Skip to main content
RFP Quest logoRFP QuestSign inJoin betaBook a Demo

UK supplier guide

Provider Selection Regime (PSR):
how health care is awarded

The Provider Selection Regime (PSR) is how NHS bodies and local authorities in England arrange health care services. It has been in force since 1 January 2024 and allows three direct-award routes, a most suitable provider route and a competition.

Search NHS tenders →

Checked against primary sources3 sources linked below

  1. Name the process

    This guide’s primary sources

  2. Read the key criteria weighting

    This guide’s primary sources

  3. Watch for the notice of intention

    This guide’s primary sources

  4. Make representations in time

    This guide’s primary sources

  1. England only, since 2024

    Health care services arranged by NHS bodies and councils.

    This guide’s primary sources

  2. Five routes

    Three direct awards, most suitable provider and competition.

    This guide’s primary sources

  3. Eight working days

    The minimum standstill to make written representations.

    This guide’s primary sources

What are the five PSR processes?

Direct award processes A, B and C, the most suitable provider process and the competitive process.

The Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 came into force on 1 January 2024 and apply in England only (reg 1).

Relevant authorities are combined authorities, integrated care boards, local authorities in England, NHS England, NHS foundation trusts and NHS trusts (reg 2).

  1. Only the existing provider can provide the services, because of their nature.

    reg 6(3)

  2. Patients choose their provider and every provider meeting the requirements is offered a contract.

    reg 6(4)

  3. An existing contract is ending, the change is not considerable, and the incumbent is performing well enough.

    reg 6(5)

  4. The authority expects to identify the best provider without a competition.

    reg 6(6)

How does an authority choose the process?

The regulations set an order: A and B are mandatory where they fit; then C, most suitable provider or competition.

  1. Before you start01

    Use the current documents

    Check the primary publication and later changes before using the sequence below.
  2. Check 202

    Only the incumbent can do it?

    Then the authority must follow direct award process A (reg 6(3)).
  3. Check 303

    Patient choice, providers unrestricted?

    Then it must follow direct award process B (reg 6(4)).
  4. Check 404

    Renewing a satisfactory contract, no considerable change?

    It may choose direct award process C, the most suitable provider process or the competitive process (reg 6(5)).
  5. Follow through05

    Can it identify the most suitable provider?

    It may choose the most suitable provider process or the competitive process (reg 6(6)). Otherwise it runs the competitive process. Frameworks are never concluded by A, B, C or most suitable provider.

An editorial order of work, not a buyer's fixed timetable. The current notice and documents determine participation and submission.

How does a provider respond to a PSR procurement?

Identify the process, then act within its standstill.

  1. Start with the source01

    Name the process

    Direct award A, B or C, most suitable provider or competition.
  2. Define the scope02

    Read the key criteria weighting

    The authority must justify its decision against the five criteria.
  3. Read the evidence03

    Watch for the notice of intention

    Published on Find a Tender; the standstill starts the next day.
  4. Make the decision04

    Make representations in time

    Within eight working days, in writing.
  5. Name the next action05

    Check the award notice

    Published within 30 days of the award.

A supplier’s review sequence, based on the primary sources below. It is not a measured outcome or a prescribed buyer timetable.

What are the PSR key criteria?

Five, which the authority must weigh under direct award C, most suitable provider and the competitive process.

Key criterionWhat it covers
Quality and innovationThe quality of the service and new ways of delivering it
ValueWhat the service delivers for the money
Integration, collaboration and service sustainabilityHow the service fits with others and lasts
Improving access, reducing health inequalities and facilitating choiceWho can use the service and how fairly
Social valueWider social, economic and environmental benefit
The criteria are defined in regulation 5; names from NHS England’s statutory guidance, read 24 October 2026. The descriptions are this guide’s summary; the authority sets its own weighting and must record its reasons.

How long is the PSR standstill, and can a provider object?

At least eight working days after the notice of intention; a provider may make written representations in that time.

The standstill begins the day after the notice of intention to award is published and, unless representations are made, ends at midnight on the eighth working day (NHS England guidance).

If representations are made, it continues until the authority decides again and gives at least five working days’ notice of that decision, which allows a provider to ask the Independent Patient Choice and Procurement Panel to review it.

  1. Published, then the standstill starts the next day.

    NHS England guidance

  2. Written, within the eight working days.

    NHS England guidance

  3. The Independent Patient Choice and Procurement Panel can advise.

    NHS England guidance

  4. Published within 30 days of the award, expected on Find a Tender.

    NHS England guidance

How many PSR notices are published?

In our corpus, 1,125 records in the twelve months to 30 September 2026 named the regime; direct award process C was the process named most often.

Records naming the PSR, 1 Oct 2025 to 30 Sep 2026Records
All stages1,125
Award stage732
Tender stage238
Planning stage107
Mentioning direct award process C440
Mentioning the competitive process135
Mentioning direct award process B111
Mentioning the most suitable provider process102
Mentioning direct award process A74
Buyer named as an integrated care board551
Buyer named as a council310
RFP Quest corpus: Find a Tender and Contracts Finder records whose title or description contains “provider selection regime” or “2023/1348”, by publication date, queried 24 October 2026. A text match, not a legal classification: records that do not name the regime are missed, a procurement can have several records, and one record can mention more than one process.

An incumbent can be renewed without a competition, so watch the contract before its notice of intention appears.

  1. England only, since 2024

    Health care services arranged by NHS bodies and councils.

  2. Five routes

    Three direct awards, most suitable provider and competition.

  3. Eight working days

    The minimum standstill to make written representations.
Search NHS tenders →

Free: NHS notices with deadlines, buyers and recent awards, from Find a Tender and Contracts Finder.

What else should you know about Provider Selection Regime?

Check these points before committing your team’s time.

What is the Provider Selection Regime?
The rules in the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 for how relevant authorities in England arrange health care services. In force since 1 January 2024.
Does the PSR replace the Procurement Act 2023 for the NHS?
Only for relevant health care services. Other NHS purchases can use wider procurement rules. Check the notice and NHS England's statutory guidance for mixed procurements; see also the Procurement Act 2023.
Who has to follow the PSR?
Relevant authorities: combined authorities, integrated care boards, local authorities in England, NHS England, NHS foundation trusts and NHS trusts (regulation 2).
What is direct award process C?
A route to award a new contract to the existing provider when the current contract is ending, the change is not considerable, and the authority judges the provider is satisfying the contract and likely to satisfy the new one. The authority must assess it against the key criteria (regulation 6(5)).
Can a provider challenge a PSR decision?
During the standstill of at least eight working days a provider can make written representations. If still unsatisfied after the authority's further decision, it can ask the Independent Patient Choice and Procurement Panel for advice (NHS England guidance).
Where are PSR notices published?
NHS England expects them on Find a Tender, including the intention to follow the most suitable provider process and the notice of award, which must be published within 30 days of the award.

Where can you check the evidence?

Read the primary publication and the buyer’s current documents before acting.

SourceWhat it supports
The Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 · legislation.gov.uk ↗Regulations 1, 2 and 6, read 24 October 2026.
Regulation 6: the choice of process ↗When A, B, C, most suitable provider or competition applies.
The Provider Selection Regime: statutory guidance · NHS England ↗Key criteria, standstill, representations, panel and notices.
Follow the current primary publication for its scope and any later changes. Calculators use your inputs, not measured savings.

Follow the part of the bid you need to work on next.

RFP Quest logo

Built on published notices from Find a Tender and Contracts Finder.

15 minutes · RFP Quest

Book a Demo