Single technology appraisal (STA) timeline

• wk1

  Development starts

  We invite relevant stakeholders to take part in the appraisal.

  All non-company consultees have 8 weeks to submit a statement on the potential clinical and cost effectiveness of a treatment.

  Find out more about consultee submissions

   

  Organisations can apply to become a consultee or commentator at any point of the process up to final draft guidance publication.

• wk1

  Request for evidence

  We ask the intervention technology company to provide an evidence submission.

  They have 8 weeks to produce the company submission.

  Find out more about evidence submissions

• wk1

  Information added to the NICE website

  We publish the final scope, the name of the independent academic centre - called the Evidence Assessment Group (EAG) - and the stakeholder list on the website.

  The scope sets out what the technology appraisal will cover and the questions that need to be addressed.

• wk1

  Request for clinical, commissioning and patient experts 

  We ask consultees to send in their nominations. The NICE team and the chair of the appraisal committee selects experts from those nominated.

  Experts are invited to provide written evidence, clarify issues about the evidence base and participate in committee meetings.

• wk9

  Deadline for evidence submissions

• wk9

  Evidence review begins

  The EAG critiques the company's evidence submission and prepares a report on the clinical- and cost-effectiveness of the technology. This is called the External Assessment Report (EAR).

• wk10

  Expert invitations

  We invite the selected clinical, commissioning and patient experts to attend the appraisal committee.

  We ask them to submit written evidence on the technology, the way it should be used in the NHS in England, and current management of the condition.

• wk12

  Deadline for receipt of the expert statements

• wk12

  Request for clarification sent to company

  If the evidence submission is incomplete, we consult with the EAG and send a letter of clarification to the company.

  The company has 10 working days to respond.

• wk18

  External assessment report (EAR) received by NICE

• wk18

  EAR sent to company for factual accuracy check

• wk27

  Documents sent to the appraisal committee

  The appraisal committee is an independent advisory committee that makes the recommendations.

  We send attendees (except members of the public):

  • A link to the final scope of the evaluation and the stakeholder list.
  • The external assessment report, clarification comments and responses, comments from technical engagement (if held) and the technical team's summary of them.
  • The evidence submissions from organisations and experts.
  • If produced, the managed access or further evidence generation assessment report.
  • If produced, the draft data collection agreement.

  Find out more about the committee and how you can attend a meeting.

• wk29

  Appraisal committee meet to consider the evidence

  We hold an appraisal committee meeting to consider the written evidence and verbal evidence, drawn from discussions with experts, EAG representatives and national clinical directors or advisers.

  The committee decides whether to produce final recommendations, known as final draft guidance (FDG) or draft recommendations known as draft guidance (DG).

  The FDG is the final draft of the guidance and not open to comment (see week 32).

  If draft guidance is needed we send the document out for comment (see week 31).

  We only produce draft guidance when the recommendations from the appraisal committee don’t recommend use of the technology, or limit the use of the technology beyond the specifications in the marketing authorisation.

  Part 1 of this meeting is open to members of the public and press.

  Register to attend a meeting

If a final draft guidance (FDG) is produced

• wk32

  FDG and supporting documents sent out to stakeholders

  Consultees have 15 days to appeal against the final recommendations in the FDG.

  Find out more about the appeals process
  

• wk33

  FDG published

  We publish the FAD and supporting documents on our website for information.

• wk35

  Close of appeal period

  If no appeals have been received, the guidance is prepared for publication. If appeals have been received, the appeals process is followed.

• wk38

  Technology appraisal published

  If there are no appeals we issue the final recommendations as NICE guidance.

If draft guidance (DG) is
produced

• wk31

  DG and supporting documents sent out for comment

  Stakeholders have 20 working days to submit comments on the draft recommendations.

   
• wk32

  Public consultation on the DG

  The DG and supporting documents are published on the website for comment. The consultation is open for 15 working days.

  Anyone can submit comments during the consultation.

  View current consultations

   
• wk35

  Consultation on the DG ends

• wk38

  Appraisal committee meet to develop the FDG

  The appraisal committee considers the comments received on the draft guidance, then makes its final recommendations on how the technology should be used in the NHS in England. This is the FDG.

   

  Part 1 of the meeting is open to members of the public and press.

  Register to attend a meeting

• wk41

  FDG and supporting documents sent to stakeholders

  Consultees have 15 working days to appeal against the final recommendations in the FDG.

  Find out more about the appeals process

   
• wk42

  FDG published

  We publish the FDG and supporting documents on our website for information.

• wk44

  Close of appeal period

  If no appeals have been received, the guidance is prepared for publication. If appeals have been received, the appeals process is followed.

• wk47

  Technology appraisal published

  If there are no appeals we issue the final recommendations as NICE guidance.

  We publish the technology appraisal on the NICE website. Registered stakeholders are notified by email.

Technical Engagement

If Technical Engagement is used during the evaluation the timeline will extend by 2 months.

Find out more about technical engagement.

Streamlined topics

If a topic is streamlined for committee decision outside of a formal meeting the timeline will reduce by approximately 1 month.

Find out more about committee decisions outside of formal meetings.