Key facts: The NHS is the UK\'s largest single employer and one of the biggest public sector buyers in the world. NHS contracts range from £2,000 consumables orders to £500 million+ hospital services contracts. Most NHS procurement above £139,688 is published on Find a Tender. NHS trusts and ICBs also use a range of framework agreements and specialist procurement portals.
Where are NHS tenders published?
NHS procurement is decentralised — individual trusts, ICBs, and NHS bodies procure independently. This means NHS tenders appear across multiple platforms simultaneously:
Find a Tender
All NHS contracts above the procurement threshold (£139,688 for goods and services) must be published here. This is the primary source for significant NHS tenders.
Contracts Finder
Below-threshold NHS England contracts above £12,000. Many trust procurement teams publish all their opportunities here regardless of value.
NHS SBS e-Sourcing
NHS Shared Business Services operates its own e-sourcing portal used by many NHS organisations for direct tender processes and framework call-offs.
NHS Supply Chain
The NHS Supply Chain portal manages product categories for trusts. Product and consumable suppliers must engage directly with NHS Supply Chain.
Individual trust portals
Some larger trusts (particularly Foundation Trusts) run their own procurement portals in addition to publishing on national platforms.
PSIP aggregates all five UK procurement portals including Find a Tender and Contracts Finder into one feed. Set a buyer filter for \"NHS\" combined with your service CPV codes to get a daily digest of every relevant NHS opportunity. See our NHS tenders hub for more on the portals and frameworks.
Key NHS procurement frameworks
NHS buyers use framework agreements extensively because they reduce procurement time and provide compliant access to pre-approved suppliers. The most important frameworks for NHS suppliers are:
NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS)
NHS SBS manages a wide range of frameworks for NHS organisations covering clinical, facilities, IT, and professional services. Often the first port of call for NHS buyers.
NHS Supply Chain
Manages procurement of medical products, consumables, and capital equipment for NHS trusts. Suppliers must register and pass category-specific tenders to supply products.
Crown Commercial Service (CCS) frameworks
NHS trusts use CCS frameworks extensively for IT (G-Cloud, DOS), FM services (RM6378), professional services, and management consultancy. Getting on CCS frameworks opens doors across the NHS.
NHS London Procurement Partnership (LPP)
Regional collaborative procurement for London NHS organisations. Covers clinical and non-clinical categories and is widely used by London trusts and ICBs.
ESPO and YPO NHS frameworks
Eastern Shires and Yorkshire Purchasing Organisations run frameworks used by NHS bodies alongside councils. Particularly relevant for facilities, food, and goods categories.
How to win NHS contracts — 6 steps
Register on the Supplier Registration Service
The Procurement Act 2023 introduced the centralised Supplier Registration Service (SRS). Register at supplierregistration.cabinetoffice.gov.uk with your company details, financials, and accreditations. NHS buyers increasingly use this to check supplier credentials before issuing invitations to tender.
Set up PSIP alerts for NHS opportunities
NHS contracts are published across Find a Tender, Contracts Finder, NHS SBS, and NHS Supply Chain. Set PSIP alerts using buyer keyword "NHS" combined with your service CPV codes. Set separate alerts for your target trust names — many trusts publish contracts independently.
Get on the right NHS frameworks
Identify which NHS SBS, CCS, and regional frameworks cover your category. Monitor Find a Tender for framework competition notices — these are advertised openly. Framework approval gives you direct access to NHS buyers without competing in a full open tender every time.
Build NHS-specific case studies
NHS buyers heavily weight previous NHS or health sector experience. Develop 2-3 detailed case studies of comparable NHS or healthcare contracts. Include measurable outcomes, patient impact where relevant, and testimonials from clinical or operational stakeholders.
Monitor pipeline notices for advance intelligence
Under the Procurement Act 2023, NHS trusts must publish pipeline notices 12 months ahead. PSIP aggregates all NHS pipeline notices by trust, ICB, and category. Use this to identify upcoming contracts and approach procurement teams for pre-market engagement meetings before the official tender is published.
Track expiring NHS contracts
NHS contracts expire and re-tender on a rolling basis. PSIP's Contract Expiry Tracker identifies NHS contracts due for renewal in the next 90-365 days. Approach the buyer 6-12 months before expiry to understand requirements and position your bid before competitors engage.
NHS selection criteria — what buyers look for
NHS procurement teams evaluate suppliers on a consistent set of criteria. Understanding what they weight most heavily lets you strengthen your bids:
NHS/healthcare experience
Previous contracts with NHS or healthcare organisations. Buyers want suppliers who understand the environment — patient safety, infection control, information governance, and operational pressures.
Financial standing
Minimum annual turnover thresholds (typically 2x the contract value), clean credit history, and adequate insurance. Check NHS tender financial requirements before bidding.
Data Security and Protection
NHS Data Security and Protection Toolkit compliance is mandatory for contracts involving patient or personal data. Register and complete the toolkit at dsptoolkit.nhs.uk.
Social value
NHS procurement requires social value commitments under the Social Value Act. Prepare specific, measurable commitments around employment, environment, and community impact.
Cyber Essentials
Cyber Essentials certification is increasingly required for NHS IT and digital contracts. Some NHS SBS frameworks make it mandatory. Obtain certification before bidding for NHS technology work.
Quality management
ISO 9001 or equivalent quality management certification is expected for most clinical and service delivery contracts. Some NHS frameworks specify minimum accreditation requirements.
Key CPV codes for NHS tenders
For a full guide to CPV codes and how to use them in tender alerts, see our CPV code guide.
Frequently asked questions
Where are NHS tenders published?
NHS tenders are published on Find a Tender (above-threshold contracts), Contracts Finder (England below-threshold), and NHS-specific portals including NHS Supply Chain, NHS SBS e-Sourcing, and some individual trust procurement portals. PSIP aggregates all sources into one searchable feed.
Do I need to be on an NHS framework to win NHS contracts?
No, but being on an NHS framework significantly increases your chances. Many NHS buyers use framework agreements for routine procurement because it saves time. Open tenders are still common for large or specialist requirements. Being on multiple frameworks maximises your routes to market.
What CPV codes do NHS tenders use?
Key NHS CPV codes include 85000000 (Health and social work services), 33000000 (Medical and laboratory equipment), 72000000 (IT services for NHS digital projects), 85111000 (Hospital services), and 79000000 (professional services). Use these in PSIP alerts to catch all relevant NHS opportunities.
How long does NHS procurement take?
NHS procurement timelines vary by contract value and complexity. Below-threshold contracts can be awarded in 4-8 weeks. Above-threshold open tenders typically take 3-6 months from notice to award. Framework competitions can take 6-12 months. Planning ahead and monitoring pipeline notices gives you the best chance of being prepared.
What is NHS Supply Chain and how do I get on it?
NHS Supply Chain manages procurement of products and some services for NHS trusts. Suppliers apply through the NHS Supply Chain supplier registration portal. Product categories include medical consumables, capital equipment, and facilities. NHS Supply Chain runs competitive tender processes for each category which are advertised on Find a Tender.
Track NHS tenders across all portals
PSIP aggregates NHS opportunities from Find a Tender, Contracts Finder, and three other UK portals. Set up alerts by buyer name, CPV code, and contract value. 7-day free trial, no credit card required.
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