Planning

Drug Tariff RFI

NHS BUSINESS SERVICES AUTHORITY

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

03 Mar 2026 at 11:26

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The NHS Business Services Authority is initiating a procurement process for a Drug Tariff Solution through a Request For Information (RFI). The procurement is currently at the planning stage, having been initiated on 3rd March 2026, with key engagement activities scheduled, including supplier presentations and RFI responses due by 31st March 2026. Located in Newcastle upon Tyne, the NHSBSA seeks to enhance agility and adapt to changes within the healthcare industry. The sector involved is IT services, specifically focusing on software development and support directly linked to the healthcare industry in the United Kingdom. The next expected stage is the publication of the tender notice in September 2026, with the procurement aligning with guidelines under the Procurement Act 2023.

This procurement presents significant opportunities for firms specialising in IT software development and relevant consultancy services, particularly those catering to healthcare requirements. Businesses with capabilities in developing medical software packages and providing software-related services to support the electronic creation and maintenance of the Drug Tariff would be well-suited to compete. With potential contract opportunities extending to 2031, this tender offers a pathway for sustained business growth, especially for SMEs. It invites participants to aid in shaping the future procurement strategy through preliminary engagement, fostering innovative solutions that could meet evolving NHSBSA requirements. This RFI can serve as a foundation for understanding industry trends and demands within the UK healthcare sector.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Drug Tariff RFI

Notice Description

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) invites you to participate in an RFI for a Drug Tariff Solution. The solution is required to create the Drug Tariff which the NHSBSA produces on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care. The NHSBSA are looking to introduce a flexible solution, underpinning business activities, to enable more agility to react to an ever-changing landscape and future proof the creation and accessing of the Drug Tariff by end users (e.g. pharmacists). The NHSBSA Medicines Data Team and specifically the Drug Tariff Team within, are responsible for the processing and assessing of Part IX applications for the listing or request to change a listing of medical devices as well as the creation of the Drug Tariff on a monthly basis on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care. The Drug Tariff outlines: - what will be paid to pharmacy contractors for NHS services provided either for reimbursement or for remuneration - rules to follow when dispensing - value of the fees and allowances to be paid - drug and appliance prices you will be paid The Drug Tariff is published on the NHSBSA website and can be viewed at Drug Tariff | NHSBSA. The Drug Tariff is supplied by the NHSBSA in an electronic format primarily to pharmacists and GP practices. The requirement is for a solution which produces the Drug Tariff from importing several data sources (from the NHSBSA CDR (Common Drug Reference) database in xml format, Microsoft Word and PDF documents (for NHS Directions) as well as Excel documents for new content). The Drug Tariff will reflect all the information from the previous edition as well as all drug and appliance changes, price changes, additions and deletions applicable in the current month edition. Further details on the Functional and Non-functional requirements and formats (The Drug Tariff Document and the Electronic Drug Tariff) are detailed in Appendix 1. The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) is publishing this Preliminary Market Engagement Notice under Section 17 of the Procurement Act 2023, which sets out the requirement to publish a notice where preliminary market engagement has taken place or is planned. This engagement is being carried out in line with Section 16 of the Procurement Act 2023, which permits contracting authorities to engage with the market for purposes such as understanding supplier capability, shaping the requirement, and supporting the design of the procurement approach. In conducting this engagement, we will meet our overarching duties under the Act. This includes acting in a way that supports the procurement objectives, ensuring non-discrimination between suppliers, and managing any actual or potential conflicts of interest. These duties apply to all preliminary market engagement activities and underpin how information is shared with suppliers to avoid any unfair advantage. Interested parties must access the RFI documents via https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome (search opportunities using system reference C428345).

Planning Information

With this invitation, the NHSBSA invites you to respond to this RFI in relation to the delivery of the solution to address business objectives and requirements outlined in Appendix 1 Drug Tariff Requirements. Your organisation’s involvement with our RFI is an invaluable way of us ensuring that, with your input, we have the best support and guidance to inform any subsequent procurement. At this stage we are seeking high-level input via completion of Appendix 2 (NHSBSA Supplier RFI Response Document) to enable us to assess the market and to inform any future procurement process. Your response to this RFI will be used by the NHSBSA and its Stakeholders to: • understand supplier/market capability, capacity and service offering • understand lead times for the implementation and the delivery of the solution/services • identify any innovative solutions proposed by suppliers • inform the scope of the future requirements • understand supplier side issues in delivering the solution/services • understand commercial/pricing models • inform a future procurement strategy • whether a contract could be broken down into Lots • determine the route to market • understand what Social Value can be delivered through this contract Dates of Engagement: UK02: Preliminary Market Engagement Notice published and suppliers able to register on Health Family Portal. - 03/03/2026 RFI Documents made available to registered suppliers on Health Family Portal - 03/03/2026 Supplier presentation - 16/03/2026 Supplier 121 sessions - 17/03/2026 12.30pm-4.30pm Supplier clarification question deadline - 20/03/2026 at 12 Noon Supplier response deadline - 31/03/2026 at 6pm NHSBSA to provide summary report of RFI findings in late April 2026. It is anticipated that a UK04: Tender Notice will be published September 2026. Interested parties must access the RFI documents via https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome (search opportunities using system reference C428345).

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0660aa
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018846-2026
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
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

CPV Codes

48000000 - Software package and information systems

48180000 - Medical software package

48517000 - IT software package

72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

72212517 - IT software development services

72260000 - Software-related services

72262000 - Software development services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
3 Mar 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Oct 20266 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
7 Jul 2027 - 7 Jul 2030 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NHS BUSINESS SERVICES AUTHORITY
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
Postcode
NE15 8NY
Post Town
Newcastle upon Tyne
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC43 Tyneside
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Newcastle upon Tyne
Electoral Ward
Lemington
Westminster Constituency
Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West

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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