Scope
Description
Following on from the Preliminary Market Engagemement Notice: Community Pharmacy IT Summer 2025, issued in August 2025, NHS England are notifying the market of the next steps.
NHS England (NHSE) is seeking to expand the number of suppliers in the market and their capability to deliver digital clinical services within the Community Pharmacy (CP) marketplace in support of the NHS 10 Year Health Plan and Medium Term Planning Framework.
NHSE intends to engage with suppliers to facilitate their listing via the Digital Buyer's Catalogue. NHSE will not be undertaking any purchasing via this route, which means the requirements of Procurement Act 2023 do not apply. However, this notice services to provide transparency to the market in relation to decision making.
The process will be undertaken in three stages:
Qualification - validates the company information of the Respondent to ensure suitability to become a supplier of services supporting public health operations,
System Readiness Gateway - managing Respondent's timing through the development and assurance assessment process in line with the readiness of their system against the published NHSE Capabilities and Standards; and,
Assurance Process - qualifying the Respondent's system to provide the Services through evaluation against nationally published standards
This notice begins the process via the Qualification Process described above. Suppliers will be required to complete a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ), which will be evaluated to ensure that their company is suitable and that they have a solution which can be taken forward for assurance in stages 2 and 3.
The current Engagement Process will close for PQQ submissions on 8 December 2025. This will enable a tranche of suppliers to be taken forward for further stages. NHS England will introduce further tranches as demand and resources dictate.
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 January 2026 to 31 March 2029
- 3 years, 3 months
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 48180000 - Medical software package
- 48311000 - Document management software package
- 48814400 - Clinical information system
- 72300000 - Data services
- 85149000 - Pharmacy services
Contract locations
- UKC - North East (England)
- UKD - North West (England)
- UKE - Yorkshire and the Humber
- UKF - East Midlands (England)
- UKG - West Midlands (England)
- UKH - East of England
- UKI - London
- UKJ - South East (England)
- UKK - South West (England)
Engagement
Engagement deadline
8 December 2025
Engagement process description
The Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) is live from 11 November 2025.
The questionnaire and associated documents will be made available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, using NHS England's e-Sourcing portal Atamis, at https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome.
Interested organisations are requested to express their interest in the services by visiting the Atamis e-Sourcing portal linked to above and searching for Atamis Reference number C399493
Fully completed PQQ submissions must be made by 5pm on 8 December 2025.
Please note that clarification questions will be accepted up to 5pm on the 24 November 2025.
Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, via Atamis.
NHS England will consider future tranches relating to the Engagement Process, including future PQQ applications, at its discretion, as demand and resource requirements dictate.
Participation
Particular suitability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Contracting authority
NHS ENGLAND
- NHS Organisation Data Service: X24
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PDPT-3135-BWWY
NHS England, 7&8 Wellington Place
Leeds
LS1 4AP
United Kingdom
Region: UKE42 - Leeds
Organisation type: Public authority - central government
Other organisation
These organisations are carrying out the procurement, or part of it, on behalf of the contracting authorities.
NHS South Central and West CSU
Summary of their role in this procurement: Procurement Agent
- NHS Organisation Data Service: 0DF
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PXTZ-5316-XWPW
Omega House, 112 Southampton Road
Eastleigh
SO50 5PB
United Kingdom
Contact name: Garry Mitchell
Region: UKJ35 - South Hampshire