The NHS Standard Contract is mandated by NHS England for use by commissioners for all contracts for healthcare services other than primary care. The 2015/16 NHS Standard Contract is available for use by commissioners both in paper form and via the eContract system.

The NHS Standard Contract 2015/16 comprises three parts:

• Particulars (version 1, published March 2015)
• Service Conditions
• General Conditions

The Particulars were updated in August 2015 to incorporate the changes to the financial sanctions which apply to 18-week Referral to Treatment (RTT) standards – for more information, see the ‘NHS Standard Contract National Variation Agreement 2015/16 RTT waiting times for non-urgent consultant-led treatment’ below.  The August 2015 version of the Particulars should be used for contracts commencing after 1 October 2015.

• Particulars (version 2, published August 2015)

The NHS Standard Contract 2015/16 Technical Guidance is now available:

• Technical Guidance
• Sanction reporting template

If you have a query on the NHS Standard Contract, please email: nhscb.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.

eContract

The eContract allows tailoring of the contract to reflect the specific services provided, so that only the relevant Service Conditions and Schedules appear. We strongly recommend that commissioners utilise the eContract system.

If you have a query on the eContract system for 2015/16, please email: england.econtract@nhs.net.

National Variations to prior year NHS Standard Contracts

Guidance on the completion of the National Variation to existing contracts in 2015/16 form, to effect the in-year National Variation to the NHS Standard Contract in relation to the financial sanctions which apply to 18-week Referral to Treatment (RTT) standards is available here:

• NHS Standard Contract National Variation Agreement 2015/16 RTT waiting times for non-urgent consultant-led treatment

Guidance on the process to effect the mandatory 2015/16 National Variation to existing contracts the terms of which extend beyond 31 March 2015 are available here:

• NHS Standard Contract – Guidance on National Variations to existing 2012/13, 2013/14 and 2014/15 form contracts – (republished 20 April 2015)
• NHS Standard Contract – Short form National Variation Agreement template 2015/16 (republished 5 May 2015)
• National Variation Agreement 2015/16 for the NHS Standard Contract in 2014/15 form
• National Variation Agreement 2015/16 for the NHS Standard Contract in 2013/14 form
• National Variation Agreement 2015/16 for the NHS Standard Contract in 2012/13 form (bilateral)
• National Variation Agreement 2015/16 for the NHS Standard Contract in 2012/13 form (multilateral)

Variations to 2015/16 NHS Standard Contract

• NHS Standard Contract Guidance on the Variations Process
• NHS Standard Contract Variation Agreement

CQUIN

The final Commissioning for Quality and Innovation (CQUIN) Guidance 2015/16 is available:

• Guidance for 2015/16
• Guidance templates version 3 (section 2.3 and 2.4 updated July 2015)
• Pick list

A letter providing non mandatory guidance on CQUIN measures 2a-Sepsis screening and 2b-antibiotic administration is available (published 12 October 2015).

• Clarification on CQUIN measures 2a-Sepsis screening and 2b-antibiotic administration

If you have a query on CQUIN, please email: e.cquin@nhs.net.

Contract support and other publications

Fair Deal for Staff Pensions

• Template NHS Standard Contract Schedule 7 and Accompanying Guidance.

Provisions Applicable to Primary Care Services

Schedule 2L has now been updated (at 30 June 2015) to reflect recent amendments to the APMS Directions.

• Provisions Applicable to Primary Care Services – Schedule 2L and Explanatory Note.

Pro Forma Contract Management Forms

• NHS Standard Contract 2015/16 Pro forma Contract Management Forms

Model Collaborative Commissioning Agreements

• Model Collaborative Commissioning Agreement (single contract option)
• Model Collaborative Commissioning Agreement (multiple contract option)

Pro Forma Change in Control Notification

• Pro Forma Change in Control Notification

Consultations (Now closed)

The Consultation on the National Variation to the NHS Standard Contract in relation to the financial sanctions which apply to 18-week Referral to Treatment (RTT) standards is available to download.  Responses should be submitted by 24 July 2015.

Equality Impact Assessment

• Equality Impact Assessment

Previous contracts and guidance

• The NHS Standard Contract 2013/14 and 2014/15 and supporting documents are available via the navigation at the top of this page.
• Previously published NHS standard contracts are available from the Department of Health website.

Dispute Resolution Process for 2015/16

NHS England, the NHS Trust Development Authority (NHS TDA) and Monitor have agreed a joint Dispute Resolution Process for 2015/16 (available on our archived website). Publications gateway number: 02759