powered by
powered by
For most, the process of winning government medical tenders can be daunting. With this blog, you’ll discover our insights and how to secure these contracts. Alongside this, you’ll increase your knowledge around the tendering process, putting you in a better position to win.
When it comes to government medical tenders, the commissioning authority is often seen as the NHS. But it’s more complicated than that. Across the UK, there are smaller local authorities known as Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) which facilitate procurement in local areas. There are currently around 200 CCGs in England alone. They cover:
However, some services need to be procured centrally by the NHS, such as;
We’ve covered CCGs, but what about the other devolved powers (Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland)? How do they procure their healthcare services/goods in the public sector? Since the 1990s, each country has taken control of its own healthcare procurement.
The Welsh equivalent of CCGs, seven of these Local Health Boards procure healthcare services across Wales. Ambulances and specialist services for cancer are provided by three other NHS Trusts. There are no major differences between LHBs and CCGs other than the Welsh healthcare legislation.
For Northern Ireland, their healthcare is provided by five Local Commissioning Groups. These in turn are run by an overarching Health and Social Care Board (HSCB). The major difference between these and the other countries’ health procurement structures is that the LCGs also procure social services.
The Scottish equivalent of CCGs lies in the Scottish Health board. 14 Regional Health Boards cover all of Scotland, and plan/deliver health services based on the needs of the local community. Similar to Wales, they also have seven special NHS boards, which take care of:
Some of these steps may be excluded from your tendering process for government medical tenders. However, it’s wise to know each step so that you’re prepared for any eventuality.
The government body will release the PIN to indicate an intention of their desire for healthcare services. This can be up to 12-months in advance. At this stage, you would be asked to provide an expression of interest.
This is the official launch of the contracting commission’s interest, usually in the form of an ad. You would likely find it on websites and tendering databases.
At this stage in the process, a selection questionnaire (SQ) is provided. This document ensures only the most suitable candidates move to the next step. Depending on the contract, you can expect a list of questions that confirm your viability.
Arguably, this is the heart of the tendering process. Most of the written work is concentrated here. The Invitation to Tender works to further sharpen that search for a successful supplier. Your tender response will be dependent on the buyer’s requirements. Due to this, the ITT can vary in size and scope.
Your tender submission was successful! Occasionally, the contracting commission will end it here. However, sometimes you will be required to present your bid plan or attend an interview. You’ll be assessed by representatives of the Local Health Board (if you’re fulfilling a local contract).
If you’ve won, congratulations! Now you can put your bid plan into action. However, if you haven’t won, you can still take this opportunity to request feedback. This will provide you with a real scope of the improvements that are needed for your next bid.
So, now you’re more knowledgeable about the healthcare tendering process. You’ve also gained insights into the process of securing government medical tenders. What if you need to source government medical tenders now?
Healthcare Tenders
If your business would benefit from bidding for healthcare contracts, then our Healthcare Tender Portal is here to help.
Unlike other portals, we don’t use CPV codes. We have our Opportunity Trackers who manually scour hundreds of websites every day. If they find new healthcare contracts, they then upload it to Healthcare Tenders. With your subscription, you could view all these opportunities from hundreds of portals, in one place.
What’s more, we will assign you a dedicated Account Manager to manage your subscription. They will be on hand to answer your tendering or portal-related queries. You will also receive a daily email bulletin straight to your inbox. This will contain contracts for healthcare services found that day.
Schedule a free live demo of Healthcare Tenders to see how the portal can help your business.
Below are previous government medical tenders sourced on our portal:
HPLC Equipment (Maintenance of)
NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership-Procurement Services (Hosted by Velindre University NHS Trust) – Wales – Budget: Undisclosed
Maintenance of Microscopes
NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership-Procurement Services (Hosted by Velindre University NHS Trust) – Wales – Budget: £99,000
Primary Care Provided Phlebotomy Services
NHS Hampshire, Southampton and Isle of Wight CCG – South East – Budget: £2,989,635
Prior Information Notice 2 – Domestic Plasma Fractionation
NHS England – Yorkshire – Budget: Undisclosed
NHSGJ0052/21 Supply of Electrophysiology Systems with Associated Hardware and Consumables
NHS Golden Jubilee – Scotland – Budget: Undisclosed
LB of Bromley Appropriate Adult Service
London Borough of Bromley – South East – Budget: £ 260,000
We source healthcare business leads for sub-sectors including:
Upgrading to Discover Elite can help you find government medical tenders – even when you’re busy! Our two upgraded packages are particularly useful if your business runs across two sectors like Healthcare and Technology. A dedicated Account Manager will carefully consider which healthcare service contracts are most suitable for your business. This will help improve your bid success rate and improve your competitor awareness.
For further information, contact us today.
Hudson Succeed is our sister company of expert Bid Writers who can handle the whole tendering process for you. So, if you have found a healthcare contract you would like to bid for, Hudson Succeed can help. Their tender support packages are designed to help your business succeed. Find out how our Bid Writers can support you on your tendering journey.
Contact us for more information regarding our bid management consultancy services.