---
title: "Prescription Exemption Checking Service (PECS) 2026/2027"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-068788"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-068788"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-068788.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-068788.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "NHS ENGLAND"
published: "2026-04-21"
---

# Prescription Exemption Checking Service (PECS) 2026/2027

Buyer: NHS ENGLAND  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-068788

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-068788)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-068788.json)

## Summary

The contracting process initiated by NHS England involves a direct award for the Prescription Exemption Checking Service (PECS) for the year 2026/2027. The procurement falls under the health services category and is structured as a "light touch" regime due to technical reasons. The primary contractor is NHS BSA, situated in Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom. This service is aimed at investigating prescription claims for exemption accuracy, ensuring transparent validation against existing records. The contract period started on 21 April 2026 and will continue until 31 March 2027, with ongoing updates noted as of 21 April 2026.

This tender presents substantial business growth opportunities, particularly for firms specialising in fraud audit and health services. With NHS England as the buying organisation, businesses providing similar verification services may explore collaborations or service expansions alongside NHS BSA. Furthermore, businesses equipped with technical expertise in managing exemption schemes and regulatory compliance could find lucrative pathways through partnership possibilities and competitive delivery of essential services in the healthcare sector.

## Notice

Prescription Exemption Checking Service (DECS) 2026/2027 The Provider will investigate a random sample of prescription claims from patients who have claimed exemption from payment to verify the accuracy of the exemption declared. Claims are verified by cross checking the patient details on the prescription claim against the Provider records of valid exemption schemes which the Provider administer in addition to DWP records.

### Procurement Information

Paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023 - absence of competition for technical reasons

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/036242-2026 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Direct award |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 21 Apr 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 30 Mar 2026 |
| Contract period | 20 Apr 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £7,511,140 |
| Contracts value | £7,511,140 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | NHS ENGLAND |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Post town | South East London |
| Postcode | SE1 8UG |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI4 Inner London - East |
| ITL 3 | TLI45 Lambeth |
| Local authority | Lambeth |
| Electoral ward | Waterloo & South Bank |
| Westminster constituency | Vauxhall and Camberwell Green |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 2 |
| Supplier names | NHS BSA; NHS BUSINESS SERVICES AUTHORITY |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 79212400 - Fraud audit services
- 85100000 - Health services

## Release History

- 21 Apr 2026 at 14:36 - AwardUpdate - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/036242-2026
- 21 Apr 2026 at 14:35 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/036238-2026
- 21 Apr 2026 at 14:27 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/036221-2026
- 21 Apr 2026 at 13:31 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/036157-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/036242-2026
  21st April 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/036238-2026
  21st April 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/036221-2026
  21st April 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/036157-2026
  21st April 2026 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.england.nhs.uk/
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-068788. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-068788.json.