Key fact: The NHS is the UK's largest public sector buyer. NHS England alone spends over £30 billion annually on goods and services. NHS trusts, ICBs, arm's-length bodies and NHS Supply Chain collectively represent thousands of procurement opportunities every year — across IT, medical supplies, professional services, facilities, and more.
Understanding the NHS procurement landscape
NHS procurement is more complex than central government procurement because there is no single NHS buyer. The NHS is made up of hundreds of separate organisations — each with their own procurement teams and budgets:
NHS England
National commissioning and policy, plus direct procurement of national programmes
Integrated Care Boards (ICBs)
42 ICBs commission health services for their local populations
NHS Trusts
Over 200 acute hospital trusts each procure independently
Foundation Trusts
Similar to NHS Trusts but with greater financial autonomy
Mental Health Trusts
Specialist mental health and community services organisations
Ambulance Trusts
10 regional ambulance services across England
NHS Supply Chain
Centralised procurement for clinical and non-clinical products
Arm's-length bodies
UKHSA, NICE, CQC and others with their own procurement budgets
Where to find NHS tenders
Find a Tender
find-tender.service.gov.uk
All NHS contracts above the procurement threshold (~£139,000). Primary source for large NHS trust, ICB and NHS England contracts.
Contracts Finder
contractsfinder.service.gov.uk
English NHS contracts above £10,000 including below-threshold contracts not on Find a Tender. Essential for smaller NHS opportunities.
NHS Supply Chain
nhssupplychain.nhs.uk
Clinical and non-clinical product frameworks for NHS trusts. Covers medical devices, consumables, PPE, and facilities products.
Health Family Commercial
england.nhs.uk
Procurement frameworks for NHS England, NHSX and arm's-length bodies including digital, consulting, and professional services.
Crown Commercial Service
crowncommercial.gov.uk
NHS organisations also use CCS frameworks including G-Cloud, Digital Outcomes, and Management Consultancy — check CCS alongside NHS-specific sources.
CPV codes for NHS procurement
Use these CPV codes to filter search results and alerts specifically for NHS-relevant opportunities:
Key accreditations for NHS suppliers
NHS procurement teams look for specific accreditations depending on what you supply. Ensure you have the right ones in place before bidding:
Cyber Essentials Plus
IT and digital suppliersMandatory for many NHS IT contracts. Demonstrates basic cyber hygiene and is increasingly required across all NHS digital procurement.
NHS DSPT
Any supplier handling NHS dataThe NHS Data Security and Protection Toolkit is required for suppliers who access, store or process NHS patient data. Annual submission required.
ISO 27001
IT, data and digital suppliersInformation security management standard. Increasingly expected alongside Cyber Essentials for NHS IT contracts above £500k.
ISO 9001
Most service suppliersQuality management standard. Commonly required across NHS professional services, facilities, and clinical services contracts.
MHRA Registration
Medical device suppliersMandatory for suppliers of medical devices and in vitro diagnostic devices sold to NHS organisations.
CQC Registration
Clinical service providersCare Quality Commission registration is required for organisations providing regulated clinical activities to NHS patients.
NHS frameworks — the fastest route to NHS contracts
Getting onto an NHS or CCS framework used by NHS organisations is the most efficient way to build a recurring NHS revenue stream. Framework suppliers can be called off directly without a full tender:
G-Cloud
RM1557The primary route for cloud software, platform, and infrastructure services to NHS organisations. Many NHS trusts use G-Cloud to procure clinical and operational software.
Digital Outcomes and Specialists
RM1043Digital teams and specialists for NHS digital transformation projects. Widely used by NHS England and larger trusts for complex digital programmes.
NHS Supply Chain Frameworks
VariousCategory-specific frameworks for medical devices, consumables, equipment, and facilities products. Essential for product suppliers to NHS.
Non-Clinical Temporary Staff
RM6160Temporary administrative, clerical, and professional staff for NHS organisations. High-volume framework used across the NHS.
Management Consultancy Framework 4
RM6309Management consulting services used by NHS England and larger trusts for transformation, strategy, and operational improvement programmes.
Facilities Management
RM6232Hard and soft FM services for NHS estates including maintenance, cleaning, catering, and security.
Building relationships with NHS buyers
NHS procurement is relationship-driven. Commissioners and procurement teams return to suppliers they trust. Building those relationships before a tender is published is the single most effective thing you can do to improve your win rate:
- ✓Attend NHS procurement conferences and supplier days — NHS England, HFMA, and NHS Confederation all run events
- ✓Respond to Prior Information Notices (PINs) and Requests for Information (RFIs) from NHS buyers
- ✓Request pre-market engagement meetings with NHS commissioners — they are legally permitted and often welcomed
- ✓Build relationships with NHS procurement teams at target trusts through LinkedIn and professional networks
- ✓Monitor pipeline notices for upcoming NHS procurements and engage 12 months before re-tender
- ✓Consider partnering with established NHS suppliers as a subcontractor to build your track record
Social value in NHS procurement
NHS procurement increasingly weights social value — the positive social, economic, and environmental impact of a contract. NHS buyers look for commitments to local employment, apprenticeships, carbon reduction, supply chain diversity, and community benefit. A strong social value response can differentiate your bid significantly. Quantify your commitments wherever possible — specific numbers of local jobs, apprenticeship starts, or carbon reduction targets carry more weight than general statements.
Finding NHS tenders with PSIP
PSIP makes finding NHS opportunities significantly easier by aggregating Find a Tender and Contracts Finder into one searchable database. You can:
- ✓Search by buyer name — e.g. "NHS" or a specific trust name — to see all their current opportunities
- ✓Filter by NHS-relevant CPV codes (85000000, 33000000, 72000000) across all sources simultaneously
- ✓Set up saved alerts to receive NHS opportunities matching your keywords in your inbox daily
- ✓Use Buyer Intelligence to see historic spend, incumbent suppliers, and upcoming re-tenders for specific NHS organisations
- ✓Track contract expiry dates to identify NHS contracts coming up for re-tender in the next 12 months
Frequently asked questions
Where are NHS tenders published?
NHS tenders are published on Find a Tender (above threshold), Contracts Finder (England below threshold), and some NHS-specific portals. NHS Supply Chain publishes category-specific opportunities. PSIP aggregates all NHS opportunities from Find a Tender and Contracts Finder into one searchable database.
What CPV codes should I use to find NHS tenders?
Key CPV codes for NHS procurement include 85000000 (Health and social work services), 33000000 (Medical equipment and supplies), 72000000 (IT services), 79000000 (Professional services), and 85111000 (Hospital services). Use these codes to filter PSIP search results for NHS-specific opportunities.
Do I need special accreditations to supply the NHS?
Requirements vary by contract type. IT suppliers often need Cyber Essentials Plus and NHS DSPT (Data Security and Protection Toolkit) compliance. Medical device suppliers need MHRA registration. Professional services suppliers typically need ISO 9001 and relevant professional indemnity insurance.
What is NHS Supply Chain?
NHS Supply Chain is a procurement organisation that manages the sourcing of clinical and non-clinical products for NHS trusts and other health organisations. It runs framework agreements for medical devices, consumables, and equipment that NHS trusts can use to purchase without running a full tender.
What is the NHS DSPT and why does it matter for suppliers?
The NHS Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) is a self-assessment framework that organisations must complete to demonstrate they handle NHS patient data securely. IT and digital suppliers working with NHS organisations are typically required to have a current DSPT submission or to align with a trust's existing submission.
How long does NHS procurement take?
NHS procurement timelines vary significantly. Simple below-threshold contracts may be awarded within 4-8 weeks. Complex above-threshold contracts typically take 6-12 months from notice to award. Framework call-offs can be faster — sometimes 4-8 weeks for a mini-competition.
Can SMEs win NHS contracts?
Yes. NHS organisations actively seek SME suppliers, particularly for specialist services, digital solutions, and professional services. Many NHS contracts are below the OJEU threshold and published only on Contracts Finder, making them accessible to smaller suppliers without the overhead of a full OJEU-level tender response.
Find NHS tenders across all portals
Search NHS opportunities from Find a Tender and Contracts Finder in one place. Set up alerts, track buyer spending, and identify re-tender opportunities months in advance. 7-day free trial, no credit card required.
Start free trial