Prescription Exemption Checking Service (PECS) 2026/2027

Official notice

Authority: NHS England (Central government)

Direct awardLight touch regime

Sectors: Business Services & Consultancy (79)Health & Social Care (85) Delivery: Delivery location not published

Awarded value£7,511,140published award · exc. VAT

Awarded 31 Mar 2026no call for competition

Awarded to NHS Business Services Authority2 awards

What is being bought

Published requirement description

Prescription Exemption Checking Service (DECS) 2026/2027

The Provider will investigate a random sample of prescription claims from patients who have claimed exemption from payment to verify the accuracy of the exemption declared. Claims are verified by cross checking the patient details on the prescription claim against the Provider records of valid exemption schemes which the Provider administer in addition to DWP records.

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published

Lot #1Awarded

79212400 Fraud audit services 85100000 Health services

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: Light touch regime
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: 21 Apr 2026, 14:31 BST
Last source update: 29 Sept 2026, 11:34 BST
Authority reference: C440772
FTS notice number: 2026/S 000-091765
Latest notice: Contract details notice (UK7)
Delivery area: Not published
Official registry OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-068788 Find a Tender

Why no open competition: Single Suppliers Technical Reasons
Published justification: Paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023 – absence of competition for technical reasons

Notice history

7 events · 6 releases on Find a Tender · since 21 Apr 2026

Transparency notice published
21 Apr 2026, 14:31 BST
UK5
Contract award notice published
21 Apr 2026, 15:27 BST
UK6
Contract details notice published
21 Apr 2026, 15:35 BST
UK7
Contract award notice published
21 Apr 2026, 15:36 BST
UK6
Contract signature expected
21 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
scheduled
Contract details notice published
8 Jul 2026, 10:19 BST
UK7
Contract details notice published
29 Sept 2026, 11:34 BST
UK7

Routine re-releases (6)

2026-04: 3 releases · 21 Apr 2026, 21 Apr 2026

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast

Awards 2

Awarded value £7,511,1401 award exc. VAT

Contracts signed 1latest 21 Apr 2026

Awarded to	Value	Date	Status
NHS Business Services Authority21 Apr 2026 – 31 Mar 2027Amended: Value missed off contract	£7,511,140	31 Mar 2026	Awarded
NHS Business Services Authority	—	—	Awarded

Contracts

Prescription Exemption Checking Services (PECS) 2026/2027 · NHS Business Services Authority
Signed
21 Apr 2026
Value
£15,138,244
Period
21 Apr 2026 – 31 Mar 2027
Status
active
- Change Change of costs as per email from David Stack 3.7.2026
- Change redacted contract

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 name, email

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice

NHS Business Services AuthorityAwarded supplierGB-PPON: PYDZ-5139-HQCJ Stella House, Goldcrest Way, Newburn riverside, Newcastle Upon Tyne, North East, NE15 8NXContact email

Official documents & specifications (7)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Tender pack and attachments

Signed contract contractSigned contractPDF

Notices published for this procedure

Contract details notice contractContract details noticeUK7Contract details notice on Find a Tender29 Sept 2026, 11:34 BST
Contract details notice contractContract details noticeUK7Contract details notice on Find a Tender8 Jul 2026, 10:19 BST
Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender21 Apr 2026, 15:36 BST
Contract details notice contractContract details noticeUK7Contract details notice on Find a Tender21 Apr 2026, 15:35 BST
Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender21 Apr 2026, 15:27 BST
Transparency notice awardTransparency noticeUK5Transparency notice on Find a Tender21 Apr 2026, 14:31 BST