Official UK procurement notice
Always-on’ partnership with UCAS
Authority: NHS England (Central government)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionDue to delays arising from administrative and operational circumstances, NHS England awarded this contract to UCAS (University and Colleges Admissions Service) commencing 25/07/2025.
The contract will focus on increasing the number of applicants to Nursing and Midwifery clinical programmes.
NHS England will submit the UK07 notice at the earliest opportunity afforded by the e-notification systems.
Awarded to UCAS as the Government's appointed provider for University and College admissions.
UCAS’s unique capabilities in real-time data insights and targeted student engagement provide an opportunity to attract diverse talent, including those pursuing apprenticeships and non-traditional career pathways. This approach also aligns with the government’s five missions, particularly:
- Kickstarting Economic Growth: By supporting recruitment in underserved areas, the partnership fosters local economic development through high-value career opportunities.
- Breaking Down Barriers to Opportunity: Emphasising apprenticeships and alternative career pathways ensures equitable access to NHS careers for underrepresented and disadvantaged groups.
- Building an NHS Fit for the Future: Modernising student atrraction and recruitment through data-driven, responsive strategies ensures the NHS workforce is prepared to meet future healthcare demands.
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedProcedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Direct award
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Notice status
- Awarded without competition
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Direct award (no call for competition)
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 6 May 2026, 10:46 BST
- Last source update
- 25 Aug 2026, 13:33 BST
- Authority reference
C378337- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-080853- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Delivery area
- Not published
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-069232Find a Tender
- Why no open competition
- Single Suppliers Technical Reasons
- Published justification
Schedule 5, Paragraph 6 of the Procurement Act 2023, as both statutory conditions applicable to the contract have been met
- Risks
None identified.
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- —
Timeline
15 May 2026 → 25 Aug 2026 · 2 dates- Standstill ends153 days ago15 May 2026, 23:59 BST
- Notice published52 days ago25 Aug 2026, 13:33 BST
Notice history
6 events · 5 releases on Find a Tender · since 6 May 2026- Transparency notice published6 May 2026, 10:46 BSTUK5
- Contract award notice published6 May 2026, 14:51 BSTUK6
- Contract details notice published11 May 2026, 15:29 BSTUK7
- Contract signature expected18 May 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
- Contract termination notice published29 Jun 2026, 09:10 BSTUK11
- Contract details notice published25 Aug 2026, 13:33 BSTUK7
Routine re-releases (5)
- 2026-05: 2 releases · 6 May 2026, 6 May 2026
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| UCAS Media LtdUCAS Media Ltd19 May 2026 – 24 Jun 2026 | £576,250 | 6 May 2026standstill to 15 May 2026 | Standstill |
| UCAS Media Ltd | — | — | Awarded |
| UCAS Media Ltd | — | — | Awarded |
Contracts
Always-on partnership with UCAS 26-27 · UCAS Media Ltd
- Signed
- 21 Aug 2026
- Value
- £533,409
- Period
- 21 Aug 2026 – 19 Aug 2027
- Status
- active
No agreed KPIs: The estimated value of the contract is below the £5 million threshold mandated for KPI publication under section 52 of the Procurement Act 2023.
Always-on’ partnership with UCAS · UCAS Media Ltd
- Signed
- 11 May 2026
- Value
- £576,250
- Period
- 21 May 2026 – 24 Jun 2026
- Status
- terminated, This contract termination is being published to advise of the end of this contract.
- Final value
- £576,250
- Termination
- contractCompleted
No agreed KPIs: Direct services.
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- UCAS Media LimitedAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (5)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract termination notice Contract termination notice on Find a Tender
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Transparency notice Transparency notice on Find a Tender