Planning

Market Engagement for Storage & Distribution of Human Medicines, Vaccines & Associated Medical Products

  • Secretary of State for Health and Social Care acting as part of the Crown through UK Health Security Agency

F01: Prior information notice (prior information only)

Notice identifier: 2024/S 000-030308

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-049ce7

Published 23 September 2024, 12:00pm



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care acting as part of the Crown through UK Health Security Agency

10 South Colonnade

London

E14 4PU

Email

sanddprocurement@ukhsa.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKI42 - Tower Hamlets

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency

Buyer's address

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency

one.3) Communication

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at

https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Ministry or any other national or federal authority

one.5) Main activity

Health


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Market Engagement for Storage & Distribution of Human Medicines, Vaccines & Associated Medical Products

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 63120000 - Storage and warehousing services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

UKHSA is seeking to establish a contractual agreement with a pharmaceutical wholesaler for human medicines who can act as a third party on behalf of the Agency for the UK storage and distribution of the Agency’s vaccines, other medicines and associated medical products (ownership remains with the UKHSA).

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 60000000 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)
  • 63120000 - Storage and warehousing services
  • 63121000 - Storage and retrieval services
  • 79991000 - Stock-control services
  • 60180000 - Hire of goods-transport vehicles with driver
  • 63122000 - Warehousing services
  • 42965100 - Warehouse management system
  • 42965110 - Depot system
  • 63121100 - Storage services
  • 48430000 - Inventory management software package
  • 64121200 - Parcel delivery services
  • 60000000 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)
  • 60180000 - Hire of goods-transport vehicles with driver
  • 60100000 - Road transport services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UK - United Kingdom

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

A new storage and distribution contract is needed to ensure that storage and distribution of UKHSA-owned goods, including, but not exclusively limited to, consumables, pharmaceutical goods including controlled drugs (CDs), medical devices, immunoglobulins, antitoxins, antivenoms and vaccines, can continue to be safely received from manufacturers, stored, and distributed to the NHS and other specified recipients under appropriate conditions as per licence requirements. The products require specialist storage and distribution to ensure that they are not damaged, both physically and biologically. To support this, effective stock management and audit systems are essential in accordance with GDP requirements.
The proposed requirement is to provide ambient temperature controlled (ie. below 15C to 25C), chilled (ie. 2C to 8C), frozen (ie. -15C to -50C) and ultra-low temperature (eg. -60C to -90C) warehousing, distribution and management services across the UK (including Northern Ireland and Crown Dependencies) for the supply of human medicines, vaccines and associated medical products, covering a multi-tiered response level (including scheduled routine deliveries and urgent same-day service levels). Prior to the operational service commencement date the provider should also have the capability for repack and thaw activities in compliance with its Manufacturing Specials (MS) Licence.

The requirement is critical to UKHSA in order to allow the uninterrupted and continued service for:
• National Immunisation Programmes - the importance of population-based immunisation in protecting public health through minimising/eradicating the incidence and spread of vaccine preventable diseases is well established. The UK has one of the most comprehensive immunisation programmes in the world, with protection throughout the life course starting before birth, continuing into childhood, adolescence and adulthood including older adults.
• Pandemic Preparedness Portfolio (PPP) – the stockpiling of medicines, vaccines and associated consumable products in preparedness to respond to a future pandemic.
• Covid Vaccine Programme – The UK continues to respond to the threat of COVID-19 through a targeted vaccination programme for those most vulnerable to the virus. This includes older people, people with underlying health conditions, and frontline health and social care workers.
• Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response programme (EPRR) – the UK has provisions in place for responding to accidental or intentional releases of chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) materials.
• Rapid Deployment Treatments (RDT) - includes small volumes of chilled pharmaceutical goods held for rapid deployment and delivery within a best endeavours target of 5 hours in support of a healthcare emergency in the UK

The overall need of UKHSA is to ensure that requirements and outputs are managed in a way that:
• continues to provide a high-quality flexible service that can adapt to suit changing needs;
• drives maximum savings;
• increases UKHSA efficiency;
• promotes the use of ‘best practice’ in line with Good Distribution Practice (GDP), and Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) regulatory requirements; and
• provides full transparency of reporting and record keeping

two.2.14) Additional information

Additional Information can be found at the following attachment: https://atamis-1928.my.salesforce.com/sfc/p/0O000000rwim/a/Sr000000NqU9/E6r27GUyNLqWt6h_yOPWcky1x0bxxt2Mgu4hmSkRJDk

Previous notices associated with the opportunity include:
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026501-2023
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/9f7f2e0f-8d01-4298-91cf-71b97423c0e9

two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice

23 January 2025


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes


Section six. Complementary information

six.3) Additional information

Please note that although the information contained in this notice is correct as at the date of publication it is possible that subsequent developments, events and circumstances may necessitate further changes to the Authority’s requirements and to the details of the proposed procurement.