What procurement frameworks do NHS trusts use?

NHS trusts use a range of procurement frameworks to source goods and services compliantly and cost-effectively. The most commonly used include Crown Commercial Service (CCS) frameworks, NHS Supply Chain catalogues, and regional buying consortia agreements. These frameworks allow trusts to purchase from pre-approved supplier lists without running a full tender every time, saving time and reducing procurement risk. This article unpacks each framework type, explains when trusts must go outside them, and covers how suppliers can access these routes to market.

Which procurement frameworks are most commonly used by NHS trusts?

NHS trusts most commonly use Crown Commercial Service frameworks, NHS Supply Chain, and regional buying consortia such as NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) and the Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation (ESPO). These framework agreements cover a broad range of categories, from clinical consumables and medical devices to IT, facilities management, and professional services.

In practice, a trust’s procurement team will first check whether a compliant framework exists before committing to a standalone tender. Using an established framework agreement means the competitive process has already been run on behalf of the public sector, so trusts can call off contracts directly or run a shorter mini-competition among framework suppliers. This approach helps trusts meet their obligations under the Procurement Act 2023, which replaced the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and continues to require demonstrable value for money and fair competition.

The most frequently used frameworks across NHS trusts include:

• Crown Commercial Service (CCS) frameworks, covering IT, professional services, fleet, and a wide range of corporate categories
• NHS Supply Chain catalogues, focused on clinical and non-clinical products at nationally negotiated prices
• NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) frameworks, covering non-clinical procurement including estates, HR, and finance services
• Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation (ESPO), a regional framework widely used for facilities, food, and office supplies
• HealthTrust Europe (HTE), a buying group offering frameworks across clinical, non-clinical, and capital categories

What is the Crown Commercial Service and how does it serve the NHS?

The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) is an executive agency of the Cabinet Office that develops and manages commercial agreements on behalf of the UK public sector. For NHS trusts, CCS provides access to a wide library of pre-competed framework agreements covering categories such as technology, professional services, workforce, and facilities, allowing trusts to procure compliantly without running a full open tender.

CCS frameworks are open to all public sector bodies, including NHS trusts, foundation trusts, and integrated care boards (ICBs). Because CCS runs the competitive procurement process centrally, individual organisations benefit from aggregated buying power and reduced administrative burden. Trusts can either place direct call-off orders (where the framework terms are sufficient) or run a further competition among appointed suppliers to secure the best price for their specific requirement.

For NHS trusts, particularly relevant CCS frameworks include those covering digital and technology services, temporary and permanent staffing, consultancy, and estates management. CCS also publishes guidance on which framework is appropriate for a given category, making it a practical first port of call for procurement teams assessing their options.

How does NHS Supply Chain differ from other procurement frameworks?

NHS Supply Chain is a dedicated procurement and supply chain function specifically designed for the NHS, focusing primarily on clinical and non-clinical products rather than services. Unlike CCS or buying consortia frameworks, NHS Supply Chain operates its own catalogue system, warehousing, and logistics network, giving trusts access to nationally negotiated product prices alongside physical delivery infrastructure.

NHS Supply Chain is managed on behalf of NHS England and covers a broad range of product categories, including surgical instruments, personal protective equipment, diagnostic equipment, and everyday consumables. The pricing is negotiated nationally, meaning individual trusts benefit from collective NHS purchasing volumes without needing to negotiate independently.

The key distinction is scope. CCS frameworks tend to cover services and corporate categories, while NHS Supply Chain concentrates on products, particularly those with clinical application. Buying consortia sit between the two, offering regional or sector-specific frameworks that may cover both products and services depending on the consortium. Trusts often use all three in parallel, selecting the most appropriate route depending on what they are buying.

What role do buying consortia play in NHS trust procurement?

Buying consortia are collaborative procurement organisations that develop and manage framework agreements on behalf of groups of public sector organisations, including NHS trusts. They allow trusts to access pre-competed contracts across a wide range of categories without each organisation having to run its own tender, reducing duplication and improving value through aggregated spend.

In the NHS, prominent buying consortia include NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS), HealthTrust Europe (HTE), the London Procurement Partnership (LPP), and regional bodies such as ESPO and YPO. Each consortium has its own portfolio of frameworks, and trusts can join multiple consortia depending on their category needs and geography.

Consortia are particularly valuable for smaller trusts or those without large in-house procurement teams. Rather than resourcing a full tender process, a trust can call off an existing consortium framework, confident that the competitive process has been run compliantly. Consortia also provide category expertise and market intelligence that individual trusts may not have access to internally, making them a practical extension of the trust’s own procurement capability.

When must an NHS trust run a standalone tender instead of using a framework?

An NHS trust must run a standalone tender when no suitable framework agreement exists for the requirement, when the value or scope of the requirement falls outside the terms of an available framework, or when the trust determines that a standalone process will deliver better value. Under the Procurement Act 2023, trusts are required to demonstrate that their chosen procurement route is appropriate and competitive.

Common situations where a standalone tender is necessary include:

• Highly specialist or bespoke requirements not covered by existing frameworks
• Requirements that exceed the financial ceiling of available frameworks
• Situations where the trust’s specific needs cannot be adequately met by framework suppliers
• Capital projects or major infrastructure works that require a tailored procurement strategy
• Requirements where a full market engagement would yield significantly better commercial outcomes

Running a standalone tender is more resource-intensive than a framework call-off, requiring the trust to manage the full process from market engagement and specification development through to evaluation, award, and contract management. Trusts without sufficient internal capacity often seek external tender management support to ensure the process is run compliantly and efficiently.

How can suppliers get onto NHS procurement frameworks?

Suppliers can access NHS procurement frameworks by responding to open competitions run by framework owners such as CCS, NHS Supply Chain, NHS SBS, or buying consortia. These competitions are advertised on the Find a Tender Service (FTS), which replaced the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) for UK public sector contracts following Brexit, as well as on Contracts Finder and individual framework owners’ portals.

The process typically involves:

1. Monitoring procurement portals, registering on FTS, Contracts Finder, and relevant consortium portals to receive alerts for new framework competitions
2. Completing a selection questionnaire, demonstrating financial standing, technical capability, and relevant experience
3. Submitting a tender response, providing detailed proposals, pricing, and evidence of quality standards relevant to the framework category
4. Meeting compliance requirements, including insurance levels, accreditations, and any sector-specific standards such as NHS Data Security and Protection requirements
5. Appointment to the framework: successful suppliers are listed on the framework for its duration, typically two to four years, after which a new competition is run

Suppliers should note that framework appointments are not guaranteed contracts. Being on a framework gives access to call-off opportunities, but trusts may still run mini-competitions among framework suppliers for higher-value requirements. Maintaining strong relationships, competitive pricing, and clear service propositions remains important even after framework appointment.

How eXceeding helps with NHS trust procurement

eXceeding supports NHS trusts and public sector organisations at every stage of the procurement process, whether that means navigating the right framework route or running a fully compliant standalone tender. As an independent consultancy with no ties to any supplier or framework, eXceeding always acts in the client’s best interest.

• Identifying the most appropriate procurement route, including framework selection and call-off strategy
• Running complex tenders end-to-end, from specification development to supplier evaluation and award
• Supporting framework compliance under the Procurement Act 2023
• Providing interim procurement resourcing when trusts need specialist expertise quickly
• Delivering cost optimisation reviews to identify savings across existing contracts and supplier relationships

Whether your trust needs support with a single complex procurement or a broader transformation of its procurement function, eXceeding has the experience and independence to deliver results. Get in touch with the eXceeding team today to discuss how we can support your organisation’s procurement goals.

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