The NHS Standard Contract is mandated by NHS England for use by commissioners for all contracts for healthcare services other than primary care, and the 2025/26 Contract (in full-length and shorter-form versions) is available here:

• NHS Standard Contract (full length)
• NHS Standard Contract (shorter-form)

We have undertaken two consultations on the 2025/26 Contract. Summaries of the changes we have made to the Contract can be found in section 3 of the Contract technical guidance and in the Response to the consultation feedback documents.

If you have a query on the NHS Standard Contracts, please check the Contract Technical Guidance or email england.contractshelp@nhs.net

If you would like to be added to our stakeholder list to receive updates on the NHS Standard Contract, please email your contact details to england.contractsengagement@nhs.net.

To view the slides and recordings from our webinars, please go to the NHS Standard Contract – FutureNHS Collaboration Platform (please register for a FutureNHS account).

2025/26 NHS Standard Contract technical guidance and escalation form

• NHS Standard Contract 2025/26 technical guidance
• NHS Standard Contract 2025/26 technical guidance appendix 5 – escalation form

Model collaborative commissioning agreements

• Model collaborative commissioning agreement (single contract option)
• Model collaborative commissioning agreement (multiple contract option)

Varying the 2025/26 Contract

• Guidance on the mid-term variation process and on updating multi-year contracts which extend beyond 31 March 2025

2025/26 NHS sub-contracts

• 2025/26 NHS Standard Contract: sub-contracts

Other Schedules to the full-length and shorter-form Contract

• Schedule 2L (Schedule 2L (Provisions Applicable to Primary Medical Services)) (full-length Contract)
• Schedule 7 (Fair Deal for Staff Pensions) (full-length Contract) and guidance
• Schedule 6E (Provider Data Processing Agreement) (shorter-form Contract)

Other publications

• System collaboration and financial management agreement
• Model individual placement agreement
• Alliance agreement toolkit (please register for a FutureNHS account)
• Proforma contract management forms and change in control notification

Consultation on the 2025/26 NHS Standard Contract (now closed)

The consultation documents are available on the consultation web page.

Further consultation on the 2025/26 NHS Standard Contract (now closed)

The consultation documents are available on the further consultation web page.