Scope
Reference
SBS10526
Description
This framework is for the provision of a wide range of Medical and Industrial Gases. The lotting structure is as follows:
Lot 1 - Medical Gases in Cylinders
Supply of cylinders containing a range of Medical Gases.
Lot 2 - Bulk Liquid Oxygen
Provision and installation of vacuum insulated evaporators (VIE), including back-up facilities, rental and maintenance of the VIE and back-up, and the supply of liquid oxygen.
Lot 3 - Industrial Gases
Supply of a range of Industrial Gases.
Lot 4 - Sustainable Solutions - Technology, Products and Services
Provision of sustainable medical gas solutions including sustainable medical gas products/alternatives, technology and products/solutions to reduce the environmental impact of medical gases and services to support the delivery of sustainable solutions to Approved Organisations.
Commercial tool
Establishes a framework
Total value (estimated)
- £70,000,000 excluding VAT
- £84,000,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 14 January 2026 to 13 January 2030
- 4 years
Main procurement category
Goods
Contract locations
- UK - United Kingdom
- GG - Guernsey
- IM - Isle of Man
- JE - Jersey
Not the same for all lots
CPV classifications are shown in Lot sections, because they are not the same for all lots.
Lot 1. Medical Gases in Cylinders
Description
Supply of cylinders containing a range of Medical Gases.
Lot value (estimated)
- £70,000,000 excluding VAT
- £84,000,000 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
CPV classifications
- 24111500 - Medical gases
Same for all lots
Contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 2. Bulk Liquid Oxygen
Description
Provision and installation of vacuum insulated evaporators (VIE), including back-up facilities, rental and maintenance of the VIE and back-up, and the supply of liquid oxygen.
Lot value (estimated)
- £70,000,000 excluding VAT
- £84,000,000 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
CPV classifications
- 24111500 - Medical gases
Same for all lots
Contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 3. Supply of Industrial Gases
Description
Supply of a range of Industrial Gases.
Lot value (estimated)
- £70,000,000 excluding VAT
- £84,000,000 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
CPV classifications
- 24110000 - Industrial gases
Same for all lots
Contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 4. Sustainable Solutions - Technology, Products and Services
Description
Provision of sustainable medical gas solutions including sustainable medical gas products/alternatives, technology and products/solutions to reduce the environmental impact of medical gases and services to support the delivery of sustainable solutions to Approved Organisations.
Lot value (estimated)
- £70,000,000 excluding VAT
- £84,000,000 including VAT
Framework lot values may be shared with other lots
CPV classifications
- 24111500 - Medical gases
Same for all lots
Contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Framework
Maximum number of suppliers
Unlimited
Maximum percentage fee charged to suppliers
1.5%
Further information about fees
We apply an NCIS (NHS Contracted Income Stream) levy to all sales under our Frameworks, which underpins the funding and investment for our contracting routes and category support to the NHS. This levy is applied as a percentage fee within the Frameworks between the Authority and the Supplier.
Please see the Corporate Requirements document within the Key Attachments section of the SAP Ariba Souring Event for further details
Framework operation description
There are two procurement routes for an Approved Organisation that wishes to use this Framework. A competitive process between the Suppliers in the relevant Lot, which may be preceded by a capability assessment, or an award without a competitive process to particular Supplier(s)
Schedule 7 of the Framework explains the rules for both a competitive selection process and an award without a competitive process.
A competitive selection process is the default ordering procedure under this Framework
Award method when using the framework
Either with or without competition
Contracting authorities that may use the framework
NHS Shared Business Services act in an Agency capacity for and on behalf of its customers (Approved Organisations) - existing and new. These comprise of NHS and Social Care organisations (whether acting individually, or on behalf of, or together as members of any consortia) along with any other public or private sector bodies which NHS SBS authorises to use the resulting Framework.
NHS Shared Business Services Limited (NHS SBS) intends to put in place a Framework Agreement for the provision of Medical and Industrial Gases (including Cylinders and Bulk Liquid Oxygen) to be used by NHS SBS Approved Organisations.
Our Approved Organisation list can be found on:
https://www.sbs.nhs.uk/services/framework-agreements-categories/
Contracting authority location restrictions
- UK - United Kingdom
- GG - Guernsey
- IM - Isle of Man
- JE - Jersey
Participation
Legal and financial capacity conditions of participation
Lot 1. Medical Gases in Cylinders
Lot 2. Bulk Liquid Oxygen
Lot 3. Supply of Industrial Gases
Lot 4. Sustainable Solutions - Technology, Products and Services
Please see the procurement documentation
Technical ability conditions of participation
Lot 1. Medical Gases in Cylinders
Lot 2. Bulk Liquid Oxygen
Lot 3. Supply of Industrial Gases
Lot 4. Sustainable Solutions - Technology, Products and Services
Please see the procurement documentation
Particular suitability
Lot 1. Medical Gases in Cylinders
Lot 2. Bulk Liquid Oxygen
Lot 3. Supply of Industrial Gases
Lot 4. Sustainable Solutions - Technology, Products and Services
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Submission
Enquiry deadline
22 May 2025, 12:00pm
Tender submission deadline
17 June 2025, 12:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
Tenders must be submitted via SAP Ariba via the following link:
https://discovery.ariba.com/rfx/23055791
To access all information and submit a response in relation to this opportunity, please click the 'Respond to Posting' button on the Discovery Posting link above. Potential bidders will then be asked to either login or register for an Ariba Network account. Once registration has been completed, potential bidders will be directed to the Event Page.
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
21 November 2025
Recurring procurement
Publication date of next tender notice (estimated): 13 January 2029
Award criteria
| Name | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Quality | Quality | 60% |
| Commercial | Price | 30% |
| Social Value | Quality | 10% |
Other information
Applicable trade agreements
- Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
- Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Open procedure
Justification for not publishing a preliminary market engagement notice
The Authority has carried out preliminary market engagement. A Prior Information Notice (P.I.N.) under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 was published on 06/01/2025 on the Find a Tender Service https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/000217-2025 and a formal Request for Information (RFI) issued. Meetings with potential suppliers were subsequently held. In carrying out preliminary market engagement the Authority is satisfied that:
(a) suppliers who participated in the preliminary market engagement have not been put at an unfair advantage, and
(b) competition in relation to the award of the public contract is not otherwise distorted.
Contracting authority
NHS Shared Business Services Limited
- Companies House: 05280446
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PDVT-6171-VHCX
Three Cherry Trees Lane
Hemel Hempstead
HP2 7AH
United Kingdom
Email: nsbs.categorymanagementsourcing@nhs.net
Website: https://www.sbs.nhs.uk/
Region: UKH23 - Hertfordshire
Organisation type: Public undertaking (commercial organisation subject to public authority oversight)