How to Win NHS Physiotherapy Service Contracts

Physiotherapy service contracts, musculoskeletal (MSK), community rehab, neuro and respiratory physiotherapy, are among the most actively tendered allied health services. Demand is rising with elective-recovery and waiting-list pressures, which makes this a genuine growth market for independent providers and larger clinical groups alike.

Who commissions physiotherapy

• Integrated care boards (ICBs), community and MSK physiotherapy at population scale, see selling to ICBs
• NHS trusts, inpatient and outpatient physiotherapy, often via staffing frameworks
• Local authorities, reablement and falls-prevention services with a physiotherapy element

How physiotherapy bids are scored

Commissioners want measurable clinical outcomes and short waits. Expect quality and social value to dominate the scoring, with price a smaller (but still real) component. Strong bids evidence:

• Waiting-time and referral-to-treatment performance
• Outcome measures (e.g. functional and pain scores) and re-referral rates
• Workforce plans that address the national physiotherapist shortage
• Digital and telerehabilitation capability, see allied health procurement

Finding physiotherapy tenders

Physiotherapy contracts appear on Find a Tender and Contracts Finder under CPV 85142100, and across TED Europa for EU markets. Because they are published by many different ICBs, trusts and councils, monitoring them manually is painful, the exact problem covered in manual tracking vs a platform.

Frequently asked questions

What CPV code is used for physiotherapy?

CPV 85142100 (physiotherapy services), within the 85142000 paramedical services family.

Is physiotherapy usually a framework or a single contract?

Both exist. Larger commissioners often use frameworks or dynamic purchasing systems; smaller or pilot services may be single block contracts.

Can independent providers win NHS physiotherapy work?

Yes, independent and third-sector providers regularly win community and MSK physiotherapy contracts, especially where they can demonstrate capacity and short waits.