AWARD OUTCOME
What happened
NHS England has awarded and signed a direct, below-threshold proof-of-concept contract to COMPETITIVE SOLUTIONS LIMITED for network and connectivity technology intended to help community-based NHS frontline staff remotely access NHS systems.
Published outcomeOne active award and active contract are recorded for lot 1. The contract is stated as signed on 13 October 2026, starts on 16 October 2026 and ends on 31 March 2027.
Market significanceThis is a small, time-limited telecommunications-services proof of concept awarded without competition; it may be relevant to suppliers active in NHS connectivity and frontline productivity technology.
AWARDED SUPPLIERS AND LOTS
1 supplier record analysed
COMPETITIVE SOLUTIONS LIMITED
99% confidenceAward 1 · Lots 1 · £20,802 net; £24,962.40 gross GBP · Verified supplier; active award and contract
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Award 1 identifies Competitive Solutions Limited as supplier for lot 1. Supplier verification matches company number 05191198 to verified legal name COMPETITIVE SOLUTIONS LIMITED. Contract 1 linked to award 1 states £20,802 amount and £24,962.40 amountGross.
LIFECYCLE
Award or contract stage
Notice type
99% confidenceContract details notice on Find a Tender
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Document 096701-2026 is described as a "Contract details notice on Find a Tender" and tagged award and contract.
Procurement status
98% confidenceComplete
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Tender status is "complete"; the process source status is "complete".
Award status
98% confidenceActive
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Award 1 has status "active".
Contract status
98% confidenceActive
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Contract 1 has status "active".
Contract signature
99% confidenceSigned on 13 October 2026
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Contract 1 records dateSigned as 2026-10-13.
VALUES
Published values explained
Contract value, excluding VAT
99% confidence£20,802
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Contract 1 value.amount is 20802 GBP.
Contract value, including VAT
99% confidence£24,962.40
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Contract 1 value.amountGross is 24962.4 GBP.
Value allocation
96% confidenceThe published contract value is linked to the sole award and supplier.
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Contract 1 is linked to award 1, which names one supplier and one related lot.
TIMELINE
Procurement timeline
Contract details notice published
99% confidence13 October 2026
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Document 096701-2026 was published at 2026-10-13T16:09:24+01:00.
Contract signed
99% confidence13 October 2026
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Contract 1 dateSigned is 2026-10-13.
Contract start
99% confidence16 October 2026
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Contract 1 period.startDate is 2026-10-16.
Contract end
99% confidence31 March 2027
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Contract 1 period.endDate is 2027-03-31.
Stated term
97% confidenceAbout 5.5 months
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Calculated from the explicit contract dates of 16 October 2026 to 31 March 2027.
SCOPE
What was awarded
Requirement
99% confidenceNetwork and connectivity technology proof of concept
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The title identifies a "Network and Connectivity Tech Proof of Concept"; the description states it is a proof of concept with CSL.
Intended operational use
99% confidenceSupport community-based NHS frontline staff to remotely access NHS systems
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The description says the technologies will help NHS frontline staff working in the community to remotely access NHS systems.
Service classification
99% confidenceTelecommunications services (CPV 64200000)
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Award item additional classification is CPV 64200000, Telecommunications services.
Delivery geography
96% confidenceUnited Kingdom
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The award item delivery address specifies region UK and country GB.
Lot structure
98% confidenceOne published lot (lot 1)
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Tender and award data identify lot 1 only.
PROCEDURE
Procedure and competition
Procurement method
99% confidenceDirect award
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Tender procurementMethod is "direct".
Procedure detail
99% confidenceBelow threshold - without competition
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Tender procurementMethodDetails states "Below threshold - without competition".
Threshold status
99% confidenceBelow threshold
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Contract 1 aboveThreshold is false.
Competition information
98% confidenceNo competition was used; bidder counts and evaluation information were not supplied.
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The procedure is expressly described as without competition. No bid count, scoring or evaluation fields are published in the supplied data.
CONTRACT TERMS
Published contract terms
Contract period
99% confidence16 October 2026 to 31 March 2027
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Contract 1 period gives these start and end dates.
Contract value basis
99% confidence£20,802 excluding VAT and £24,962.40 including VAT
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Contract 1 records amount and amountGross in GBP.
Extension or renewal terms
99% confidenceUnknown
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Information not supplied in the published notice.
COMMERCIAL VIEW
Commercial observations
Engagement signal
99% confidenceThe direct below-threshold route indicates this requirement was not opened to competition.
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The procurement is recorded as direct and "Below threshold - without competition".
Market opportunity profile
91% confidenceThe published scope and limited term indicate a focused proof-of-concept engagement rather than evidence of a broader rollout.
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The requirement is described as a proof of concept and the contract period runs from 16 October 2026 to 31 March 2027.
Supplier positioning
97% confidenceCOMPETITIVE SOLUTIONS LIMITED is the verified SME supplier recorded for this NHS connectivity proof of concept.
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The supplier is verified by company number and marked SME; the award scope is classified as telecommunications services.
DATA QUALITY
Gaps and source limitations
Supplier identity quality
99% confidenceVerified
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The supplied verification workflow completed a company-number match for supplier 05191198 to COMPETITIVE SOLUTIONS LIMITED, with no name mismatch.
Award date
99% confidenceNot published separately
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The award record has no award_date; the notice publication and contract signature dates are available.
Lot detail
99% confidenceLot 1 has no published title, description or standalone value.
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Lot 1 is present but its title, description and value fields are null.
Commercial detail
99% confidencePricing breakdown, evaluation rationale, bid count, and renewal or extension terms were not supplied in the published notice.
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Information not supplied in the provided fields.
SOURCE DATA LIMITATIONS
Information not supplied in the published notice
- Information not supplied in the published notice: a separate award date, bid count, evaluation methodology, evaluation results, pricing breakdown, extension terms and renewal terms.
- Lot 1 is identified but has no published title, description or standalone value.
- The notice describes a proof of concept; it does not state whether a subsequent rollout or procurement will occur.
MARKET THEMES
Relevant award themes
NHS England contract awardCOMPETITIVE SOLUTIONS LIMITEDnetwork connectivity proof of concepttelecommunications servicesNHS frontline productivityFind a Tender 096701-2026
COMMON QUESTIONS
About this award
Who won the NHS England connectivity proof-of-concept contract?
COMPETITIVE SOLUTIONS LIMITED, verified against company number 05191198.
What is the contract value?
The contract value is £20,802 excluding VAT and £24,962.40 including VAT.
When does the contract run?
It starts on 16 October 2026 and ends on 31 March 2027.
Was the opportunity competitively tendered?
No. The published procedure is direct, below threshold and without competition.
ProcuraAxis award analysis supplements, but does not replace, the official award notice, contract data or procurement documents. “Awarded” does not by itself prove that a contract has been signed.