Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
NHS SUSSEX INTEGRATED CARE BOARD
Sackville House, Brooks Close
Lewes
BN72FZ
sxicb.sussex-lcs-claims@nhs.net
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKJ22 - East Sussex CC
NHS Organisation Data Service
QNX
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.3) Communication
Access to the procurement documents is restricted. Further information can be obtained at
https://www.sussex.ics.nhs.uk/
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
https://www.sussex.ics.nhs.uk/
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Health
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Community Pharmacy Locally Commissioned Service for Emergency Palliative Care Drugs
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85149000 - Pharmacy services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board (ICB) has recommissioned the Community Pharmacy Locally Commissioned Service for Emergency Palliative Care Drugs to support people with palliative and end of life care needs access to medication in an emergency.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKJ21 - Brighton and Hove
- UKJ22 - East Sussex CC
- UKJ27 - West Sussex (South West)
- UKJ28 - West Sussex (North East)
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board (ICB) has recommissioned the Community Pharmacy Locally Commissioned Service for Emergency Palliative Care Drugs to support people with palliative and end of life care needs access to medication in an emergency.
The ICB is seeking providers to hold a locally agreed range and minimum quantity of emergency palliative care drugs (based on the Sussex palliative and end of life care prescribing guidance) with a commitment to ensure that users of this service have prompt access to these medicines during the pharmacy's regular core and supplementary hours.
The ICB are now inviting Expressions of Interest (EOI) from registered community pharmacies in Sussex with an NHS dispensing contract to provide this service from 1 November 2025 - 31 March 2028.
The eligibility of community pharmacy providers is listed below:
Essential criteria
The participating community pharmacies must be:
• Located within either East Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton and Hove
• Meet the core contractual obligations required by NHS England for the Essential Services within the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework.
• Contracted days will be for a minimum of opening Monday to Saturday with core hours a minimum of 40 hours per week.
• Able to access the pharmacies NHS e-mail during operating hours listed above.
• Must be able to access the list of other NHS pharmacies participating in this scheme hosted on the NHS Sussex intranet to effectively signpost patients.
Exclusion criteria
• Community pharmacies outside Sussex.
• Distance Selling Pharmacies (DSPs).
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: As detailed in the tender documentation / Weighting: 100
Price - Weighting: 0
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start date
1 November 2025
End date
31 March 2028
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
Under the Provider Selection Regime 2023, the option of a Direct Award will be considered by the Commissioner.
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
Section three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information
three.1) Conditions for participation
three.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
List and brief description of conditions
Essential criteria
The participating community pharmacies must be:
• Located within either East Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton and Hove
• Meet the core contractual obligations required by NHS England for the Essential Services within the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework.
• Contracted days will be for a minimum of opening Monday to Saturday with core hours a minimum of 40 hours per week.
• Able to access the pharmacies NHS e-mail during operating hours listed above.
• Must be able to access the list of other NHS pharmacies participating in this scheme hosted on the NHS Sussex intranet to effectively signpost patients.
Exclusion criteria
• Community pharmacies outside Sussex.
• Distance Selling Pharmacies (DSPs).
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
11 September 2025
Local time
12:00pm
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
12 September 2025
Local time
9:00am
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.3) Additional information
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) Contract Notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Procurement Act 2023 and the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award.
Providers who wish to take part in the Commissioning Process should contact sxicb.sussex-lcs-claims@nhs.net
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
NHS Sussex ICB
Sackville House, Brooks Close
Lewes
BN7 2FZ
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
NHSE
Skipton House, 80 London Road
London
SE1 6LH
Country
United Kingdom