Buy books, journals and databases

Our framework agreement allows UK NHS, health and social care organisations to buy knowledge resources that support practice, learning and development.

You can buy medical and healthcare related:

  • print and electronic books and journals

  • databases (abstracting, indexing, full text, electronic reference works)

  • evidence summaries resources that can be issued at the point of care

  • online anatomy resources

  • continuing medical education (CME) resources.

Buyers must follow normal public sector procurement rules and local financial regulations.

NHS buyers can seek exception approval to use our framework by contacting NHS England at england.ceopframeworks@nhs.net, and following the process on the NHSE CCF webpage. The page also includes a list of Accredited Procurement Framework Host Organisations.

The framework is provided by NICE on behalf of NHS England Workforce, Training and Education.

Benefits of using the framework

  • simplified procurement process

  • faster and easier than a full tender

  • pre-agreed terms for best value

  • speeds up purchasing

  • easy to use

  • range of suppliers

  • no minimum spend.

How to buy knowledge resources

  1. Check the list of organisations eligible to use the framework on this page.

  2. Get advice from your procurement team.

  3. Draft and approve requirements.

  4. Get internal approval to buy.

  5. Access the framework via direct award or further competition.

For further information, you can view our short training videos, which explain how to purchase using the framework.

Organisations eligible to use the framework

Check the list of eligible organisations to make sure you can use the framework.

  • the Secretary of State for Health

  • the Department of Health and all agencies thereof

  • Integrated Care Boards or other bodies responsible for commissioning NHS services

  • any NHS Trust or Foundation Trust

  • any Care Trust

  • Health Protection Agency

  • National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse

  • Healthcare Improvement Scotland

  • Public Health Scotland

  • Care Quality Commission

  • The Care Inspectorate (Scotland)

  • Healthwatch England and local Healthwatch organisations

  • Health and Wellbeing Boards

  • Local Authorities with a public health role

  • GPs

  • Royal Colleges and Societies

  • NHS Wales Health Boards and Trusts and hosted organisations

  • NHS Wales Special Health Authorities

  • Public Health Wales

  • National Assembly of Wales

  • Welsh Government

  • NHS Education for Scotland (NES)

  • NHS Scotland Health Boards

  • Any Integration joint boards (Scotland)

  • Any health and social care partnerships (Scotland)

  • Scottish Government healthcare related directorates

  • All Scottish Local Authorities

  • the Health and Social Care Board (Northern Ireland)

  • Health and Social Care Trusts (Northern Ireland)

  • Health and Social Care Business Services Organisation (Northern Ireland)

  • special health and social services agencies (Northern Ireland)

  • the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (Northern Ireland)

  • Department of Health Arm's Length Bodies, including Special Health Authorities (SpHA), Executive Agencies, Executive Non-Departmental Public bodies (NDPB), Statutory Committees and Department of Health-owned companies not provided for above

  • the Medical Research Council

  • Higher Education institutions engaged in providing commissioned healthcare or commissioned education

  • independent, private, charitable and voluntary sector organisations which provide NHS-commissioned care or work in partnership with the NHS to provide care to NHS patients, including hospices, cancer support charities and social enterprise organisations

  • any body which replaces or provides similar or equivalent services to the above

  • any statutory successor to any of the above.

Direct award

View purchasing steps: direct awards.

Further competition

  • Award based on the best tender (the most economically advantageous tender).

  • Can be within or across Lots 2, 3, and 4.

  • Lots 5,6,7,8 may be direct award and/or further competition.

  • You can use your own evaluation criteria but may want to base these on the core service requirements as well as price.

View purchasing steps: further competition.

Suppliers, products and services

Our list of suppliers includes publishers, aggregators and Agents (intermediaries like booksellers and subscription agents).

Related documents and information

Framework details

  • Agreement code: NICENHSFA/2528

  • Start date: 1 June 2025

  • End date: 31 May 2028

  • Following The Public Contracts Regulations (PCR) 2015

  • Lots: 8

  • Suppliers: 17

Get in touch

For help using the framework, or for further information, get in touch.

Contact us