Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation (YPO) is procuring a major new framework agreement - Framework 1300 - for occupational health, employee assistance programmes (EAP), and associated health and wellbeing services. Valued at £264,000,000 (including VAT) over eight years, this is one of the largest occupational health procurement exercises currently live in the UK public sector.
Submissions close on 18 May 2026. If you deliver occupational health services, EAP, wellbeing training, flu vaccination, or student assistance programmes, this framework deserves serious consideration. Contact Thornton & Lowe for a rapid assessment of your suitability.
About YPO and Framework 1300
YPO is one of the UK's largest public sector buying organisations, owned by its member local authorities and serving a customer base spanning councils, schools, NHS bodies, emergency services, and other public sector organisations. A place on a YPO framework carries significant commercial potential. That's because YPO frameworks are used extensively across the UK, not just in Yorkshire, and the 1300 framework is expected to attract a similarly broad customer base.
Framework structure: five lots
- Lot 1 – Occupational Health Services: Core OH provision including pre-employment assessments, sickness absence management referrals, health surveillance, and fit-for-work assessments.
- Lot 2 – Employee Assistance Programmes (EAP): Traditional EAP provision (confidential counselling, legal and financial guidance, and wellbeing support) for public sector employees.
- Lot 3 – Health and Wellbeing Training Courses: Training programmes covering a range of workplace mental health, resilience, and wellbeing topics for public sector workforces.
- Lot 4 – Flu Vaccination Programmes: Occupational flu vaccination services for employees: on-site, clinic, or voucher-based delivery.
- Lot 5 – Modern EAP and Student Assistance Programmes (SAP): A forward-looking lot covering digitally enhanced EAP provision and student assistance programmes for learners aged 16+, reflecting the growth of wellbeing provision in further and higher education settings.
Key facts
- Authority: Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation (YPO)
- Framework reference: 1300
- Total value: £264,000,000 including VAT
- Term: 8 years
- Lots: 5
- Procurement type: Framework agreement (multi-supplier)
- Submission deadline: 18 May 2026
Tips for a competitive bid
- Target lots that match your core delivery model: Lots 1 and 2 will attract the largest pool of competitors. If your proposition is genuinely differentiated in those areas (such as through technology, clinical governance, or depth of public sector experience) make that differentiation explicit. Lot 5 (Modern EAP and SAP) may have fewer competitors and represents a strategic opportunity for providers with digital capability or strong links to the further and higher education sectors.
- Reference a diverse public sector client base: YPO's customers span local authorities, NHS trusts, schools, emergency services, and more. Your bid should reference delivery across this breadth where possible, not just one type of public sector employer.
- Demonstrate clinical governance and assurance: OH services in particular carry clinical risk and regulatory obligations. Your quality management systems, professional accreditations (e.g. SEQOHS for OH providers), and clinical governance framework should be clearly articulated in your bid.
- Address the digital dimension: Buyers across all five lots are increasingly expecting digital delivery channels, data analytics, and self-service capability. Address how your platform or delivery model supports digital access, even for Lot 1 and 2 bids where face-to-face delivery remains core.
- Check all YPO and Find a Tender documentation: Specific terms, insurance requirements, and mandatory accreditations may be buried in the published tender packs. Read everything before submitting. Visit both the Find a Tender notice and the YPO website for the full documentation set.
With eight years of framework ahead and a customer base spanning much of the UK public sector, Framework 1300 has the potential to be a genuinely portfolio-defining contract for providers who secure a place. The competition will be strong; invest in your bid accordingly.
Bidding for YPO Framework 1300?
Thornton & Lowe supports occupational health, EAP, and wellbeing providers through competitive public sector framework bids. Get a fast, honest assessment of your bid readiness and how to maximise your score.
