Primary Care Contracts & Tenders: What's Changing in 2025?
Primary care is the backbone of the UK healthcare system, and 2025 is a year of radical change in the funding, organisation and commissioning of these services. The evolving dynamics of primary care contracts are not an alternative to be comprehended by organisations that look forward to offering community-based health solutions, whether in general practice, pharmacy or allied clinical pathways.
The nature of service provision is changing, whether that be digital-first approaches or more localised commissioning structures. This blog discusses these changes, describes the key aspects of primary care, and offers practical recommendations to suppliers seeking to win tenders and navigate the complex NHS procurement environment. As a GP federation, private clinic, or provider of support services, the next few months will be challenging yet provide opportunities.
What Is Primary Care?
Primary care is the first point of contact between patients and the healthcare system as a whole. It serves as the initial point of contact, providing diagnosis, prevention, and continuous management, as well as referrals for a comprehensive range of health needs.
Primary care in the NHS encompasses more than just general practitioners. It encompasses a wide range of professionals and environments, including pharmacists and dentists, district nurses, and screening services. These providers work within a primary care environment, and their responsibilities include providing basic public health services, such as immunisations, early disease identification, and lifestyle management.
The services also cover the management of chronic conditions and the prevention of future ill health. Primary care practitioners can also support patients earlier in the life course, which helps to lessen the pressure on hospital care and secondary care settings. Finally, efficient primary health care enhances population performance and service sustainability.
Primary Care Services Examples
To have an idea of the process of contract formation, it is good to mention the whole range of services in NHS primary care:
General Practice (GP services): These include diagnosis, minor treatment, management of chronic diseases, health screening and referral to specialist care. General practices are often the centre of care coordination.
Community Pharmacy: There is a lot more to pharmacists than prescriptions. Community pharmacy services are being extended to include medication reviews, flu vaccinations, minor ailment consultations and smoking cessation.
Dentistry and Oral Health: NHS dental services focus on preventive care, emergency extractions, oral screening services, and general oral healthcare. Dentists play a crucial role in enhancing the health outcomes of both adults and children.
Pain Management Clinics: This service is commonly integrated into musculoskeletal and rehabilitation systems, helping patients with chronic pain manage their condition through non-surgical interventions and holistic solutions.
Nursing and Health Visiting: Community-based nurses and health visitors provide specialist care services to older adults, new parents, and individuals with complex health needs, including palliative care and end-of-life care.
Preventative Care Services: These include screening, early diagnosis programmes, immunisation clinics and health education. In the long run, preventive services form the foundation of population health improvement.
All these spheres create a comprehensive model of the NHS, allowing patients to receive care tailored to their specific needs at the appropriate stage of their healthcare journey.
Primary Care Contracts in the NHS
NHS primary care services are no longer centralised in one entity for commissioning. In the current world, the procurement of care services in the country is shared between Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and NHS England.
Contracts of primary care usually come in three categories:
GMS (General Medical Services): These are negotiated contracts at a national level with GP practices, which may include core services such as routine consultations and health checks.
PMS (Personal Medical Services): A less rigid contract, negotiated at the local level, which enables providers to provide specialised services based on the needs of the local population.
APMS (Alternative Provider Medical Services): These are competitively procured services that typically involve bidding on care in specific communities by the private sector or non-traditional providers.
ICBs are increasingly offering competitive tenders for improved services, including minor surgery, diagnostics, digital triage, and mental health, among others. The value of contracts varies immensely, with targeted pilots being under 100,000 pounds and full-service provision in multiple locations, contracts worth millions.
Spotlight: Pain Contracts in Primary Care
The management of pain is becoming a priority area for the NHS commissioners. These services are closely related to musculoskeletal conditions, arthritis care, and long-term recovery from injury, and are frequently multidisciplinary in nature, provided outside the hospital.
The primary care pain contracts can be standalone or integrated into larger health service systems. They are usually awarded as an open tender and administered by ICBs, targeting integrated health services that incorporate physical therapy, medication management, community involvement, and remote monitoring systems.
With the increase in demand for holistic, non-surgical interventions, private clinics, pain specialists, and physiotherapy teams are entering the NHS tendering environment. Online services that provide remote pain assessment or long-term care management systems are also gaining popularity.
Organisations that know how to convert their service offering into quantifiable results, such as fewer hospital admissions, improved patient interaction, and less opioid consumption, will win these contracts hands down.
Current Primary Care Tendering Landscape
The tendering environment for the 2025 primary care is characterised by three themes: integration, innovation, and collaboration.
Increasing numbers of tenders are being designed based on framework agreements or alliance models, where bidders must demonstrate intersectoral cooperation. These can be contracts that combine general practice and social prescribing or shared access to community pharmacy networks.
There is also an increase in pilot programmes. These lower-value contracts enable commissioners to pilot digital-first models, such as AI triage tools or video consultation systems, then scale up. Suppliers who demonstrate success in pilot phases are typically given a competitive advantage in subsequent tenders.
The publication of primary care tenders is done on various websites, such as:
Atamis (utilised by NHS England and regional procurement hubs)
Search a Tender and Contracts Finder
Additionally, specialist platforms such as HCI provide filtered access to relevant opportunities based on service type and geographic region.
How to Win Primary Care Contracts
Clinical capability is not enough to win a primary care contract; it requires a good understanding of the procurement environment, the ability to meet complex specifications, and the clear demonstration of patient benefits.
The following are some of the steps you need to follow to improve your chances of success:
Sign up to Procurement Portals: Become a member of NHS England procurement portals and regional systems.
Follow Opportunities through HCI: Go to Healthcare Contracts International to view current tenders, pre-market engagement notices and competitor intelligence.
Learn about Types of Contracts: APMS, PMS, and GMS contracts are associated with their own specific terms and requirements. Ensure that the specifications are thoroughly read and aligned to the fullest extent.
Evidence, Results and Innovation: Commissioners are interested in data. You should use past performance, quality assurance measures, and patient satisfaction rates to back your bid.
Partner to Build Scale: If your organisation is not able or eligible, consider partnering with other providers or consortia to provide a full service.
It is essential to focus on details during the bidding process. This involves understanding the health issue your service is addressing, describing your clinical model, and outlining a clear and measurable path to improved health outcomes.
Why Use HCI to Find Primary Care Contracts
Healthcare Contracts International (HCI) is a leading procurement intelligence tool designed specifically for healthcare suppliers, making it an ideal solution for organisations aiming to compete in the NHS primary care space.
Here’s what sets it apart:
Real-Time Alerts: HCI provides primary care tenders filtered by service type, location, and contract value—ensuring only relevant notices reach your inbox.
Pre-Market Visibility: The platform provides early notices and pipeline data, allowing users to prepare in advance before tenders go live.
Insights on Awards and Competitors: Understand who’s winning contracts, how much they’re worth, and what bid models are working in your sector.
Supportive Resources: Access bid-writing webinars, NHS-specific guides, and commentary on procurement changes affecting primary care contracts and services.
For primary healthcare providers seeking a strategic edge, HCI is not just a database—it’s a comprehensive procurement support solution.
Secure Your Place in the Future of Primary Care
Primary care within the NHS is changing in character, and so are the methods of contract structuring, awarding and monitoring. These changes require providers who want to remain relevant in the field of general practice, community pharmacy, digital care, or pain management to take action.
The interaction begins with understanding. Through avenues such as HCI, healthcare providers have an early view, improved targeting and resources to develop persuasive bids.
Book a free demo to find out how HCI can enable your organisation to identify and win primary care contracts. Embrace change and lead with confidence, positioning your services at the heart of the NHS of tomorrow.