Scope
Reference
5858158
Description
Health and Social Care Trusts (HSC) in Northern Ireland plan to tender for Unlicensed Medicines and Specials later this year.
In order to assist with the development of a service specification and an appropriate methodology for the assessment of tenders, we are keen to engage with suppliers who would be willing to provide unlicensed and, or specials medicines to Health Trusts in Northern Ireland. The purpose of the engagement is to aid our understanding of current market conditions and capacity. The HSC intend to establish a multi-supplier framework which will cater for four categories of medicines:
1. Aseptically prepared unlicensed medicines,
2. Imported specials,
3. Non-aseptic specials,
4. Over-labelled medicines.
We hope that the Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) will help encourage supplier interest in this tender. It will also help us understand any barriers to tendering that suppliers currently face so these can be considered when drafting the HSC tender.
Commercial tool
Establishes a framework
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 May 2026 to 30 April 2030
- 4 years
Main procurement category
Services
Additional procurement category
Goods
CPV classifications
- 33600000 - Pharmaceutical products
- 85149000 - Pharmacy services
Engagement
Engagement deadline
27 June 2025
Engagement process description
This PME will take place in two phases. Phase 1 will be the completion of a PME Questionnaire that will set out a number of policy areas for consideration and response, including; human rights and net zero.
Phase 2 will be a brief Teams meeting between interested suppliers and Trust members (note each supplier will be allocated a time likely no more than 30 minutes). The focus of the Teams meeting will be to understand current capacity, geographical presence, and business continuity measures. These meetings are expected to take place on the 30th June 2025 via Microsoft Teams. Slots will be confirmed via the messaging portal on e-Tenders.
If you would like to participate in the Preliminary Market Engagement you can do so via eTendersNI, CfT ref 5986529, where you can obtain a copy of the questionnaire and the messaging system will support any expressions of interest in relation to the Phase 2 meetings.
Please note this is not a call for tender. This engagement is for information gathering only. Participation in this engagement will not impact your ability to submit a tender when the tender opportunity is published.
Contracting authority
Regional Business Services Organisation Procurement and Logistics Service
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PWNJ-1991-NGDW
77 Boucher Crescent
Belfast
BT12 6HU
United Kingdom
Email: PDRandOps.Sourcing@hscni.net
Region: UKN06 - Belfast
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government
Devolved regulations that apply: Northern Ireland