5 things to know About NHS Tendering

5 Things to Know About NHS Tendering.

The NHS is not only our health service but it is one of the driving forces of our economy, In 2018/19 the NHS Procurement amounted to £70 Billion in England alone. Whenever we hear of the cost of the NHS, it has to be remembered that most of that money is spent in our economy. The procurement process is open to businesses large and small, from medical to cleaning service, electrical to construction, beds to cups and saucers.

Tendering for the NHS is a process. Public sector procurement has to be fair and is driven by value for money, including cost and quality. The NHS Procurement is scrutinised by the government to ensure that public money is being spent correctly. This starts with the tendering process.

Here are some things to help you get into the NHS Procurement process.

1. Make sure that you are registered to tender for work. The NHS Shared Business Service is a great place to start. Find out how to get onto their radar. You may not have thought about the range of products and services the NHS procures, and you could pitch for one.
2. Find out if there is a Framework for the products or services that your business sells. If there is, find out when it is open for applications. A Framework is essentially a set of preconditions that show your business is capable of delivering for a particular tender. Have a look at the NHS Commercial Solutions page to find out more.
3. Make sure you know what is going on, look up Contracts Finder, or register for the NHS Commercial Solutions Tender site. You can get updates of what the NHS is procuring, but also when there are new frameworks being put in place.
4. Make sure your business will be able to apply for tenders or frameworks. Find out what is required before you go and seek out tenders. There is nothing more frustrating than being unable to meet a deadline for a framework that might be in place for three years. If you are in, you can grow your business, if you are out, you are out for the period of the framework.
5. Quality Standards are not a luxury, they are a necessity for more and more NHS Contracts. Having ISO standards, to a UKAS level, shows the procurement team that your business is being managed properly, and they can have confidence in your systems. ISO 27001 is becoming an essential standard to ensure that the data held by the NHS is secure. Many NHS Trusts are making it mandatory for awarding contracts.

In the current Covid 19 environment, NHS Procurement is an even more important part of the economy. If you want to become a supplier, make sure you are qualified before you spend time tendering.