NHS Supply Chain (NHSSC) has provided suppliers with updates on its Commercial Transformation Programme, cyber security requirements, and approach to social value as part of its latest supplier webinar.

The webinar outlined plans for earlier engagement with suppliers ahead of tenders, progress towards a new procurement platform, and further clarification on the Single Transacted National Price (STNP).

Earlier supplier engagement planned

As part of its Commercial Transformation Programme, NHSSC said it wants to engage suppliers earlier during the tendering process.

This will include earlier sharing of tender scope and requirements, regular touchpoints, and in-person engagement potentially up to a year before a tender enters the market.

NHSSC said the approach should give suppliers greater visibility of what will be required and when, helping them plan their tender responses while reducing the need for additional information later in the process. The changes are beginning now for new tender activity.

NHSSC is also progressing plans for a single digital platform covering areas including procurement pipeline visibility, procurement activity, and contract management.

The work follows supplier engagement in May and June, which generated more than 20 recommendations. Simplifying data sharing, reducing duplicated documentation, and improving visibility of upcoming procurement activity were identified as key priorities.

NHSSC aims to identify its preferred platform by April 2027, with go-live targeted for late summer 2027.

Further clarification on STNP

Following its previous update on STNP, NHSSC reiterated that the long-term pricing model is intended to reduce unwarranted price variation and aggregate demand across the NHS.

Importantly for suppliers, NHSSC stressed that STNP is not intended to restrict customer choice or product ranges. The organisation said it wants to balance the advantages of national scale with the flexibility for customers to select products appropriate to their clinical settings.

Implementation will be gradual, with suppliers expected to be involved in shaping future pricing mechanisms as existing approaches are phased out.

Cyber risk assessments to continue

NHSSC also reinforced the cyber security requirements outlined during its June supplier webinar, including Cyber Essentials Plus for suppliers in scope of Procurement Policy Note (PPN) 014 and the Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) for applicable suppliers processing NHS patient data.

The webinar provided further detail on NHSSC’s high-risk supplier process. Cyber risk is monitored using Dun & Bradstreet data, with suppliers receiving a cyber risk score. Those scoring below 70 are considered high risk and may be contacted to complete additional due diligence.

NHSSC said scores can change over time and that suppliers dropping below the threshold may subsequently be contacted. It also acknowledged concerns about duplication between different cyber assurance requirements and said it is working to align its approach with NHS England’s Cyber Improvement Programme where possible.

The update came as NHSSC was responding to supply disruption following a cyber attack affecting Boston Scientific. NHSSC said information about the incident remained limited at the time of the webinar and encouraged suppliers to remain vigilant.

Social value approach remains unchanged for now

NHSSC confirmed that its current approach to social value in procurement will remain in place while it awaits further guidance following updates to the government’s social value procurement policy.

Suppliers will continue to be asked to outline the social value opportunities they can provide. These are published on framework contract launch pages, enabling NHS customers to identify opportunities relevant to local priorities.

NHSSC also emphasised that organisations of different sizes have different capacities to deliver social value and said its approach is intended to allow suppliers to demonstrate opportunities appropriate to their business.

Further guidance is expected in the coming months, while the October supplier webinar is due to cover the 2027 sustainability milestone and its implications for procurements from April 2027.

The latest NHS Supply Chain (NHSSC) supplier webinar, held on 1 July 2026, provided further detail on the future Single Transacted National Price (STNP) programme, alongside updates on value-based procurement (VBP), clinical evidence requirements, and sustainability.

The webinar also reinforced expectations around value-based procurement and robust clinical evidence to support procurement decisions.

Single Transacted National Price update

NHSSC provided further detail on its STNP programme, which forms part of the Commercial Transformation Programme’s Pricing Simplification project and will be introduced progressively as part of NHS Supply Chain 2030.

The proposed model will see all transacted frameworks move towards a single national buy price for each product, supported by new national value mechanisms designed to aggregate commitments across the NHS and maximise value. Centrally funded customers would access the same national sell price, removing customer-specific pricing tiers, banding, and additional discounts, while price variation would remain only for non-centrally funded customers where centrally determined margins apply.

Suppliers would be expected to support the transition by moving away from negotiating customer-specific discounts and rebates for NHS Supply Chain sales. Incentive schemes would instead be managed centrally, while frameworks unable to support STNP may, by exception, transition to a non-transacted (direct) procurement route.

NHSSC said pricing simplification aims to improve transparency, reduce administrative complexity, and create a more predictable pricing environment, allowing both suppliers and NHSSC to focus more on innovation, product development, and delivering value to the NHS.

Implementation will be gradual. In the short term, the National Value Programme will continue to optimise existing National Pricing Matrices (NPMs), including removing some where appropriate. Over time, new pricing mechanisms will replace NPMs and Market Basket Management Strategies (MBMS) as frameworks are renewed, enabling full adoption of STNP. NHSSC also confirmed it does not intend to return to commitment discounts or direct rebates as part of the new approach.

Demonstrating value beyond price

Value-based procurement (VBP) remains a key focus for NHSSC. As outlined in BHTA’s previous article on the new NHS value-based procurement guidance, suppliers are increasingly expected to demonstrate value across six domains: social value, efficiency, patient and staff outcomes, supply chain resilience, purpose, and whole-life cost.

The webinar highlighted a significant change in how supplier responses are evaluated. Rather than relying on pass/fail or yes/no assessments, procurement exercises will increasingly use scored, text-based responses to assess the strength of each submission. Meeting the minimum requirement is now considered the starting point, with suppliers expected to explain and evidence how their solution delivers greater quality and value than competing offers.

NHSSC also confirmed that VBP extends beyond contract award. Commitments made during the procurement process become part of the long-term offer, with value monitored and measured throughout the life of the contract. The same value criteria may also be applied during call-off competitions and further competitions under framework agreements.

Clinical evidence remains fundamental

NHSSC reiterated that clinical evidence plays a vital role in supporting product assessments and NHS procurement decisions.

Suppliers were reminded that evidence should, wherever possible, be published in peer-reviewed journals. Where evidence is based on case studies or case reports, NHSSC said research from the UK or comparable healthcare systems, including France, Denmark, Canada, and Australia, is particularly valuable. Larger international studies can also strengthen submissions where they have been published internationally or presented at recognised conferences.

NHSSC also highlighted guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which states that clinical evidence should be relevant to the evaluation, transparently reported, systematically assembled, and analysed using robust methods that minimise bias. NICE also recommends clearly justifying the selection of outcomes, resource use, and costs within the evidence base.

Suppliers were encouraged to focus evidence on the specific product being submitted, move beyond marketing claims, clearly explain the problem the product is intended to solve, and use evidence relating to the current product rather than previous generations. NHSSC also advised against relying on generic therapy-area evidence or evidence from unrelated products to support claims.

Sustainability

The webinar concluded with a brief update on sustainability requirements.

NHSSC confirmed it is reviewing NHS England’s updated 2027 Net Zero supplier requirements to determine how they will be implemented operationally. No further detail was provided, although suppliers were advised that further updates will follow as this work progresses.