NHS tenders for small businesses: where to find them and how to start

The NHS doesn't buy as one organisation. Each trust and integrated care board (ICB) buys for itself, some buying goes through regional hubs, and some is done nationally. That's good news for a small business: there are many doors in, and some of them are small. Here's where NHS work is advertised, how it's bought, and where to start.

How the NHS buys

GOV.UK's guide to doing business with the health sector describes three buying levels:

• National, such as NHS Supply Chain and central frameworks.
• Regional, such as procurement hubs and collaboratives.
• Local, including individual provider organisations, such as trusts, and integrated care boards (ICBs).

So each trust or ICB also buys for itself. The guide says it's a mistake to assume that winning work at one trust gets you in across the NHS. Treat each one as its own customer.

The guide also says most NHS organisations are encouraged to buy through existing frameworks or NHS Supply Chain. Frameworks are managed by bodies such as the Crown Commercial Service, NHS Supply Chain, procurement hubs and accredited framework providers. Getting on one usually means bidding when it's tendered. Our guide to construction frameworks explains how that works.

Where NHS tenders are advertised

• Find a Tender, part of the Central Digital Platform. GOV.UK's guide says it includes NHS pipeline information for contracts valued above £2 million.
• Contracts Finder, for procurements still under the older 2015 rules. GOV.UK's guide notes some contracts are still awarded under those rules, because some frameworks and dynamic purchasing systems pre-date February 2025. Notices for procurements still under the 2015 rules move off Contracts Finder from 1 May 2027 (SI 2026/746). See Contracts Finder vs Find a Tender.

Set up saved searches for the trusts and ICBs near you. Our guide to free tender alerts shows how.

Start small: low-value buying

GOV.UK's guide says low-value buying is usually under £12,000, tax included, and that this threshold applies to central government bodies, including NHS trusts. It's managed locally by trusts or departments, which often use informal "3 quotes". The guide calls these faster, with less paperwork, and ideal for small businesses starting out. Ask the trust's procurement team how it handles quotes for your kind of work.

Some NHS services aren't tendered in the usual way

The NHS Provider Selection Regime (PSR) has been in place since April 2024. GOV.UK's guide says it applies to health, public health and some social care contracts, and lets buyers continue working with trusted providers without full re-tendering. If you deliver health or care services, read how the PSR works, because some contracts are awarded under it rather than through a tender.

What NHS buyers ask for

Each contract sets its own conditions, but GOV.UK's guide flags these:

• Cyber Essentials. The guide says the NHS requires Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials Plus.
• The Data Security and Protection Toolkit, which the guide calls essential for handling patient data.
• Social value. The guide lists PPN 002, under which buyers must include social value, such as local jobs or sustainability.
• Your Central Digital Platform record. You'll need your core supplier information on the platform and a share code. See how to register on the Central Digital Platform.

NHS work in our sectors

• Construction trades. Estates and maintenance work can go through frameworks as well as open tenders, so check which frameworks your local trusts use. See how to find construction tenders.
• Training. Search for training notices from trusts and ICBs. See training tenders in the UK.
• Transport. Search for transport notices from trusts and ICBs in your area. See transport tenders in the UK.
• Care. Some care is bought jointly by an NHS trust and a local authority, and some falls under the PSR. In our count of Find a Tender, all buyers published 244 social care tender notices from 1 September to 28 October 2026, and 79 for health services. See care tenders in the UK and domiciliary care tenders.
• Cleaning. See how to get cleaning contracts from the public sector.
• Catering. GOV.UK's guide says NHS Supply Chain sources food as well as products and services for trusts. See catering tenders in the UK.

Questions

Can small businesses supply the NHS?

Yes. Each trust and ICB buys for itself, and much low-value buying is done locally with informal quotes. That's often the easiest place to start.

Where are NHS tenders published?

Mostly on Find a Tender. Some procurements still under the older 2015 rules are on Contracts Finder.

Do I need Cyber Essentials to supply the NHS?

GOV.UK's guide for health sector suppliers says the NHS requires Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials Plus. Check each tender's conditions for what it needs.

Get 3 live tenders for your trade, free

UK Tender Desk, from Your Evenings Ltd (that's us), works with small businesses in construction trades, training, transport, care, cleaning and catering. Tell us your trade and we'll email you 3 live public sector tenders in it, free. If fewer than 3 fit, we'll say so. We aim to send them by email within 2 working days. Send me 3 live tenders

Want the full check? UK Tender Desk is £149 once: a readiness report and up to 5 live tenders that fit a business your size, by email within 5 working days of your answers to a short form.

Sources

• GOV.UK: How SMEs can work effectively with the NHS (read 31 October 2026)
• The Procurement (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2026, SI 2026/746 (read 31 October 2026)
• Our count of Find a Tender tender notices, 1 September to 28 October 2026, for social care and health services, all buyers.

This guide summarises the official sources above. It isn't legal advice. Check the notice and tender documents for each contract.

Written with AI assistance by the Your Evenings team at Your Evenings Ltd. Last updated 31 October 2026.