How do I find NHS tenders?

NHS tenders are published on Find a Tender (the UK's official procurement portal), Contracts Finder, and individual NHS trust websites. Most opportunities above £12,319 must be advertised on Find a Tender under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.

Where NHS Tenders Are Published

NHS tenders are primarily published on Find a Tender (previously known as OJEU), the UK's official procurement portal that replaced the EU's Tenders Electronic Daily (TED) post-Brexit. This is the mandatory platform for all NHS contracts above the threshold values set in the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.

For goods and services contracts, NHS organisations must publish opportunities above £12,319 (excluding VAT) on Find a Tender. For works contracts, the threshold is significantly higher at £4,733,252. These thresholds are reviewed every two years, with the current values applying from 1 January 2024.

Additional Procurement Platforms

Contracts Finder serves as the UK's domestic procurement portal, where NHS trusts often publish lower-value opportunities that fall below the Find a Tender thresholds. All public sector contracts above £10,000 should appear on Contracts Finder within 24 hours of being awarded, providing visibility of the full procurement landscape.

Many individual NHS trust websites also maintain their own tender pages, particularly for smaller local contracts or supplier registration processes. Major NHS trusts like Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust or Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust often have dedicated procurement sections.

Specialist Healthcare Platforms

Several commercial platforms aggregate NHS opportunities, including BiP Solutions (Bravo eSourcing), ProContract, and The Chest. These regional procurement hubs serve clusters of NHS organisations and often handle the end-to-end tendering process for participating trusts.

NHS Supply Chain operates as the principal commercial procurement and supply organisation for the NHS in England, managing framework agreements and collaborative contracts. Their supplier portal provides access to various NHS procurement opportunities across different categories.

Framework Agreements and Dynamic Purchasing Systems

The NHS extensively uses framework agreements established by organisations like Crown Commercial Service, NHS Supply Chain, and regional procurement consortiums. These frameworks allow NHS trusts to conduct mini-competitions without running full OJEU procedures, significantly streamlining the procurement process.

For suppliers seeking NHS work, registering with relevant Dynamic Purchasing Systems (DPS) can provide ongoing access to opportunities within specific categories like temporary staffing, medical equipment, or professional services.

Search Strategy and Registration

To effectively monitor NHS tenders, suppliers should establish saved searches on Find a Tender using relevant CPV codes (Common Procurement Vocabulary). Healthcare-related codes typically begin with 33 (medical equipment) or 85 (health and social work services).

Many NHS organisations require supplier registration before participating in tenders. This often involves completing pre-qualification questionnaires covering financial standing, technical capability, and compliance with NHS standards including CQC registration where applicable.

The NHS procurement landscape continues evolving, with increased emphasis on social value requirements under the Social Value Act 2012 and sustainability considerations. Suppliers should ensure their tender responses address these broader policy objectives alongside technical and commercial requirements.