Allied Health Procurement: Physiotherapy & Occupational Therapy Tenders

Allied health procurement covers the tenders and frameworks through which health systems buy physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech & language therapy, dietetics, podiatry and related rehabilitation services. It is a distinct, fast-growing services category, quite different from buying medical devices or drugs, and it rewards providers who understand how these contracts are evaluated.

What counts as allied health

Allied health professions (AHPs) are the clinical disciplines outside of medicine, nursing and pharmacy. In procurement terms the category most often spans:

• Physiotherapy, musculoskeletal, neuro, respiratory and community rehab services
• Occupational therapy, functional assessment, home adaptations, reablement
• Speech & language therapy, dietetics, podiatry and orthotics
• Multi-disciplinary community rehabilitation and reablement contracts

How allied health services are bought

Unlike a one-off equipment purchase, allied health is usually procured as an ongoing service, via framework agreements, dynamic purchasing systems, or block/spot contracts with integrated care systems and local authorities. Buyers weigh clinical quality, workforce capacity, waiting-time performance and social value heavily, not just price. For the mechanics of these vehicles see our guides to frameworks vs DPS and clinical services outsourcing.

Where allied health tenders are published

• UK Find a Tender and Contracts Finder, NHS trusts, integrated care boards and councils (CPV 85142100 physiotherapy, 85142000 paramedical services)
• TED Europa, allied health and rehabilitation services across EU member states
• Local authority portals for social-care-adjacent reablement and therapy contracts

How to win allied health contracts

• Evidence outcomes, not just activity, waiting times, functional improvement, discharge rates
• Show workforce resilience, recruitment, retention and skill mix are scrutinised given AHP shortages
• Build social value into the bid, see sustainable procurement
• Price against real award data, see pricing a tender bid

Frequently asked questions

What CPV code covers physiotherapy tenders?

Physiotherapy services usually sit under CPV 85142100, within the broader 85142000 paramedical services family. Occupational therapy and rehab often use the same codes or 85312500.

Are allied health contracts price-only?

Rarely. Clinical quality, workforce capacity, waiting-time performance and social value typically carry the majority of the evaluation weight.

Where do most UK allied health tenders appear?

On Find a Tender (above-threshold) and Contracts Finder (below-threshold), published by NHS trusts, integrated care boards and local authorities.