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Access to medicine and the professions 2026/27

NHS England

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

20 Aug 2026 at 13:16

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

NHS England commissioned education and training services to support young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds. The programme helps participants prepare for and apply to medical, dental and other health-related undergraduate degree programmes over one academic year. The work is focused on widening access to the health professions and supporting prospective students through the application pathway. Delivery is associated with NHS England in London, while the programme itself serves young people participating in the access initiative. The awarded supplier is the Medical Schools Council, an organisation representing medical schools. Businesses with experience in educational outreach, widening participation, student recruitment and preparation for competitive healthcare degree programmes would recognise this as a specialist access and progression service.

The procurement is complete and the contract has been awarded under the light-touch regime using a direct award below the relevant threshold, without competition. It was a single-lot service requirement. The contract was signed on 18 August 2026 and runs from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2027. The awarded supplier is the Medical Schools Council. The contract value is £345,000 including gross value, in GBP. The stated evaluation route was a direct award rather than a competitive assessment. The arrangement is recorded as an active contract, and the procurement status is complete. The requirement was for one academic year of support for applicants from lower socio-economic backgrounds seeking entry to medical, dental and other health-related undergraduate programmes.

This procurement indicates demand from NHS England for structured widening-participation services linked specifically to medical, dental and other health-related undergraduate entry. A credible future competitor would need the ability to identify and support young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds, provide sustained guidance across an academic year, and help applicants prepare strong applications to competitive professional degree programmes. Relevant capability would include education outreach, student mentoring, admissions guidance, understanding of medical and dental school entry routes, and relationships with schools, universities or healthcare education stakeholders. The selected supplier’s profile also shows the value of recognised sector knowledge and access to the medical education community. Organisations able to combine national reach with specialist health-professions expertise would be best placed to compete when this requirement returns.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Access to medicine and the professions 2026/27

Notice Description

Supporting young people from lower socio economic backgrounds to prepare for and apply for medical, dental schools and other health related under grad degree programmes of study, over one academic year. Start: 01/09/2026 End: 31/08/2027 Awarded under the Light Touch Regime - CPV Code 80000000 - Education and training services sub-threshold.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e893
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079445-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - without competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
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
Not specified
Contracts Value
£345,000 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
20 Aug 20266 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
18 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Contract Period
1 Sep 2026 - 31 Aug 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

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

Medical Schools Council

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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