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<p>Procurement within the National Health Service is conducted within the rules of
the Government’s Public Contracts Regulations 2015, which stipulates that all suppliers
are treated fairly and equally in the procurement process.</p><p> </p><p>Procurement
Policy Notes (PPNs) also provide provisions to allow contracting authorities not to
unfairly exclude small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In November 2020, PPN
11/20 published Reserving Below Threshold Procurements, allowing contracting authorities
to restrict certain threshold procurements for SMEs, which is available at the following
link:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-policy-note-1120-reserving-below-threshold-procurements"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-policy-note-1120-reserving-below-threshold-procurements</a></p><p>
</p><p>PPN 01/23 Requirements to Publish on Contracts Finder, published in January
2023, reminded contracting authorities to publish all contract opportunities on Contract
Finder. For NHS trusts and Foundation trusts this is set at £30,000.</p><p> </p><p>SMEs
are critical to the NHS Supply Chain, and the NHS is fully committed to supporting
SMEs so they can supply to the NHS. NHS England is establishing a strategic supplier
relationship programme to help build and enhance our relationship with NHS suppliers,
including SMEs.</p>
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