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
no minimum spend.
How to buy knowledge resources
Check the list of organisations eligible to use the framework on this page.
Get advice from your procurement team.
Draft and approve requirements.
Get internal approval to buy.
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
Use when a single supplier provides the required title.
Check the list of sole supplied titles.
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.
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