Supplying to the NHS

Becoming a supplier

NHS England suppliers are critical to delivery. Integrating suppliers into our organisation systems and processes is a key step in ensuring that partners can work efficiently, meeting the standards and requirements needed to align with our goals.

We are transparent about how we spend public money and award contracts, so that it is:

  • fair to business
  • we secure the best outcomes for patients
  • taxpayers can be assured they are getting value for money

There are various levels of NHS and social care procurement in the UK, with many local organisations, including integrated care systems and trusts, responsible for their own buying decisions. The NHS publishes all its procurement opportunities and contract awards above £25,000 on Contracts Finder. This transparency makes it easier for small businesses and voluntary sector organisations to secure business with the NHS and encourages fair and open competition within the market.

What does NHS England buy?

We purchase goods and services for NHS England and in some cases, nationally, on behalf of the NHS in England, under the following main categories:

  • digital, data and technology: incorporating health technology, software development and IT operations, data management and analytics, cloud computing, cyber security, network and telephony services, infrastructure/products, digital frameworks and corporate IT
  • clinical services: incorporating (clinical) national programmes for NHS England, vaccines and immunisation, COVID-19 (Vaccination Deployment Programme clinical items), research, purchased healthcare/nationally commissioned healthcare provision, clinical waste management and disposal and clinical databases
  • workforce, training and education: incorporating education, (clinical and non-clinical) training, and learning and development
  • professional corporate and estates services: incorporating contingent labour, business and commercial services, business process outsourcing, consultancy, audit and legal, interpretation and translation, other technical and professional services, communications, business operations, travel, human resources services, facilities management, waste management, energy management, construction, print services and print management.

NHS England Commercial is responsible for the purchasing arrangements for these goods and services. Some commercial activity is managed by other areas of NHS England.

Other purchasing routes

Medicine supply

The NHS England Medicines Value and Access Directorate is responsible for securing the supply of medicines at the best possible price to the taxpayer.

New Hospital Programme

The New Hospital Programme has separate arrangements in place for the programmes’ commercial activities.

Integrated care systems and provider organisations

Integrated care systems and NHS provider organisations (acute, mental health, community and primary care providers, etc) are separate contracting authorities. The commercial activities of these programmes are not represented here.

How does NHS England buy?

We buy goods and services by competition wherever possible. We follow the public procurement principles which include:

  • non-discrimination
  • equal treatment
  • transparency (act in a fair and non-discriminatory manner)
  • mutual recognition (of equivalent documents and standard)

We make every effort to ensure that suppliers are clear about the requirements and how we evaluate tenders to identify the best proposal.

Potential suppliers must demonstrate their financial, commercial and technical capability to meet our contractual requirements. We also look for a clear demonstrable commitment to sustainability and social value as part of our Greener NHS, where suppliers must commit to achieving net zero carbon, and allocate a minimum of 10% weighting for net zero and social value in our tenders. Further information about our approach to sustainable procurement is available on our website.

Routes to market

NHS England uses a number of methods to purchase goods and services. The approach taken will depend on the contract value, type of product/service, the complexity of the requirement and the duration of the agreement.

Low value purchases (current threshold <£10,000)

A simple purchase order form with a link to associated terms and conditions, is issued for low value purchases. Suppliers are asked for a quotation (without commitment) prior to order placement. Different conditions apply for services, goods and works.

Standard contracts

Contracts are set up following either an invitation to quote; a full competitive tender exercise, or a single supplier tender (only in exceptional circumstances). All tender opportunities are published via Atamis.

Collaborative supply agreements

NHS England takes full advantage of government-negotiated collaborative agreements, and places contracts through the Crown Commercial Service.

Framework agreements

A framework agreement is an arrangement where terms, conditions and often pricing are agreed with a supplier(s) for a set period, which then allows call-offs to be placed under the framework. A tender exercise is undertaken to set the framework up in the first instance.

Finding contracting opportunities

You can use the following services to search for procurement opportunities:

It is important that prospective suppliers also register on the e-commercial system, Atamis, where all direct tendering opportunities are published.

Atamis is the single health family eCommercial system that enables the large majority of NHS organisations to undertake procurement planning, tender, contract and supplier management. It allows suppliers to complete the Evergreen sustainable supplier assessment, supporting alignment with our NHS net zero and sustainability ambitions, including those set out in the NHS net zero supplier roadmap.

Atamis also gives access to published tender notices, user guides and provides notifications about relevant business opportunities when they appear on the system.

Sustainable procurement and innovation

The NHS is committed to procuring responsibly and enabling the use of innovative products and services. More information is available on:

Working with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

We work with a wide range of suppliers including SMEs and trade associations.

Engaging with SMEs is a key strategic aim for NHS England Commercial and is included as an objective within the Strategic framework for commercial. In 2023, NHS England launched an SME Advisory Group with the purpose of advising the NHS Commercial community on issues affecting SMEs and on improving the opportunities for SMEs to engage with and compete for NHS business.

SME Advisory Group

The SME advisory group provides SMEs with a clear voice across a broad spectrum of market sectors on issues affecting SMEs. Working with NHS England, NHS Supply Chain Limited, the Department of Health and Social Care and representatives from the integrated care systems, the group is focused on delivering change for the benefit of small suppliers. Membership of the group is reviewed regularly to ensure it is focused and concise. If you are an SME and wish to know more about our work, please contact england.supplier@nhs.net

SME action plan

The SME action plan sets out the issues raised by SMEs and the changes we will make by agreed timescales to ensure we make it as easy as possible to do business with us.

It focuses on 4 areas of improvement:

Further details can of each action can be found in the SME action plan.

Further information

The Cabinet Office has released a Selling to government guide for SMEs. The guide supports SMEs who are wanting to bid for government contracts, including opportunities in the health sector, either directly, or in the supply chain. It also offers top tips on bidding, where to look for contract opportunities and signposts to further information, such as centralised guidance from the Small and Medium Business Hub.

Additional information for suppliers

Working directly with integrated care systems, trusts or primary care organisations

NHS organisations buy a wide range of products and services required for the day-to-day running of trusts across clinical and non-clinical categories. Trusts are likely to use NHS Supply Chain Limited, and national and regional frameworks agreements for some categories of spend; typical categories will include digital, data and technology, medical and capital equipment, medical and surgical consumables and non-medical equipment, consumables and services.

Working directly with NHS procurement hubs

NHS Procurement in Partnership (NHS PiP) is the collaboration between 4 NHS procurement hubs. Each hub has its own governance and structure, but all have the ultimate objective of helping the NHS to improve procurement.

The 4 NHS procurement hubs are:

Working with NHS Supply Chain Limited

NHS Supply Chain manages the sourcing, delivery and supply of over 620,000 products ranging from clinical consumables, capital medical equipment and products such as food and office solutions for NHS trusts and health care organisations.

Working indirectly via the NHS extended supply chain

Thousands of opportunities are created throughout the various NHS supply chains, spanning multiple business sectors and suitable for business of all sizes. First-tier suppliers support the NHS in the delivery of its priorities and require their own supply chain to support them.

Suppliers that have been successful in the procurement process with NHS organisations can be found in a number of ways:

Working with trade associations

Trade Associations are funded by businesses that operate in a specific industry, and many operate on a not-for-profit basis. Their activities are focused around enhancing the profile of their industry sector, and include influencing policy debates, driving innovation, and provision of supply chain and business development support (often with a focus on SMEs).

Trade Associations are a valuable stakeholder and a key engagement route to support industry. They represent their members and offer a collective voice that provides guidance and feedback on their specific category. They also cascade important information and provide a support network to encourage growth and innovation. The health family has regular engagement with a broad range of trade associations – if you would like to know more, please contact england.supplier@nhs.net

How the Freedom of Information Act may affect suppliers

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 provides a statutory general right of access to information held by public authorities, or by those providing services for public authorities.

NHS England could receive requests for information specifically concerning our commercial relationship with our suppliers. NHS England will consult with the supplier(s) concerned prior to responding to a request whenever reasonably practicable.

Suppliers tendering for NHS work will be asked in the tender documentation to identify any information they consider to be exempt from disclosure under the Act.

If a request to disclose information identified, NHS England will:

  • consider whether the information is, in fact, exempt
  • consider whether the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information (unless the information benefits from an absolute exemption)
  • consult with the supplier prior to disclosure of information whenever reasonably practicable

NHS England is not liable for any loss or damage suffered by suppliers, whether in contract, or any other way, as a result of NHS England disclosing information in response to a request made under freedom of information, if the information is not specifically considered by both NHS England and the supplier to be exempt under the provisions of the Act.

Suppliers should note that if they provide NHS England with any information marked ‘confidential’ or equivalent, this does not mean that NHS England accepts any duty of confidence by virtue of that marking.

Public sector contract transparency regulations

If you’re successfully awarded a public sector contract, including those advertised by NHS England, details from it will then be published under transparency regulations. The criteria for redactions will be in line with the exemptions set out by the Freedom of Information Act; NHS England will assess their applications in discussion with suppliers.

How to request a supplier reference

Suppliers may request a reference in writing, either on completion of a contract or following a period of 12 months continuous working with NHS England. When requesting a reference, suppliers must submit to NHS commercial, stating the project and contract number along with the commencement and completion dates.

Before giving a reference, NHS England will establish whether the request being made is consistent with the performance delivered by the supplier. We reserve the right to decline a reference where we reasonably consider the supplier to have not performed its contract obligations.

Why suppliers cannot use the NHS logo

Suppliers of goods and services to the NHS cannot use the NHS logo or a local NHS organisational logo. Suppliers who want to promote the fact they have supplied goods or services to the NHS must explain that in plain text and in a descriptive manner. Further information is available in the NHS identity guidelines.

Requesting commercial speakers

Contact england.supplier@nhs.net should you want to invite an NHS England Commercial speaker to your event.