NHS Tenders: A Supplier's Guide to How NHS Procurement Works

A plain guide to NHS tenders for suppliers: how NHS procurement works, where tenders are published and how the Procurement Act and the Provider Selection Regime apply.

The NHS buys an enormous range of goods and services, from medical equipment and IT to cleaning, catering and clinical care. For suppliers, NHS tenders can be steady, long-term work, but the rules behind them are more complex than most. This guide explains how NHS procurement works, which rules apply to what, and where to find the opportunities.

Who buys in the NHS?

There isn't one NHS buyer. Contracts are let by NHS England, integrated care boards (ICBs), and individual NHS trusts and foundation trusts. Local authorities also buy some health services, such as public health programmes.

Each of these bodies runs its own buying, often through a regional team or a shared service. That's why the same kind of contract can look quite different from one trust to the next, and why it pays to know which organisations cover the areas you work in.

Which procurement rules apply?

Two sets of rules matter, and which one applies depends on what's being bought.

Goods and non-clinical services, such as equipment, software or facilities management, are bought under the Procurement Act 2023, which came into force on 24 February 2025. Our guide to the Procurement Act 2023 explains what changed for bid teams.

Health care services in England are different. Since 1 January 2024, NHS bodies and local authorities have bought them under the Provider Selection Regime (PSR), introduced under the Health and Care Act 2022. The PSR gives buyers three routes: a direct award, the most suitable provider process, or a competitive process. Only the last one looks like a normal tender. So many health care contracts change hands with no open competition at all. Buyers still have to publish transparency notices, though, which gives providers a window into decisions.

Where are NHS tenders published?

Under the Procurement Act, contracting authorities must publish their notices on Find a Tender, the government's central digital platform, before posting them anywhere else. That includes tender notices for larger contracts and lighter below-threshold notices. NHS trusts count as central government authorities under the Act, so they must publish a below-threshold notice for any contract they advertise worth £12,000 or more including VAT.

Contracts Finder used to be the home of lower-value public contracts. It still carries notices for procurements that started under the old Public Contracts Regulations 2015, but new notices now go on Find a Tender first. Our guide to using Find a Tender walks through searching and setting up alerts.

Many NHS buyers also use their own e-tendering portals to run the actual competition, so registering on the portals your target trusts use is worth doing early.

Tracking opportunities across every portal is slow work. BidSearch pulls opportunities from more than 900 sources into one feed, so you can spot the right contracts sooner. See how BidSearch works.

How NHS frameworks work

Much NHS buying happens through frameworks rather than one-off tenders. A framework sets up a list of approved suppliers. NHS buyers then award contracts to firms on that list, either directly or through a short mini-competition.

Frameworks are run by national bodies such as NHS Supply Chain, by regional NHS procurement hubs and by the Crown Commercial Service. If you aren't on the relevant framework, you may not be able to bid for the work at all until it's re-let, so watching for framework tenders is often more valuable than chasing individual contracts.

How to win NHS contracts

Winning comes down to the same basics as any public bid. There are a few NHS points to add. Evaluators will look closely at patient safety, clinical governance, data protection and social value. Evidence of working with similar NHS organisations carries real weight, as do relevant accreditations.

Read the specification in full, answer every part of each question and back your claims with specific results. Our guide to the public sector procurement process covers the stages from notice to award.

FAQs

Are all NHS contracts put out to tender?

No. The procurement process depends on what's being purchased and which rules apply. Goods and non-healthcare services, such as medical equipment, IT and facilities management, generally fall under the Procurement Act 2023. Competitive tendering is the default for most public procurements, although exceptions apply and contracts may also be awarded through existing frameworks or other permitted routes.

Relevant healthcare services in England fall under the Provider Selection Regime (PSR). This allows NHS bodies and other relevant authorities to use direct award processes, select the most suitable provider without running a competitive process, or conduct a competitive process, depending on the circumstances.

The PSR also has specific transparency requirements, including publishing notices about provider selection decisions.

For suppliers, this means that not every NHS contract will be advertised as an open tender. Monitoring tender notices, framework opportunities and relevant PSR notices can help you identify opportunities that match your business.

Where can I find NHS tenders?

Start with Find a Tender, the central digital platform where contracting authorities must publish their notices under the Procurement Act. Contracts Finder still holds some older procurements. Many trusts also use their own e-tendering portals, and frameworks run by NHS Supply Chain, regional hubs and the Crown Commercial Service are another common route in.

What is the Provider Selection Regime?

The Provider Selection Regime is the set of rules for buying health care services in England. It came into force on 1 January 2024 and applies to NHS England, ICBs, NHS trusts and local authorities. It offers three routes to award a contract: direct award, most suitable provider or a competitive process. It doesn't cover goods or non-health care services.

Can small businesses win NHS contracts?

Yes. Lower-value contracts and lots within larger frameworks are often well suited to smaller suppliers, and below-threshold opportunities now appear on Find a Tender alongside larger ones. The key is targeting contracts that match your capability, registering on the right portals and building a set of NHS-relevant case studies you can reuse.

Find your next NHS contract

NHS tenders reward suppliers who know where to look and which rules apply. BidSearch brings opportunities from more than 900 sources into one place, and BidScript helps you draft strong responses once you've found them. Book a demo to see both in action.