The national contract value review (NCVR) is a standardised, national approach to costing for commercial contract research. Since its national introduction in 2023 it has helped speed up commercial research set up times, making the UK a more attractive place for commercial organisations to undertake research studies, ensuring UK patients have earlier access to new treatments.

The NCVR is underpinned in England by the NHS standard contract and the National directive on commercial research studies and is mandated in secondary, specialist and mental health trusts. In addition, more than 270 GP practices have signed up to the voluntary NCVR scheme.

The NCVR focuses on agreeing the resources and price needed to set up commercial research studies within NHS providers. This work forms part of a broader common goal to ensure clinical research continues to thrive in the UK, for the benefit of patients and the public.

NCVR has replaced the time-consuming process whereby each NHS organisation negotiated with each commercial sponsor for every late stage study in order to agree bespoke contract value. All commercial research proposals submitted for a study resource review undergo a review by the lead site.

From October 2024, NCVR will incorporate advanced therapeutic medical products (ATMP’s) next generation personalised treatments and early phase studies (phase I and IIa trials which are carried out to find out how safe and effective the treatment is).

National contract value review is a UK wide programme

In England, NCVR is being delivered by NHS England in partnership with the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), The Health Research Authority (HRA) and the Department for Health and Social Care.

While the processes will be aligned across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland there will be some differences to how the programme will be introduced in the devolved administrations.

There is reciprocal recognition of contract value reviews conducted by NHS organisations across the UK.

Early impact of NCVR

The NCVR process has contributed to a reduction in the time taken to set up commercial research studies by 35% and in addition to faster set up, NCVR has freed up resource in sites to carry out other research activity. Over 1,500 studies have completed the study resource review and the first studies have started recruiting.

Resource links

• NIHR: Guidance: using the interactive costing tool
• NIHR: Costing and contracting using national contract value review
• HRA: Contracts and study agreements
• NCVR is a UK wide programme, for further information on devolved administrations NCVR delivery see:
  • National contract value review – NHS Research Scotland
  • Faster costing for commercial research in the UK – Health Care Research Wales
  • Study resource review for Northern Ireland-led research submissions as part of the national contract value review – Public Health Agency – Research and Development in Northern Ireland