Tender

NHS SBS pushes 2.3bn pound consultancy tender into 2027

By Staff Writer  |  7 November 2026

NHS Shared Business Services has put back the tender for its Public Sector Construction Consultancy framework, estimated at 2.3bn pounds excluding VAT, to mid-January 2027, and has given the same revised date for its 750m pound Public Sector Construction Works 2 framework.

Both changes were published on 6 November 2026 as updates to the planned procurement notices that NHS Shared Business Services first issued on 5 May 2026. It acts as an agent for its approved organisations, which include NHS and social care bodies and other public or private sector bodies it authorises to use its frameworks.

The consultancy framework

The update states that release of the invitation to tender is delayed from the planned timetable. The procurement is going through the commercial assurance spend control approval process, and there is no confirmed date for approval. The revised estimated release date is now mid-January 2027.

It is the third such update. In September the release was expected in mid to late October, and on 15 October it was moved to mid-November, with a tender return of late January 2027 to allow for the Christmas period. The notice estimates publication of the tender notice for 18 January 2027, an enquiry deadline of 12:00pm on 8 February 2027 and a tender deadline of 12:00pm on 1 March 2027. The estimated award decision date is 6 March 2028, and the framework is expected to run for four years from 24 April 2028 to 23 April 2032.

The framework has eleven lots: multidisciplinary services, project management, civil and structural engineering, quantity surveying, mechanical, electrical and public health services, principal designer CDM services, architectural services, building surveying, healthcare planning, net zero, environmental consultancy and sustainability, and ancillary services. The quantity surveying lot includes cost plans, risk management advice, contractual advice on procurement strategy and tender documents, and, where requested, commercial final accounts. Each lot is shown at the full estimated value, which may be shared between lots. There is no limit on the number of suppliers, and a fee of up to 2 per cent applies.

The works framework

The update to the Public Sector Construction Works 2 notice gives the same revised release date of mid-January 2027, and says it may be later, subject to completion of the necessary governance. That framework is estimated at 750m pounds excluding VAT and has three lots: minor works up to 5m pounds and intermediate works of 5m to 15m pounds, each organised into twelve geographical areas, and major works of 15m pounds or more on a national basis. The notice states that minor works projects often use simplified forms such as JCT or NEC4.

For that framework, the notice estimates publication of the tender notice for 18 January 2027, a tender deadline of 12:00pm on 1 March 2027 and an award decision on 10 January 2028, with the framework running from 14 February 2028 to 13 February 2032. Its supplier fee is tiered by lot: 1 per cent capped at 50,000 pounds a project for minor works, 0.75 per cent capped at 112,500 pounds for intermediate works and 0.5 per cent capped at 250,000 pounds for major works.

How both frameworks will be used

Under both frameworks an approved organisation may run a competition between the suppliers in the relevant lot, which may be preceded by a capability assessment, or award without competition to particular suppliers. Competition is the default ordering route. Both notices state that the procurements are subject to Cabinet Office controls and that elements of the strategy may change following that assurance. Bidders must register on the Central Digital Platform and submit their core supplier information with their bids.