This guidance is for NHS providers looking to commission consultancy services. It replaces any guidance we have previously issued.

Consultancy contracts over £50,000 proposed by all NHS foundation trusts in receipt of interim support from the Department of Health or in breach of their licence for financial reasons and all NHS trusts require our prior approval (the £50,000 threshold includes irrecoverable VAT and other costs eg expenses); this also applies where the threshold is reached due to a contract extension or variation. All other NHS foundation trusts are strongly encouraged to comply.

The approval process applies to contracts that are accounted for as revenue expenditure. It does not currently apply to contracts accounted for as capital expenditure.

If you have any questions regarding the new process, please either contact your regional team or send a message to england.consultancy@nhs.net.

Consultancy spend approvals data

Consultancy spend approvals data – This data is published quarterly and will provide information on consultancy approval panel decisions for trust business cases set out by theme and date of consideration.

Procurement resources

These resources provide more detail on buying consultancy services and will help you to identify the right procurement route and the regulatory context within which to work.

• the current procurement regulations govern public sector procurement
• the government recommended process for delivering procurement projects: the ‘Lean sourcing process‘ and a procurement route decision tree
• the current expenditure thresholds
• the government’s procurement policy providing guidance on best practice for public sector procurement

You may wish to seek legal advice where appropriate.