Provision of the ONE NHS Finance Service

{
  "awards": [
    {
      "aboveThreshold": true,
      "contractPeriod": {
        "endDate": "2026-09-30T23:59:59+01:00",
        "maxExtentDate": "2026-11-30T23:59:59Z",
        "startDate": "2026-02-12T00:00:00Z"
      },
      "documents": [
        {
          "datePublished": "2026-02-12T11:39:02Z",
          "description": "Transparency notice on Find a Tender",
          "documentType": "awardNotice",
          "format": "text/html",
          "id": "012793-2026",
          "noticeType": "UK5",
          "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/012793-2026"
        }
      ],
      "hasOptions": true,
      "hasRenewal": true,
      "id": "1",
      "items": [
        {
          "additionalClassifications": [
            {
              "description": "Business and management consultancy services",
              "id": "79410000",
              "scheme": "CPV"
            }
          ],
          "id": "1",
          "relatedLot": "1"
        }
      ],
      "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
      "milestones": [
        {
          "dueDate": "2026-02-12T23:59:59Z",
          "id": "1",
          "status": "scheduled",
          "type": "futureSignatureDate"
        }
      ],
      "options": {
        "description": "Subject to completing the tendering process in time.\nThis is a retrospective case, and the UK06 Notice is being published with today\u2019s date due to a system technical issue that prevents the platform from recognising the original retrospective date.."
      },
      "relatedLots": [
        "1"
      ],
      "renewal": {
        "description": "Subject to completing the tendering process in time."
      },
      "status": "pending",
      "title": "Provision of the ONE NHS Finance Service",
      "value": {
        "amount": 375000.0,
        "amountGross": 450000.0,
        "currency": "GBP"
      }
    }
  ],
  "buyer": {
    "id": "GB-PPON-PDPT-3135-BWWY",
    "name": "NHS England"
  },
  "date": "2026-02-12T11:39:02Z",
  "id": "012793-2026",
  "initiationType": "tender",
  "language": "en",
  "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-064ed1",
  "parties": [
    {
      "address": {
        "country": "GB",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "locality": "London",
        "postalCode": "SE1 8UG",
        "region": "UKI45",
        "streetAddress": "Wellington House, 133-135 Waterloo Rd"
      },
      "contactPoint": {
        "email": "england.commercialqueries@nhs.net",
        "name": "Procurement and Commercial Team"
      },
      "details": {
        "classifications": [
          {
            "description": "Public authority - central government",
            "id": "publicAuthorityCentralGovernment",
            "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE"
          }
        ],
        "url": "https://www.england.nhs.uk/"
      },
      "id": "GB-PPON-PDPT-3135-BWWY",
      "identifier": {
        "id": "PDPT-3135-BWWY",
        "scheme": "GB-PPON"
      },
      "name": "NHS England",
      "roles": [
        "buyer"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "tag": [
    "award",
    "contract"
  ],
  "tender": {
    "description": "Commissioning of the One NHS Finance (ONF) programme for six months whilst NHSE tenders for a long term contract. This also includes an optional 3 months extension if re-tendering taking longer than expected. (6+3 months).\nThis is a retrospective case, and the UK06 Notice is being published with today\u2019s date due to a system technical issue that prevents the platform from recognising the original retrospective date. It is also important to note that the contract has since expired, and a replacement case has been put in place and was procured compliantly.\nThe actual contract start date is 01 April 2025 - 31 December 2025.",
    "documents": [
      {
        "description": "Not published",
        "documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
        "id": "conflictOfInterest"
      }
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-064ed1",
    "legalBasis": {
      "id": "2023/54",
      "scheme": "UKPGA",
      "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
    },
    "lots": [
      {
        "id": "1",
        "status": "complete",
        "suitability": {
          "sme": true,
          "vcse": true
        }
      }
    ],
    "procurementMethod": "direct",
    "procurementMethodDetails": "Direct award",
    "procurementMethodRationale": "Additional or repeat goods, services or works\nNHSE has up until recently had a contract in place with the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) for the provision of One NHS Finance services. This specific service has been in place with HFMA for some time (at least five years) at an historical approximate cost of \u00a31m per annum (but has been reduced substantially in recent years due to financial circumstances) and which was awarded via a Single Tender Action (STA) as a pilot project initially.\nHFMA are the professional representative body for NHS Finance Professionals. They have long had an interest in developing best practice in NHS finance, many NHS finance professionals are members and they have a great level of experience in NHS Finance. \nOther professional and training bodies exist. For instance there are professional bodies for accountants (CIMA, CIPFA and ICAEW). These bodies each cover some of those working in NHS Finance but are mostly concerned with accountancy across the public and private sectors. There are also training providers such as Capita who could develop courses.  The reason we do not consider the above appropriate is their level of focus, expertise and resources currently in place. Whilst other bodies exist who could deliver the training, none of them entirely focusses on NHS Finance in the way that the HFMA do.  What this means is that any other body looking to develop these courses would first need to develop their own knowledge in this area with an inevitable cost. In the case of the ONF work this would also mean that the support structure that exists would need to be dismantled and put in place by a different organisation with large scale disruption and loss of momentum to the programmes involved. \nThere is also a case around the relationship between the HFMA and NHSE. It is important to the NHS Finance community that there is a body that is looking to represent its interests and increase the quality of NHS Finance work.\nNHSE recognises the need to tender the work, however, it is not currently in a position to do so. This direct award action will give the organisation time to secure the best value solution for ONF support in the long term. The requirement is for additional or repeat services as a continuation and development of the ONF offer for six months while NHSE tenders for a long-term support deal.\nThe proposed supplier is the same entity that provided the original service. Therefore, we propose to direct award this requirement under paragraph 7(a) and (b) of Schedule 5 of PA23 (grounds under Schedule 5) for additional or repeat goods, services, or works. This approach ensures service continuity, as:\n\u2022 Incompatibility with Existing Services: A change in supplier would result in NHSE receiving services that are different from, or incompatible with, the existing ones. The proposed supplier has the technical expertise and tacit knowledge from completing the initial project. This knowledge is crucial for ensuring continuity and compatibility with the existing ONF services. \n\u2022 Technical Difficulties: The difference or incompatibility would lead to disproportionate technical difficulties in operation or maintenance. The proposed suppliers familiarity with the innovations and specific requirements of the ONF initiative means that switching to a new supplier could introduce unnecessary risk and technical challenges. These could disrupt the seamless delivery and development of the ONF services.\nIn addition, continuity of service is essential for the oversight and delivery of training, accreditation, networks, recruitment support, health and wellbeing packages, and innovation/strategy work. This includes a comprehensive package of online delivery (website, online/in-person events, and staff support) overseen by HFMA staff funded by NHSE. Furthermore, awarding this contract to another provider would result in service disruption and additional costs associated with transitioning to an alternative provider.\nIt would not be possible to immediately transfer these packages and the support offer to a new supplier without causing significant delays to the services provided for staff. The following elements would require review: Programme Owners, Training Documentation, Accreditation Workstreams, Staff Networks, Funding Models, and Internal/External Events.\nIt is envisaged that any future re-tendering round would also require an interim handover period between suppliers, which is not feasible in 2025. Furthermore, any changes to the current arrangement may involve TUPE elements, which could not be implemented by 01/04/2025, along with the potential NHS England integration into DHSC.\nBy continuing with the current supplier, we ensure that the ONF initiative remains consistent and effective, leveraging the supplier\u2019s existing knowledge and expertise to maintain high standards and avoid potential operational difficulties.",
    "procurementMethodRationaleClassifications": [
      {
        "id": "additionalRepeatExtensionPartialReplacement"
      }
    ],
    "status": "complete",
    "title": "Provision of the ONE NHS Finance Service"
  }
}