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Return to Practice Training Programme Request for Information

NHS England

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

19 Aug 2026 at 14:34

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

13 Aug 2026 at 14:32

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

20 May 2025 at 10:24

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

NHS England intends to procure return-to-practice training services for learners seeking to re-enter professional practice. The work is classified as education and training services and is expected to support NHS England’s requirements, as well as the needs of learners and training providers. The procurement covers a single service lot and is intended for delivery under the NHS England programme. It is a light-touch public service procurement led by NHS England, the central government public authority responsible for the requirement. The planned service concerns training provision rather than the supply of goods or construction works. The market engagement is intended to help NHS England test whether the proposed requirement is feasible and can be shaped appropriately before the procurement reaches the tender stage.

This procurement is at the planning stage and is currently a request for information and preliminary market engagement, not an invitation to tender. NHS England expects to run a competitive tender under the Procurement Act 2023. The request for information is due to close at 17.00 on 4 September 2026, and the next notice is expected on 2 November 2026. The planned contract is valued at £18 million excluding VAT, or £21.6 million including VAT. The single planned lot is expected to run for four years, with a possible renewal or extension of up to two additional years. NHS England says responses will be treated as confidential and will inform the feasibility and design of the future procurement.

The market engagement is aimed at return-to-practice training providers that can help NHS England understand how to deliver training meeting the needs of learners, providers and the healthcare system. It should suit organisations with established education and training capability, experience designing or delivering programmes for people returning to professional practice, and the capacity to support a substantial, multi-year national public service requirement. Small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community or social enterprises are identified as suitable for the planned lot, so participation is not limited to large commercial providers. Suppliers can use this stage to explain their delivery models, operational capacity, learner support arrangements and practical requirements, helping shape a feasible future tender.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Return to Practice Training Programme Request for Information

Notice Description

NHS England (NHSE) intends to procure Return to Practice training in 2027. This will be a competitive tender in line with the Procurement Act 2023. This is a Pre-Market Engagement exercise containing questions for the Return to Practice Provider market which is designed to help inform the procurement and ensure it is feasible and meets the needs of NHSE, Learners and Providers. Any responses will be treated as confidential and will not influence any subsequent bid you may make in the future. This process does not constitute the commencement of a procurement process. The closing date for this request for information is 17.00 Friday 4th September 2026. To express interest and respond to the request for information, please register and apply via the Atamis e-sourcing portal https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome

Planning Information

The closing date for the RFI is 17.00 Friday 4th September 2026. NHS England reserves the right to amend the timeline without prior notice.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-051828
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079060-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

80000000 - Education and training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£18,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
19 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
2 Nov 20263 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 31 Mar 2031 4-5 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

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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.

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