NHS England has published a procurement opportunity for south east and london public health practitioner development programme (ukphr) with an estimated value of value not disclosed. The submission deadline is See official notice, giving eligible UK suppliers a limited window to prepare and submit bids through the official Find a Tender portal.

Published on 2026-04-08, 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

The Schools of Public Health in the South East region are based within the subregions of Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS); Thames Valley (TV); and Wessex (WX). The London School of Public Health supports the London region as one school. The remit for Schools of Public Health is to build capacity and capability of the public health workforce of the future and existing public health and wider health and care workforces in the region. It does this by delivering inclusive and innovative approaches to training and education, enabling the workforce to prevent ill health and address health inequalities. A core programme for Schools of Public Health is the delivery of the UKPHR Public Health Practitioner Scheme. Following the retirement of current providers, South East and London Schools are seeking to engage and work with a new provider who has experience of delivering competency-based professional development programmes who is interested in developing the public health workforce. This procurement is seeking a provider to deliver the Support Programme. The Support Programme will guide public health practitioners in the development of a retrospective portfolio to meet the requirements for UKPHR registration. Above threshold open competition under the Light Touch Regime using the CPV code 80000000: Education and training services.

NHS England is the contracting authority for this procurement. The estimated contract value is value not disclosed and the submission deadline is See official notice. Suppliers should download the full specification from the official portal before preparing a bid.

Is your business eligible?

This contract is most relevant to businesses with relevant experience and qualifications. Suppliers typically need to demonstrate experience delivering similar contracts, appropriate financial standing for a contract of value not disclosed, and hold relevant professional certifications and insurance.

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

• Proven track record in professional services contracts of comparable scope
• Financial standing appropriate for a value not disclosed contract
• Relevant certifications: relevant professional certifications and insurance
• Capacity to mobilise within NHS England’s required timeframe
• Ability to meet the See official notice submission deadline

How to submit a bid

• Step 1 — Access the notice: Visit Find a Tender at https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/031831-2026
• 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 See official notice: Late submissions are not accepted under UK procurement rules

What the buyer will evaluate

NHS England will assess all compliant bids against published criteria. For professional services contracts, buyers typically apply a 60% quality and 40% price weighting. Under the Procurement Act 2023, social value is a mandatory evaluation criterion — demonstrate specific, costed commitments to local employment, skills, or environmental sustainability.

Writing a winning bid

The most common reason bids fail is generic content that does not address the buyer’s specific requirements. NHS England has stated precise objectives — your bid must demonstrate you have read and understood them.

• Lead with an executive summary addressing NHS England’s objectives directly
• Provide two or more case studies with measurable outcomes
• Include specific, costed social value commitments
• Price to win but ensure your margin covers full delivery
• Submit at least 24 hours before See official notice

Key dates and next steps

The submission deadline is See official notice. Competitive bids for professional services contracts require two to three weeks of preparation. Following submission, NHS England will typically complete evaluation within four to eight weeks.

• Download all documents from Find a Tender today
• Confirm your organisation meets all eligibility requirements
• Assign a bid lead and set internal milestones now
• Submit clarification questions as early as possible

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. Check for lots designed to be accessible to smaller businesses.

Is registration on the portal free?

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

What happens if I miss the deadline?

Late submissions are not accepted. The See official notice deadline is absolute. Submit at least 24 hours early.

How long does evaluation take?

NHS England will notify all bidders once evaluation is complete. Allow four to eight weeks from the submission deadline.

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/031831-2026. Always use the official source.

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.