Planning

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

Digital Primary Care Open Framework

NHS England

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Planning

06 Oct 2026 at 16:17

UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Planning

22 May 2025 at 07:42

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Planning

02 May 2025 at 11:49

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

NHS England intends to establish an open framework for digital products and services used in general practice, supporting care delivery, administration, clinical decisions, service integration and operational efficiency. Work is intended for use across the UK. The planned framework has three areas: foundation electronic patient record systems, including appointment and consultation management, patient information, prescribing, referrals and resource management; clinical and operational support, spanning capabilities such as care planning, decision support, diagnostics, document management, population health, remote monitoring and video consultation; and research and development to develop and test new capabilities and standards. The framework is intended to give NHS and other eligible public-sector bodies a route to obtain these solutions. Call-off contracts are expected to be run mainly by integrated care boards and general practices, though other buyers may use it.

This is at the planning stage: NHS England has given advance notice of its intention to procure, following formal market engagement in May and June 2025. It is not an invitation to tender. The buyer expects to use a two-stage competitive flexible procedure to establish an open framework, with multiple suppliers able to join each lot and the framework expected to reopen at planned intervals. The tender is intended to be issued in November 2026, subject to approvals, and framework go-live is expected in the third quarter of 2027. The framework is planned to run from September 2027 to September 2030, with extension options to a maximum of six years. The estimated total value is £838.7 million excluding VAT (£1.006 billion including VAT). Suppliers may apply for both the foundation EPR and support-solutions lots; successful suppliers in either are expected to be enrolled automatically onto the research and development lot.

The framework is intended to suit technology suppliers able to deliver digital systems for general practice, from core electronic patient records to specialist clinical and operational applications. Relevant capabilities include appointment and consultation management, prescribing, referrals, clinical decision support, care planning, diagnostics, medicines optimisation, population health management, remote monitoring and secure integration across organisations. Suppliers with research and development capability may also be well placed: that lot is intended for work developing and proving new capabilities and standards from discovery through public beta. NHS England anticipates that small and medium-sized businesses can participate, and expects consortia and subcontracting arrangements to be permitted subject to participation conditions. A supplier must register on the Central Digital Platform to prepare for the future tender. The framework is designed to admit multiple suppliers, with opportunities to join again when it reopens.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Digital Primary Care Open Framework

Notice Description

PLEASE NOTE - This is not a 'call to action' notice and requires no response to the Authority. This notice is published in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023 as a Planned Procurement Notice (UK3). It provides advance notice that NHS England intends to establish an open framework using the competitive flexible procedure for the future procurement of Digital Primary Care General Practice Information Technology (GPIT) solutions, ahead of the publication of a tender notice. Digital systems are fundamental to the delivery of modern general practice services. NHS England's Digital Services for Integrated Care (DSIC) programme is improving digital products across care settings to support and enable an integrated care system, working with technology suppliers to deliver a choice of commonly assured, intuitive and innovative products and services. This framework will be key to this, as well as supporting commitments in the NHS 10 Year Health Plan (10YHP), national digital strategy, and the GP Contract's digital requirements. For the purposes of this procurement, GPIT encompasses the digital solutions (products and services) that support the commissioning, delivery, administration and continuous improvement of general practice. This includes technologies used by clinicians, administrative staff, patients and commissioners to facilitate access to care, care delivery, clinical decision-making, service integration, population health management and operational efficiency. The technology used in general practice falls into two groups: core digital capabilities needed to deliver care, including the recording, management and access of patient health information ('Foundation' Electronic Patient Record solutions); and broader digital capabilities which provide clinical and operational support solutions to complement, extend or enhance the core digital capabilities (sometimes referred to as 'Non-Foundation' solutions). The Authority intends to establish a lotted open framework in accordance with section 49 of the Procurement Act 2023. It is anticipated that the framework will provide a simplified route to market for General Practice Information Technology (GPIT), enabling access to innovative digital solutions whilst securing value for money for the NHS. The indicative lotting structure is as follows: * Lot 1: Foundation Electronic Patient Record (EPR) Solutions * Lot 2: Clinical and Operational Support Solutions * Lot 3: Research and Development The above Lots are characterised by the digital capabilities they consist of. For further description of the capabilities listed below, please see the supporting document attached titled 'Description of Framework Capabilities'. Further details of the requirements for appointment to the framework will be available in the tender documentation. Lot 1 (Foundation Solutions) will consist of the following capabilities: * Appointments Management - GP * Consultation Management - GP * Patient Information Maintenance - GP * Prescribing - GP * Referral Management - GP * Resource Management Lot 2 (Clinical and Operational Support Solutions) will consist of the following capabilities: * Advice and Guidance (Professional to Professional) * Care Plans * Caseload Management * Clinical Decision Support * Communication Management * Cross Organisation Appointment Booking * Cross Organisation Workforce Management * Custom Workflows * Digital Diagnostics * Digital Dictation * Dispensing * Document Management * Domiciliary Care * Emergency Alerts * GP Extracts Verification * Medical Reports * Medicines Optimisation * Population Health Management * Remote Patient Monitoring * Reporting * Risk Stratification * Scanning * Self-Service Appointment Check In * Social Prescribing * Task Management * Telecare * Video Consultation Lot 3: Research and Development This lot will offer successful suppliers on Lots 1 and 2 the opportunity to be involved in research and development to aid the authority with developing and proving out new capabilities and standards through discovery to public beta activities, covering key areas required to evolve solutions and support national strategy. The framework will: * Permit the appointment of multiple suppliers to each lot; * Permit the appointment of same suppliers across different lots; * The framework is expected to reopen at planned intervals during its term; and * Allow for auto enrolment (unless opted out of) onto Lot 3 for successful suppliers awarded a place on Lot 1 or Lot 2. Call-off contracts will be run and awarded primarily by (but not limited to) Integrated Care Boards and general practices through mechanisms that may include direct award and competitive flexible procedures in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023. Detailed service models, delivery requirements, and performance expectations will be set out in future tender documentation which will be made available through Find a Tender when the UK4 Tender Notice is published. Indicative Timeline: The framework procurement will follow a multi-stage competitive flexible procedure and is intended to be issued in November 2026, subject to final governance approvals that are currently in progress. Framework go-live is expected in Q3 2027. A full procurement timetable will be available in the published tender notice and tender documentation. Please note: this timetable is indicative and subject to change. The dates set out in the UK4 Tender Notice will take precedence. Prior Notices Formal market engagement for this Procurement took place between May and June 2025. Full details of this and materials released in the market engagement will be shared alongside the future tender documentation. Notice Status and Disclaimer This Planned Procurement Notice is issued to provide advance market visibility only. It is not a call for competition, an invitation to tender, a request for information, or request for commitment to proceed with a procurement. The information and dates contained in this notice are indicative and subject to change. The Authority reserves the right to amend, revise, or withdraw any aspect of a future procurement in line with service requirements, the Procurement Act 2023, and applicable government policy. Market participation The Authority anticipates that the framework will be accessible to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); Consortia and subcontracting arrangements are expected to be permitted, subject to conditions of participation. Suppliers must be registered on the Central Digital Platform. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-act-2023-short-guides/suppliers-how-to-register-your-organisation-and-first-administrator-on-find-a-tender-in-three-easy-steps-html to enable bid readiness.

Lot Information

Foundation Electronic Patient Record (EPR) Solutions

(Foundation Electronic Patient Record (EPR) Solutions) will consist of the following capabilities: * Appointments Management - GP * Consultation Management - GP * Patient Information Maintenance - GP * Prescribing - GP * Referral Management - GP * Resource Management

Renewal: Open framework intended to re-open at least once in first 3 years, with extension options to allow for a total framework duration of 6 years.

Clinical and Operational Support Solutions

(Clinical and Operational Support Solutions) will consist of the following capabilities: * Advice and Guidance (Professional to Professional) * Care Plans * Caseload Management * Clinical Decision Support * Communication Management * Cross Organisation Appointment Booking * Cross Organisation Workforce Management * Custom Workflows * Digital Diagnostics * Digital Dictation * Dispensing * Document Management * Domiciliary Care * Emergency Alerts * GP Extracts Verification * Medical Reports * Medicines Optimisation * Population Health Management * Remote Patient Monitoring * Reporting * Risk Stratification * Scanning * Self-Service Appointment Check In * Social Prescribing * Task Management * Telecare * Video Consultation

Renewal: Open framework intended to re-open at least once in first 3 years, with extension options to allow for a total framework duration of 6 years.

Research and Development

This lot will offer successful suppliers on Lots 1 and 2 the opportunity to be involved in research and development to aid the authority with developing and proving out new capabilities and standards through discovery to public beta activities, covering key areas required to evolve solutions and support national strategy.

Renewal: Open framework intended to re-open at least once in first 3 years, with extension options to allow for a total framework duration of 6 years.

Planning Information

Communication The market engagement documents are 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 C356639 Requests to participate must be submitted electronically via Atamis. Once registered on Atamis, organisations will be directed to published material both on Atamis and an external Confluence site. This material includes a link to an MS Forms Market Engagement Questionnaire, which organisations are encouraged to complete and submit by 5pm on the 20th of June 2025. Please note that clarification questions will be accepted up to 5pm on the 6th of June 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. This notice is an information gathering exercise and therefore publication or response does not commit the Authority or respondents to a future procurement, nor provide any process exemptions or preferential treatment to any parties expressing an interest. The Authority will not be liable for costs incurred by any interested party in participating in this exercise. Useful Links • Home - NHS Transformation Directorate (https://transform.england.nhs.uk/) • NHS England » Digital Primary Care (https://www.england.nhs.uk/digitaltechnology/digital-primary-care/) • Primary Care Digital Services Operating Model: (https://www.england.nhs.uk/digitaltechnology/digital-primary-care/gp-digital-services-operating-model-21-23/) [Note: a new version of this Model is being prepared for publication] • Digital Services for Integrated Care (https://digital.nhs.uk/services/digital-services-for-integrated-care) • Buying Catalogue: (https://buyingcatalogue.digital.nhs.uk/) • Central Digital Platform (optional registration) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-act-2023-short-guides/central-digital-platform-factsheet-html

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-050c1e
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/094419-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

48180000 - Medical software package

48311000 - Document management software package

72263000 - Software implementation services

72300000 - Data services

73100000 - Research and experimental development services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£838,749,369 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
£838,749,369 £100M-£1B
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
6 Oct 20266 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
9 Nov 20264 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
20 Sep 2027 - 19 Sep 2030 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NHS England
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SE1 8UG
Postcode Area
South East London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI45 Lambeth
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Lambeth
Electoral Ward
Waterloo & South Bank
Westminster Constituency
Vauxhall and Camberwell Green

Further Information

Notice Documents

Notice URLs

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

Loading OCDS record...