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PPA - National Recruitment: Situational Judgment Testing 26/27

NHS England

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

18 Aug 2026 at 09:28

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

18 Aug 2026 at 07:59

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

NHS England procured national recruitment assessment services from Pearson Professional Assessments Limited. The requirement covers continued delivery of the Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment (MSRA) and associated assessment services used in national recruitment. This is an education and training services requirement, focused on the design, delivery and operation of situational judgement testing and related assessment activity. The buying organisation is NHS England, a central government public authority based in London. The service supports recruitment assessment at national scale rather than a local NHS or individual organisational level. Suppliers relevant to this requirement are assessment providers, education and training specialists, and organisations able to operate reliable, high-volume recruitment testing services for the NHS.

The procurement is complete and the contract was awarded to Pearson Professional Assessments Limited on 11 August 2026. NHS England used a direct award under Section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023 and Schedule 5, paragraph 7, for additional or repeat services. The stated rationale was that changing supplier would make the services incompatible with existing services and create disproportionate technical difficulties; the award also maintains continuity while NHS England completes a national review and starts a new procurement. The award value is £4,374,320 excluding VAT, or £5,249,184 including VAT. The contract runs from 1 September 2026 to 1 September 2027, with a permitted 12-month extension subject to further funding approval. There was one completed lot.

Although this contract has already been awarded, it indicates sustained NHS demand for national recruitment assessment and situational judgement testing. A credible competitor for a future requirement would need to demonstrate the ability to deliver the MSRA or comparable assessments at national scale, maintain continuity with established assessment services, and manage high-volume candidate testing reliably. Relevant capability includes education and training provision, assessment design and delivery, secure operational processes, dependable technology and the capacity to support NHS recruitment activity across the country. The procurement was identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprises, so organisations of those types may be well placed to compete, individually or through suitable delivery partnerships, when a comparable requirement is next procured.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

PPA - National Recruitment: Situational Judgment Testing 26/27

Notice Description

An agreement with Pearson Professional Assessments for the continued delivery of the Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment (MSRA) and associated assessment services. The initial term of this agreement will run for a period of 12 months, with an optional 12 month extension.

Procurement Information

NHS England is currently contracted with Pearson Professional Assessments for delivery of the Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment (MRSA) and associated assessment services. This direct award is made in accordance with Section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023 and Schedule 5 paragraph 7 Additional or repeat goods, services or works A change in supplier at this time would result in NHS England receiving services that are incompatible with the existing services, and that incompatibility would result in disproportionate technical difficulties. This award is required to ensure continuity of service whilst NHS England completes the National review work and undertakes a new procurement process.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e619
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078373-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

80000000 - Education and training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£4,374,320 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
18 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
11 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Contract Period
1 Sep 2026 - 1 Sep 2027 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
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

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Pearson Professional Assessments Limited

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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