---
title: "Discovery into the Professionalisation of the NHS DDaT Workforce"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06f518"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06f518"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f518.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f518.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "NHS England"
published: "2026-09-11"
---

# Discovery into the Professionalisation of the NHS DDaT Workforce

Buyer: NHS England  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06f518

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[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f518.json)

## Summary

NHS England is commissioning a discovery exercise into how the NHS Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) workforce could be professionalised across the NHS. The work will examine ways to improve workforce capability, consistency, recruitment, retention and career development. Its scope includes research, workforce analysis, engagement with stakeholders and appraisal of possible interventions, including capability frameworks, career pathways, accreditation, professional registration and continuing professional development. The supplier will produce evidence-based recommendations and a high-level roadmap to inform future policy, investment and implementation decisions. This is a professional research, workforce strategy and organisational development service, classified under health services. The requirement is suitable for organisations able to investigate public-sector digital, data and technology workforces and translate findings into practical policy options.

The process reached tender: NHS England invited offers through a below-threshold open competition. There is one lot, with a total estimated value of £50,000 excluding VAT and £60,000 including VAT. The enquiry deadline was 11 September 2026 at 12:00, and the bid submission deadline is 23 September 2026 at 12:00. The contract period is 1 October 2026 to 30 March 2027. Offers will be evaluated on technical quality, social value and price. Suppliers must complete the Bid Response Document and submit it electronically through the Atamis e-Tendering Portal; expressions of interest and bids submitted by other means will not be accepted. Bidders must answer all questions in the procurement documents.

This opportunity suits consultancies, research organisations and specialist workforce or organisational development providers with the ability to assess a complex public-sector DDaT workforce. Relevant strengths include conducting qualitative and quantitative research, analysing workforce capability and labour-market issues, engaging a wide range of NHS stakeholders, and evaluating policy interventions such as professional standards, accreditation, registration, career pathways and continuing development. The buyer is seeking evidence-based recommendations rather than delivery of a technology system, so suppliers should be able to combine strategic analysis with clear, practical options and a roadmap for future implementation. The lot is identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprises, making it accessible to appropriately experienced smaller or mission-led organisations as well as larger consultancies.

## Notice

This work will commission a discovery exercise to assess how the NHS Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) workforce could be professionalised to improve capability, consistency, recruitment, retention and career development across the NHS. Through research, workforce analysis, stakeholder engagement and options appraisal, the supplier will explore interventions such as capability frameworks, career pathways, accreditation, professional registration and continuing professional development, ultimately producing evidence-based recommendations and a high-level roadmap to inform future policy, investment and implementation decisions.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/086267-2026 |
| Notice type | UK4 - Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - open competition |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Tender |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 11 Sep 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 23 Sep 2026 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 1 Oct 2026 - 30 Mar 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £50,000 |
| Lots value | £50,000 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Active |
| Lots status | Active |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | NHS England |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Postcode area | 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 |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 85100000 - Health services

## Release History

- 11 Sep 2026 at 10:42 - TenderUpdate - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/086267-2026
- 8 Sep 2026 at 18:45 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085137-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/086267-2026
  11th September 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085137-2026
  8th September 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://health-family.force.com/login
- https://www.england.nhs.uk/
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## 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-06f518. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f518.json.