How do I become a supplier?
The NHS is both wide and diverse with many opportunities to do business with the NHS at different levels. One point of entry is through NHS procurement organisations such as NHS Commercial Solutions.
One of our organisation’s key objectives is to develop value for money framework agreements covering corporate services, digital, estates and facilities and workforce areas, which are available to NHS and wider public sector customers.
Public Sector Contracts
NHS Trusts are responsible for buying their own goods and services. Most NHS trusts have procurement departments who take responsibility for the management of supplies, contracting and procurement.
We work on behalf of our NHS customers and other public sector organisations to award framework agreements and support procurement teams in awarding contracts under these frameworks. As these agreements and contracts are for use in the public sector, Public Contract Regulations guide the steps we must take to promote competition and transparency.
This process requires us to advertise planned framework agreements on the ‘Find a Tender Service’ (FTS) gov.uk/find-tender, the UK’s e-notification service where notices for new procurements must be published, followed by an evaluation of tender responses using a rigorous, and a structured method.
We must ensure that your company is capable of serving all NHS Commercial Solutions’ customers and, for national contracts, across the NHS in England or the wider UK public sector.
To be considered as an approved supplier on a framework agreement, or a single supplier contract, you must:
- Express interest by following the instructions given on the contract notice
- Complete all stages of the procurement process
We award the following agreements and contracts:
- Framework Agreements - a framework agreement lists organisations that have been successfully assessed to deliver products and services. This assessment is based on both quality and commercial criteria. Most of our framework agreements offer our customers an opportunity to call-off services directly (without a further competition), or hold a further competition with the approved list of suppliers. This compliant route to market offers both suppliers and customers reduced procurement time and cost.
- Single Supplier Contract - where there is no framework agreement available or the service required is unique, we will go out to market for a contract or contracts with a supplier on behalf of a single trust or a number of trusts forming a recognised cohort.
There are a number of ways to find opportunities to tender for government and public sector business:
Register with Contracts Finder gov.uk/contracts-finder and ‘Find a Tender Service’ (FTS) for alerts relevant to your business area. Contracts Finder shows all public sector tenders with a value of more than £12,000. It is automatically updated every weekday night with new notices published on FTS.
Atamis (Health Family eCommercial System) is currently being rolled out with all NHS Trusts within the UK and by 2025 all NHS Tender opportunities, framework agreements and contracts will be hosted on this portal. All potential tenderers are advised to register on the portal https://atamis-1928.my.site.com/s/Welcome
New systems and process are currently being developed with the implementation of Procurement Act 2023, due later this year. Interested suppliers are advised to keep themselves updated through the existing channels and by following this link www. gov.uk/government/publications/ procurement-act-2023-short-guides/ the-procurement-act-2023-a-short- guide-for-suppliers-html
Follow us on social media. We keep our clients and suppliers updated via LinkedIn.
Can my business become a supplier to an existing framework agreement?
Once a contract has been awarded, additional suppliers cannot be added (with the exception of Dynamic Purchasing Systems contracts). You will need to wait until the next relevant tender opportunity arises. The length of an arrangement varies but is usually between two to four years. New procurements typically start several months in advance of the current arrangement’s expiry date and the procurement process can take several months to complete depending on the complexity of the goods or services being procured. When the new Procurement Act comes into force, there will be opportunities for open frameworks to be awarded, which may allow for suppliers to be added at set times in the framework term.
Register on the Government Procurement Dynamic Marketplace
This is an online marketplace providing customers with a request for quote service for low value, less complex purchases. It enables you to advertise your capability to supply products or services on a national or regional basis without the need to go through a tender process. Any supplier can register on the eMarketplace but registration alone does not mean you are a public sector supplier.
Website: supplierregistration.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/dps
Download the flyer here.