NHS England has published a procurement opportunity for hometest - preliminary market engagement with an estimated value of an undisclosed value. The submission deadline is the date stated in the official notice, giving eligible UK suppliers a limited window to prepare and submit bids through the official Find a Tender portal.

Published on 2026-04-10, this contract is open to suitably qualified suppliers across the United Kingdom. All businesses interested in bidding should review the full tender documentation and confirm they meet all eligibility requirements before the closing date.

Contract overview

This is not a procurement exercise. This is a market engagement exercise in support of the NHS England's home testing programme which was announced as part of the 10 Year Plan. The programme is seeking to explore the feasibility of establishing a single, trusted national home testing capability that will enable individuals to order, complete and receive results from clinically validated diagnostic tests from home, integrated into the NHS App and aligned with national screening, monitoring, treatment and prevention ambitions. This exercise is designed to understand the potential capability of the supplier market to inform the future development of the programme. This exercise does not currently include point of care testing capability but is focused on self-sample collection and laboratory analysis.

NHS England is the contracting authority. The estimated value is an undisclosed value and the deadline is the date stated in the official notice. Download the full specification from the official portal before preparing a bid.

Is your business eligible?

This contract is most relevant to healthcare providers, social care organisations, NHS suppliers. Suppliers typically need to demonstrate experience delivering similar contracts, appropriate financial standing, and hold CQC registration, DBS checks, clinical qualifications.

Under the Procurement Act 2023, NHS England must actively consider SME participation. Check whether this contract has been structured into lots.

• Proven track record in health & nhs contracts of comparable scope
• Financial standing appropriate for a an undisclosed value contract
• Relevant certifications: CQC registration, DBS checks, clinical qualifications
• Capacity to mobilise within NHS England’s required timeframe

How to submit a bid

• Step 1 — Access the notice: Visit Find a Tender at https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/032748-2026
• Step 2 — Register free: Create or log in to your supplier account
• Step 3 — Download documents: Read the full ITT before preparing your response
• Step 4 — Raise clarifications: Submit questions early — Q&A typically closes 1–2 weeks before the deadline
• Step 5 — Submit before the date stated in the official notice: Late submissions are not accepted

What the buyer will evaluate

NHS England will assess all compliant bids against published criteria. Buyers typically apply a 60% quality and 40% price weighting. Under the Procurement Act 2023, social value is a mandatory evaluation criterion.

Writing a winning bid

• Lead with an executive summary addressing NHS England’s objectives directly
• Provide two or more case studies with measurable outcomes from comparable contracts
• Include specific, costed social value commitments
• Price to win but ensure your margin covers full delivery

Frequently asked questions

Can SMEs bid for this contract?

Yes. The Procurement Act 2023 requires NHS England to consider SME suitability and remove unnecessary barriers.

Is registration on the portal free?

Yes. Registering as a supplier on Find a Tender is completely free.

Where are the full tender documents?

All documents are on the official Find a Tender listing at https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/032748-2026.

This article is for informational purposes only. Always verify all details on the official procurement portal before submitting a bid. Kael Tripton is not affiliated with or endorsed by NHS England or the UK government.