What’s the story?
NHS Supply Chain has published a GBP £210 million pipeline notice for a national framework agreement covering medical simulation devices and immersive technologies.
Why it matters
The framework represents a significant investment in immersive healthcare training, providing a centralized route for NHS trusts to procure AR, VR, and MR simulation tools.
The bigger picture
The scale of this investment highlights the NHS’s reliance on immersive technologies for medical training and presents a huge financial opportunity for SMEs in the XR simulation space.
February 2, 2026 – NHS Supply Chain has announced its intention to launch a new national framework agreement for the provision of medical simulation devices and technologies. The procurement pipeline, valued at an estimated GBP £210 million (excluding VAT), aims to establish a commercial framework for the delivery of goods and services across the healthcare sector in the UK.
NHS Supply Chain manages the sourcing, delivery, and supply of healthcare products, services, and food for National Health Service (NHS) trusts and healthcare organisations across England and Wales.
Scope of Work
The planned framework is structured into two lots:
Immersive Technology and Services:
Of primary interest to XR companies, this lot focuses on the provision of immersive and training technologies, systems, and services. The scope of this lot includes virtual reality (VR) simulation systems, augmented reality (AR) trainers, and mixed reality (MR) platforms. Additionally, requirements cover immersive projection rooms, simulation domes, real-time recording with feedback, and simulated electronic patient records (EPR).
Manikins and Task Trainers:
This contract lot covers a wide range of simulation products and related services, including basic CPR manikins (adult, child, and infant models), advanced life support (ALS) manikins, airway management trainers, IV and injection trainers, diagnostic skills models, surgical and procedural trainers, trauma simulation manikins and kits, moulage kits, and prenatal/postnatal simulation products including ultrasound simulation manikins. The notice also references rental services such as room rental, mobile service, and manikin rental.
Contract Value and Participation
The total estimated value of the framework is £210,000,000 excluding VAT, or £252,000,000 including VAT. The pipeline notice also notes particular suitability for participation from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs).
Key Dates
The estimated publication date of the full tender notice is July 2, 2026. Estimated contract dates run from May 9, 2027, to May 8, 2029, with a possible extension to May 8, 2031.
For more information on how to engage with this opportunity, please reach out to contact@auganix.org.
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Image credit: NHS Supply Chain
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Sam is the Founder and Managing Editor of Auganix, where he has spent years immersed in the XR ecosystem, tracking its evolution from early prototypes to the technologies shaping the future of human experience. While primarily covering the latest AR and VR news, his interests extend to the wider world of human augmentation, from AI and robotics to haptics, wearables, and brain–computer interfaces.