Find a TenderAwarded without competitionContract details notice
Published 6 May 2026, 10:46 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Always-on’ partnership with UCAS

Official notice

Authority: NHS England (Central government)

Direct award
Sectors: Business Services & Consultancy (79) Delivery: Delivery location not published
Awarded value£576,250published award · exc. VAT
Awarded 6 May 2026no call for competition
Awarded to UCAS Media Ltd3 awards

What is being bought

Published requirement description

Due 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:

  1. Kickstarting Economic Growth: By supporting recruitment in underserved areas, the partnership fosters local economic development through high-value career opportunities.
  2. Breaking Down Barriers to Opportunity: Emphasising apprenticeships and alternative career pathways ensures equitable access to NHS careers for underrepresented and disadvantaged groups.
  3. 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 published

Procedure 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-069232 Find 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

Review and risk notes
Risks

None identified.

How it was run

Official notice
Submission deadline
—

Timeline

15 May 2026 → 25 Aug 2026 · 2 dates
  1. Standstill ends153 days ago
    15 May 2026, 23:59 BST
  2. Notice published52 days ago
    25 Aug 2026, 13:33 BST

Notice history

6 events · 5 releases on Find a Tender · since 6 May 2026
  1. Transparency notice published
    6 May 2026, 10:46 BST
    UK5
  2. Contract award notice published
    6 May 2026, 14:51 BST
    UK6
  3. Contract details notice published
    11 May 2026, 15:29 BST
    UK7
  4. Contract signature expected
    18 May 2026, 23:59 BST
    scheduled
  5. Contract termination notice published
    29 Jun 2026, 09:10 BST
    UK11
  6. Contract details notice published
    25 Aug 2026, 13:33 BST
    UK7
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
Awards 3some still in standstill
Awarded value £576,2501 award exc. VAT
Contracts signed 2latest 21 Aug 2026
Awarded toValueDateStatus
UCAS Media LtdUCAS Media Ltd19 May 2026 – 24 Jun 2026£576,2506 May 2026standstill to 15 May 2026Standstill
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

NHS England

Contracting authorityPublic authority - central government GB-PPON: PDPT-3135-BWWY Wellington House, 133-135 Waterloo Rd, London, London, SE1 8UGContact email

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice
  • UCAS Media LimitedAwarded supplierGB-PPON: PQLW-4791-YWWY Rosehill, New Barn Ln, Cheltenham, Cheltenham, South West, GL52 3LZContact email

Official documents & specifications (5)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure