Healthy Start Prepaid Cards

The NHSBSA is a Special Health Authority and an Arm's Length Body of the Department of Health and Social Care. We provide a range of critical central services to NHS organisations (our 'clients'), NHS contractors, health bodies, patients and the public (our 'customers').

The NHSBSA requires the delivery of payments to citizens who are eligible in accordance with the Healthy Start Scheme and Welfare Food (Amendment) Regulations 2005. The NHSBSA processes applications, performs eligibility checks and calculates the payments due on a rolling 4-week cycle for every beneficiary. The typical monthly payment for a beneficiary is currently £17.00.

Payments are currently made to beneficiaries by adding funds to a pre-paid card, which the cardholder can then use to buy healthy food items from retailers. Once an application is received and accepted, a prepaid card is sent by post to the beneficiary, along with a carrier letter and Healthy Start information leaflet. The 4-digit PIN code is sent separately. Cardholders are required to activate the card either by using an interactive telephone system or by calling NHSBSA to pass verification and activate the card. Use of the card is limited by way of specific Merchant Category Codes being blocked and currently online purchases are not enabled. It is not possible to use the card to withdraw cash from an ATM.

The NHSBSA's current solution is cloud based and has integration with The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) to facilitate eligibility checks. The NHSBSA application communicates with DWP and the current solution provider via API functionality (RestFUL API requests) – to perform checks, request payments and gather payment data for analytics and service improvement. NHSBSA colleagues have access to the solution provider platform to manage accounts and make specific requests such as PIN reminders and card replacements as well as putting accounts on hold.

At this stage we are seeking high-level input to enable us to assess the market and to inform any future procurement strategy to ensure compliance with The Procurement Act 2023 and/or the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 as the case maybe.

The NHSBSA would like to explore all possible solutions that will improve efficiency, customer experience and the effectiveness of the scheme. Different delivery approaches are welcomed including, but not limited to digital first solutions, virtual cards, electronic vouchers, or gift cards. The NHSBSA is required to provide payments to all eligible users including those with specific access needs, those who are unbanked or who face barriers to receiving payments. Any accommodation of those needs is welcome.

Providers will be required to support fraud prevention, recovery of unspent payment, and account closure. Providers are encouraged to consider ways of providing a convenient way for customers to activate their account/solution, manage their account including contact details and address, access codes or equivalent.

The NHSBSA will expect providers to enter into a data sharing agreement with NHSBSA to enable the management and administration of the scheme.

Interested parties must register an interest in this RFI via https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome (search opportunities using system reference C442089). Suppliers can register from Thursday 23rd April 2026 and the RFI documents will be made available on Thursday 23rd April 2026.

The window for clarification questions will close on Friday 8th May 2026 at 12:00 noon BST and written RFI responses are requested by no later than Wednesday 13th May 2026 at 12:00 noon BST.

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) invites all interested economic operators to participate in an RFI. Your organisation’s involvement with our RFI is an invaluable way of us ensuring that, with your input, we have the best support and guidance to inform any subsequent procurement.

Please note that at this stage a route to market has not yet been determined. However, should the outcome of this RFI determine that the best value route to market is via a framework then any subsequent invitation to tender and notices will be restricted to those appointed to the applicable framework and will be governed by the Procurement Regulations 2015 or the Procurement Act 2023 as stipulated by the framework in question.

Additional Information:

Suppliers should note that this RFI is a market research exercise only and it is not an invitation to tender, an invitation to offer an agreement or a guarantee that there will be a future procurement exercise.

If you do not wish to take part in this RFI exercise, it will not affect any current or future business with the NHSBSA.

Participation in this RFI is limited to suppliers that meet the definition of "economic operator" under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. "Economic operator" means any person, or public entity, or group of such persons and entities, including any temporary association of undertakings, that offers the execution of works or a work, the supply of products or the provision of services on the market. Where a participant does not meet this criteria they may be removed from the RFI process.

Disclaimers:

(1) No competitive advantage will be gained by the suppliers engaging with the NHSBSA at this early stage and NHSBSA will ensure equal treatment of all interested parties at all times. We will make the outputs of the day available to those Suppliers who are unable to attend.

(2) NHSBSA does not bind itself, by conducting this RFI exercise, to commence any procurement procedure or award any contract, and will not in any event be responsible for any costs incurred by invitees in attending and/or preparing for the presentation and individual supplier meeting referred to above.

(3) Confidentiality of information which is clearly marked or identified as being confidential and which is reasonably viewed by NHSBSA as confidential will be observed, but NHSBSA does not accept any blanket claims of confidentiality.