Supply Chain Planning Solution

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is undertaking preliminary market engagement to inform the forthcoming procurement of a Supply Chain Planning Solution. The purpose of this engagement is to understand current market capabilities, identify potential delivery models, explore appropriate commercial structures, and ensure that any future procurement process is fair, open, and aligned with supplier capacity.

Participation in this engagement is voluntary, does not form part of any selection or evaluation process, and will not disadvantage suppliers who choose not to participate. All engagement will be conducted transparently and in line with relevant UK public procurement legislation.

How to Participate

Suppliers wishing to participate should contact:

Paul Lewis, Senior Commercial Lead

Email: [email protected]

All suppliers with an interest in supply chain planning, demand planning, inventory optimisation, forecasting, or associated systems integration services are encouraged to participate, including SMEs and VCSEs.

Engagement Activities and Timelines

1. Broadcast Session with TechUK – 1 December 2025

The authority will host an initial hybrid broadcast session, delivered in partnership with TechUK, held both online and in London. This session will provide:

An overview of NHSBT’s strategic aims

High-level context for the future procurement

An outline of the emerging requirements and problem statements

Information about the planned RFI and subsequent engagement steps

Following this event, NHSBT intends to release high-level requirements and a Request for Information (RFI) to all interested suppliers.

2. Written RFI

Suppliers will be invited to respond to an RFI designed to test deliverability, identify potential blockers, and explore market expectations on scope, technical architecture, procurement routes, and commercial structures.

3. One-to-One Supplier Discussions – Proposed Dates: 6–16 January 2026

NHSBT will hold structured one-to-one sessions to explore insights raised through the RFI in more detail. These discussions will focus on risks, assumptions, data considerations, dependencies, and realistic implementation pathways.

Suppliers may request a session, and slots will be allocated to ensure broad representation across the market.

Objectives of the Market Engagement

The purpose of the PME is to ensure NHSBT designs a procurement approach that is realistic, deliverable, non-discriminatory, and reflective of the diversity of the market. Key areas of focus include:

1. Market Understanding

Understanding typical solution architectures, operating models and technical standards.

Assessing the maturity of the supply chain planning software market.

Identifying commonly used frameworks or routes to market.

Benchmarking typical contract structures, service levels, liabilities, and support models.

Gaining insight into typical implementation timescales and change management approaches.

2. Requirements and Specification Development

Testing whether NHSBT’s emerging requirements are realistic and deliverable.

Identifying where scope may be over- or under-specified.

Highlighting areas of risk, complexity, and uncertainty from a supplier perspective.

Exploring whether a lotting structure would better align with market capability (for example: Demand Planning, Supply Planning, Inventory Optimisation, Distribution Planning, Vendor Managed Inventory, Systems Integration, or combined delivery).

3. Commercial and Procedural Design

Exploring different pricing approaches (for example subscription, modular pricing, consumption-based, hybrid, or outcome-based models).

Understanding appetite for risk-sharing mechanisms or performance incentives.

Testing realistic procurement timelines and mobilisation periods.

Seeking feedback on appropriate routes to market, including:

A Competitive Flexible Procedure

CCS frameworks (for example: Back Office Software 2, Digital Specialists & Programmes, G-Cloud)

Other relevant mechanisms

4. Supplier Readiness and Capacity Building

Providing early visibility of upcoming requirements to allow SMEs and VCSEs to prepare.

Setting out NHSBT’s anticipated expectations on data, cyber security, interoperability, sustainability, and social value.

Highlighting anticipated evaluation themes at a high level.

Providing guidance on NHSBT’s procurement portals, documentation and submission processes.

5. Innovation and Alternative Options

Identifying innovative or outcome-based approaches that could deliver transformational benefits.

Testing whether existing public sector tools or platforms could be reused, adapted, or integrated.

Exploring opportunities for automation, predictive analytics, scenario modelling, or AI-enhanced planning.

Next Steps

Insights gathered through this PME will inform NHSBT’s:

Procurement strategy

Lotting and delivery model

Commercial structure and pricing approach

Specification and evaluation framework

Route to market

Following completion of PME activities, NHSBT intends to publish a Tender Notice in line with the Procurement Act 2023.