Simulating Success: NHS Tenders for VR Training

Mixed Reality (VR/AR)Bionics and Sensory AugmentationWearables

Imagine training doctors in a virtual world—now NHS is making it a reality with a £210m VR and simulation tender.

TL;DR
• NHS Supply Chain launches a £210m VR and simulation tender with five distinct lots.
• Deadline for submissions is September 28, 2026, with awards expected March 2027.
• The framework spans 4 years, covering medical simulators, task trainers, surgical trainers, immersive tech, and performance software.

Summary
The NHS Supply Chain has issued a tender for a Medical Simulation and Technologies Framework that will span up to four years, targeting suppliers across five distinct lots that include high‑fidelity manikins, task trainers, surgical simulators, immersive XR solutions, and performance‑recording software. The framework aims to centralise procurement for NHS trusts, charities, universities and private health entities, with an estimated spend of £72 million in the first year and £210 million over the full term, while allowing unlimited suppliers and zero‑percent fee structures.
• Prioritise development of interoperable XR platforms that can integrate with existing simulation software and data analytics tools.
• Offer training modules that upskill clinical staff on digital simulation use, enhancing competency and reducing reliance on external expertise.
• Structure pricing models to ensure fair compensation for content creators and third‑party developers contributing to virtual scenarios.
• Align procurement proposals with NHS policies that discourage monopolistic vendor lock‑in and promote open standards.
• Include provisions for right‑to‑repair and third‑party servicing of hardware to extend asset lifecycles.

Lot 1 (£62 million) covers full‑body patient simulators ranging from basic CPR models to advanced high‑fidelity units, supporting multidisciplinary team training without patient risk. Lot 2 (£36 million) focuses on task trainers for procedures such as cannulation and suturing, delivering repetitive skill practice and competency assessment. Lot 3 (£52 million) provides surgical and procedural trainers, including laparoscopic and robotic systems, enabling hands‑on practice and performance measurement.

Lot 4 (£40 million) is dedicated to immersive technology, encompassing VR, XR and MR environments, scenario‑based training, team decision‑making tools and recording solutions for debriefing. Lot 5 (£20 million) supplies performance‑recording software, analytics and AI‑driven insights, without hardware provision. The tender deadline is 28 September 2026, with award decisions expected by 5 March 2027 and contract commencement on 10 May 2027. Suppliers must engage through a competitive order process, ensuring that each purchase is evaluated on merit, fostering a diverse supplier ecosystem and encouraging public‑private collaboration across the UK health sector.

Will your company shape the next generation of medical training through this transformative NHS tender?