not all my questions are answered here.
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If you have a question not answered here, please contact us, we will be happy to answer it.
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What is Resilience & Security Frameworks?
Answer
RSF is here to help private and public sector organisations procure the products and service that they need in a compliant, trusted, supported, innovative and cost-effective way to deliver value for money solutions. We make it quick and easy for you and your organisation to get what you need via our frameworks through direct awards, multiple quotes and mini-competitions, safe in the knowledge that all of our suppliers are vetted and compliant with relevant legislation and best practices, so your operations remain safe, stable, and ready for anything.
What is Resilience?
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Resilience refers to the ability of an organisation to anticipate, adapt, and thrive in the face of unexpected challenges. It’s about being prepared for disruptions—whether they come from natural disasters, economic shifts, or technological failures—and having the systems in place to recover quickly. Resilience ensures that your operations continue smoothly, minimising downtime and maintaining customer trust, even when the unexpected happens.
What is Security?
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Security is the foundation that protects an organisation’s critical assets, from physical infrastructure to digital data. It involves identifying potential threats and implementing measures to prevent or mitigate their impact. Security isn’t just about defence; it’s about creating a proactive strategy that keeps your organisation safe from a wide range of risks, ensuring your people, information, and operations remain secure in an ever-changing environment.
What is a Framework?
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A procurement framework is a pre-established, legally compliant agreement or set of guidelines used by organisations to streamline the purchasing of goods or services from suppliers. It provides a structured approach for public sector organisations, businesses, or other entities to procure items efficiently and cost-effectively, often across multiple projects or departments.
Why should I use a Framework?
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​Using a framework for procurement offers several benefits, which can streamline the procurement process and lead to more efficient and effective outcomes. Streamlined Procurement Process Time Savings Cost Efficiency Access to Qualified Suppliers Flexibility and Adaptability Compliance and Governance Risk Management Strategic Procurement Planning Access to Specialist Procurement Resources
Why is RSF uniqure?
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RSF's approach is what makes us unique. RSF simplifies and speeds up the procurement process by conducting Due Diligence on partners up front, rather than at the time of procurement, or leaving it up to the customer to do when they choose a supplier, like other frameworks. Run by a team experienced and expert in resilience and security, frameworks and procurement, and with Security Cleared team members, we are the first procurement framework in the market focusing exclusively on the full range of the Resilience and Security industry. Our expert knowledge of the resilience and security area allows us to support our customers and help them understand and map their needs. RSF aims removes market barriers for SMEs enabling customers to procure the most innovative and service supported products available to the market from suppliers of all sizes.
What can I use RSF for?
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You can use RSF to purchase what you need to support your resilience and security requirements. This means hardware, including everything from emergency lighting to complex hostile vehicle mitigation structures, to services such as complex software or data management services. We also offer consulting services and procurement contract management. Such is Resilience & Security Frameworks commitment to our customers that if for some reason we don't have a supplier for what you want on our frameworks, we will find one for you and on board them to the framework to ensure you are able to procure what you need.
Isn't it more expensive to purchase through an RSF Framework?
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No. We recognise the budgetary constraints of today’s world especially as more and more of these requirements are stipulated. Our frameworks are structured to provide value for money, offering competitive pricing without compromising on quality. All of our suppliers sign up to the principle that their services will not be available cheaper via another route, guaranteeing our customers value for money. By streamlining the procurement process, we also help you save on administrative costs, making the entire process more efficient and cost-effective.
How can I purchase using RSF?
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There are generally three routes for purchasing on our Frameworks. Which ever route you choose - Direct Award, Multiple Quotes, Mini-Competition - your contract is with us, not the supplier. That means that if something goes wrong, or it is not up to the standards required, it is our responsibility to make the supplier sort it out.
Which procurement process should I use?
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This is very much dependant on your needs as a customer, and the procurement policies you have to follow. We are here to help you decide which method - Direct Awards, Multiple Quotes, Mini-Competitions - is best suited to your requirements. It may be that you use different routes for different individual procurements as the requirements may differ depending on the circumstances.
I'm interested in becoming a Supplier. Do I have to wait for a specific time or an invitation to apply and are there application ‘rounds’ like other frameworks?
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No. You can apply to join at any time. Although we may occasionally choose to advertise and run an application ‘round’, unlike other frameworks there are no specified time periods when we take applications. We might invite suppliers to apply where we spot something new or innovative in the marketplace; a customer might invite you to apply if they want to ensure an existing contractual relationship they have with you remains compliant within their local or national procurement rules; we may invite applications as part of a mini-competition we need to run on behalf of a customer; or you can simply apply to us ‘on spec’ having found out about us some other way.
Is there an application or joining fee?
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No. You only pay if you win work. There’s no application/joining fee payable to us and no fee to participate in bids. You may need to incur some incidental business costs associated with applying (for example if you do not have the required insurances) but these can almost always wait until you have been provisionally accepted.
If I'm approved does it mean all of my customers have to buy through the RSF Frameworks in future?
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No. Being RSF supplier is a totally non-exclusive arrangement. So for any new work which you ‘sell’ to a customer yourselves there is absolutely no obligation on you to sell it through us, nor any obligation on us to include you in any mini-competition process we might run.
What about existing customers? Do they have to buy through the Frameworks in future?
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It depends. There is no obligation on either you or your customers to transfer or renew existing contract arrangements via the Framework. However, while there is no obligation on you or your customers to use the Framework, if a customer of yours freely chooses to source you though the framework (for example to make their future purchase compliant with local/national procurement rules if it isn’t already) we are contractually obliged to allow this so we can’t say no, simply because they may be an existing customer of yours.
If a customer buys us through the Framework do they always have to carry on doing that in future?
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No. Again this is at the customer’s discretion. If they buy through the framework, once their initial contract period terminates it is entirely up to them what purchasing route they choose to use to renew their contract. If they freely choose (and are able) to buy you directly or via some other framework or purchasing route then they are entirely at liberty to do so. However we expect you not to deliberately seek to solicit them away from the Framework, and especially not where doing so may cause them to believe they are still buying through the Framework and/or may cause them to unwittingly be in breach of procurement law.
How does your fee structure work?
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We charge suppliers a fee based on a percentage of the total contract value of any work they win/carry out under the auspices of the framework. Full details are in our supplier application pack. Fees related to consultancy work or contract management are determined on a case by case basis
What of the consultancy services are included if I’m a customer or supplier?
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Please contact us to find out more, but in general it is a standard level of support to help make it easier for you to know what’s going on in the market or be eligible for more procurement opportunities with the framework.