Procurement is often cited as the biggest barrier to adopting digital health innovation in the NHS. Clinical teams see the evidence, recognise the fit, and want to move forward. Then the process stalls somewhere between business cases, procurement panels, and budget codes that do not quite fit.
The good news is that NHS Trusts are already procuring Boundless through several compliant, well-established routes. This guide sets out the options, explains how each one works, and shares what has worked for other organisations so far.
The funding landscape
Boundless sits in an unusual position in NHS procurement terms. It is not a standalone digital therapy and it is not a piece of capital equipment. It is a therapist-led tool that enhances existing CBT pathways, delivered through a software licence with training and clinical support included. That means it does not always fit neatly into existing procurement categories, but it also means there are multiple routes available.
An independent health economics evaluation by CHEATA (Centre for Healthcare Equipment and Technology Adoption, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust) found that Boundless reduces therapist time requirements by more than 50%, with estimated efficiency savings of approximately £21,000 per cohort of 100 people treated. These are productivity gains rather than direct cash savings, meaning existing therapy teams can see more people within the same workforce capacity.
Key point for business cases: The savings from Boundless are non-cash releasing. They show up as reduced waiting times, improved throughput, and lower cost pressure, not as a line on the P&L. Frame the business case around productivity and waiting list reduction, not budget savings.
Five routes to funding Boundless
1. G-Cloud Framework (Direct Award)
Boundless is available on the Crown Commercial Service G-Cloud 14 framework. This is the route Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust used to award a 27-month contract for Boundless across Paediatric Psychology, Ryegate Psychology, Early Help Psychological Services, and Radiology.
A compliant G-Cloud search identifies XR Therapeutics as the sole supplier meeting the defined clinical, technical, and delivery requirements. Because no other supplier meets the specification, a direct award is compliant with framework guidance and no further competition is required.
What this means for your trust: No tender process. No multiple quotes. The framework handles the procurement compliance. Your procurement team searches G-Cloud, confirms the match, and proceeds to direct award. Most trusts complete this in weeks rather than months.
2. Trust Charity Funding
Many NHS Trusts have associated charitable funds that can support innovation projects, particularly where there is clear client benefit, improved access or outcomes, and alignment with mental health priorities.
Clinical teams submit a proposal to the Trust charity. Funding is approved outside standard procurement constraints, which means rapid access without impacting core budgets. This route works well for pilot projects or initial deployments where the trust wants to evaluate the intervention before committing recurrent funding.
What this means for your trust: Your clinical lead writes a short proposal. The charity reviews it against their criteria. If approved, the funding sits outside your department budget entirely. Several trusts have used this to get Boundless running within weeks.
3. Integrated Care Board (ICB) Funding
Several trusts have successfully secured funding through their local ICB by positioning Boundless as a system-wide innovation that supports waiting list reduction and improved outcomes across the integrated care system.
This route works best when the trust engages ICB leads in digital transformation, innovation, or CAMHS commissioning and presents Boundless as a tool that benefits the wider system rather than a single service. ICBs are particularly receptive to interventions that reduce pressure on specialist pathways and improve flow through the system.
What this means for your trust: Identify your ICB's digital, transformation, or CAMHS lead. Present the CHEATA health economics data showing the productivity gains. Position Boundless as a system-level investment in waiting list reduction. The ICB allocates funding to the trust.
4. Single Tender Waiver
As a specialist service with no direct comparator in the market, Boundless can be procured using a Single Tender Waiver. This applies because the technology, clinical validation, and delivery model are not directly comparable to other providers, and there are no like-for-like alternatives available.
What this means for your trust: No requirement for multiple quotes. No requirement for a full tender process. This significantly reduces procurement timelines. Your procurement team documents the rationale for sole supplier and proceeds with the award.
5. Innovation and Transformation Budgets
Many trusts hold ring-fenced innovation budgets, digital transformation funds, or test-bed allocations that sit outside standard service budgets. Boundless fits naturally into these because it represents a digital intervention that enhances an existing clinical pathway rather than creating a new cost line.
Sheffield Children's, for example, framed their deployment as a test-bed project evaluating clinical outcomes, cost-effectiveness, service productivity, and experience across multiple departments. This framing unlocked budget approval that would have been harder to secure through a single department's recurrent funding.
What this means for your trust: Talk to your trust's innovation, transformation, or digital health team. Frame Boundless as a time-limited evaluation with clear outcome measures. This positions it as an investment in evidence and improvement rather than an ongoing cost commitment.
What a successful business case looks like
The trusts that move fastest tend to build their internal case around four elements.
The clinical case
Boundless has been developed over nine years of clinical and academic research in partnership with Newcastle University and Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust. It is DTAC certified, UKCA marked as a Class I medical device, and holds Cyber Essentials Plus certification. Reliable recovery rates of 74% have been demonstrated across NHS deployments, with session reduction of more than 50% compared to standard care.
The economic case
The CHEATA independent evaluation provides the health economics evidence. For adult Talking Therapies, the model shows approximately £21,000 in efficiency savings per 100 people, with 7.5 additional QALYs per 100. For CAMHS, the savings are larger due to higher per-session costs and reduced re-presentation rates. The evaluation concludes that Boundless dominates standard care: it is both cheaper and more clinically effective.
The operational case
Boundless reduces the number of therapy sessions required, which means existing therapists can see more people. In services with significant waiting lists, this translates directly to shorter waits and faster access. It runs on standard hardware (laptops, tablets, TVs) and requires no specialist equipment or facilities. Most trusts are delivering sessions within four weeks of go-live.
The governance case
DTAC certification, UKCA Class I medical device registration, Cyber Essentials Plus, and availability on the G-Cloud 14 framework. These credentials handle the most common governance objections before they arise.
We can help: We provide template business case documents, connect your team with peers in other NHS trusts who have been through the process, and support you with the health economics data specific to your service size and caseload. You do not need to start from scratch.
Learning from trusts that have already done this
We actively support trusts by connecting teams with peers in other NHS organisations, sharing examples of successful procurement routes, and providing template paperwork and business cases. This helps de-risk the decision and accelerates internal approvals.
Boundless is currently deployed across seven NHS trusts, three charities, and one ICB. Each organisation found a procurement route that worked for their specific governance structure and budget cycle. We can share those stories directly and, where appropriate, connect you with the clinical and procurement leads who managed the process.
Need help building your business case?
We will work with you to identify the best funding route for your trust, provide the health economics data for your specific caseload, and supply template paperwork to accelerate the process.
Get in touchHealth economics data from the CHEATA evaluation, Centre for Healthcare Equipment and Technology Adoption, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. Procurement route information based on current NHS framework availability and the experience of existing XRT partner organisations. G-Cloud 14 availability subject to framework terms. Article last updated June 2026.