Introduction
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust spends £215 million each year on buying a wide range of services, goods and works. It is our responsibility to use this money in the best possible way to ensure best value and quality for patients.
The Trust has a team of procurement and contract management specialists who work with clinical and non-clinical colleagues to ensure we meet our responsibilities under public procurement legislation and the Trust’s internal spending rules.
These rules and regulations exist to ensure that procurement processes are open, honest and transparent. The Trust uses the Atamis e-tendering portal to run tenders in a legally compliant way.
Procurement rules and regulations
Procurement Act 2023
The Procurement Act 2023 (“the Act”) governs the procurement of goods, works and services by public sector organisations. We have a legal obligation to follow the Act for contracts over certain thresholds set by central government.
The Act governs the way in which public sector organisations carry out their procurement exercises. They include detailed procedures for all procurements above certain monetary thresholds.
The Act came into force at the end of February 2025. Suppliers may access details on how the new regulations will affect them by viewing the knowledge drops provided at The Official Transforming Public Procurement Knowledge Drops – GOV.UK.
The Trust advertises tender opportunities on the Atamis e-tendering portal and publishes notices on the Find a Tender Service (FTS) website – also often referred to as the Central Digital Platform (CDP). You will need to register on the CDP before submitting a bid for any public sector tender opportunity.
The Provider Selection Regime 2024
The Provider Selection Regime governs the procurement of healthcare services by relevant authorities in England. The Trust must abide by the Provider Selection Regime processes, which include a high degree of transparency of our decisions when purchasing healthcare services. There is no threshold for PSR contracts; the process must be followed regardless of contract value.
How we buy
The below tables show how the Trust buys goods and services of different values and types.
Goods and non-clinical services contracts
| Total contract value | Procurement process | Supplier access |
|---|---|---|
| £10,000 to Procurement Act Threshold | Request for Quotation (minimum 3 written quotations sought) | By invitation from the Trust |
| Over the Procurement Act threshold | Above Threshold Tender Process or competition against a compliant framework agreement | Advertised via the Atamis e-tendering portal |
| Total contract value | Procurement process | Supplier access |
|---|---|---|
| £10,000 to Procurement Act Threshold | Request for Quotation (minimum 3 written quotations sought) | By invitation from the Trust |
| Over the Procurement Act threshold | Above Threshold Tender Process or competition against a compliant framework agreement | Advertised via the Atamis e-tendering portal |
Works contracts
| Total contract value | Procurement process | Supplier access |
|---|---|---|
| £10,000 to £250,000 | Request for Quotation (minimum 3 written quotations sought) | By invitation from the Trust |
| £250,000 to Procurement Act threshold | Below Threshold Tender process (minimum 4 tenders sought) or competition against a compliant framework agreement | By invitation from the Trust or advertised via the Atamis e-tendering portal |
| Over the Procurement Act threshold | Above Threshold Tender Process or competition against a compliant framework agreement | Advertised via the Atamis e-tendering portal |
| Total contract value | Procurement process | Supplier access |
|---|---|---|
| £10,000 to £250,000 | Request for Quotation (minimum 3 written quotations sought) | By invitation from the Trust |
| £250,000 to Procurement Act threshold | Below Threshold Tender process (minimum 4 tenders sought) or competition against a compliant framework agreement | By invitation from the Trust or advertised via the Atamis e-tendering portal |
| Over the Procurement Act threshold | Above Threshold Tender Process or competition against a compliant framework agreement | Advertised via the Atamis e-tendering portal |
Clinical (healthcare) services contracts
| Total contract value | Procurement process | Supplier access |
|---|---|---|
| Any value | Provider Selection Regime Competitive Process | Advertised via the Atamis e-tendering portal |
| Total contract value | Procurement process | Supplier access |
|---|---|---|
| Any value | Provider Selection Regime Competitive Process | Advertised via the Atamis e-tendering portal |
The PSR also includes several Direct Award processes. These contracts are not advertised to suppliers, but the Trust will issue the required transparency notices via the Find a Tender Service (FTS) website when one of these processes is being followed.
Frameworks
The Trust also uses procurement frameworks to award contracts. Suppliers can apply for admission to these frameworks when they open. The Trust is not responsible for the administration or running of these frameworks.
Examples of frameworks we use:
Register with the Trust
The Trust is committed to ensuring that small businesses and local businesses are able to bid for contract opportunities where possible. We encourage all suppliers to register on the Atamis e-tendering portal to receive alerts of tenders as they are published.
For contracts below £50,000 for goods and services, and £250,000 for works, the Trust maintains a database of potential suppliers.
Suppliers are encouraged to submit their details via the Supplier Registration form. Your details will then be passed to the relevant buyer to consider when requesting quotes in accordance with the tables above.
If you are invited to quote, you will need to complete our commercial questionnaire which requires further detailed information about your organisation.
Trust documents
Register your interest in working with the Trust
Submitting this form does not guarantee that your details will be considered for procurement opportunities. However, the information you provide will be shared with relevant departments for contracts under £50,000 for goods and services, and under £250,000 for works. This will help raise awareness of your company within the Trust. For opportunities above these amounts, please register on the Atamis e-tendering portal.
Supplier registration form
Thank you for registering your details. We are obligated to carry out due diligence checks on our suppliers/providers. If you have not previously worked with the Trust, and you are contacted to provide a quotation, you will need to provide more detailed information about your organisation.