Scope
Reference
C397826
Description
Contract for the provision of a outpatient pharmacy dispensing service at Royal United Hospital, Bath.
Total value (estimated)
- £6,500,000 excluding VAT
- £7,800,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 13 August 2026 to 12 August 2031
- Possible extension to 12 August 2033
- 7 years
Description of possible extension:
The contract will include the option to extend by two periods of one year. (1+1)
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 85149000 - Pharmacy services
Contract locations
- UKK1 - Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol/Bath area
- UKK12 - Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Participation
Legal and financial capacity conditions of participation
Legal and Financial Conditions of Participation
Current Status
• The bidder must confirm is not subject to insolvency, administration, receivership, or equivalent proceedings.
o ☐ Confirmed
o ☐ Not confirmed
Confirmed = PASS Not confirmed = FAIL
Contingent Liabilities
• The bidder must list any material contingent liabilities not evident in the accounts (e.g., pending litigation, guarantees, indemnities).
o Please provide additional detail: ______________________________________________________
o ☐ Confirmed - no material contingent liabilities
o ☐ The bidder has material contingent liabilities and has provided details.
Not scored but answer and detail is required for review.
Material Adverse Changes
• Disclose any anticipated changes (e.g., debt refinancing, large dividend distributions, major asset disposals) that may affect financial stability during the contract term.
o Please provide additional detail: ______________________________________________________
o ☐ Confirmed - no anticipated changes
o ☐ Not confirmed (provide details) - changes are anticipated, and the bidder has provided additional detail.
Not scored but answer and detail is required for review
Parent Guarantee
• Confirm if your organisation is prepared to provide a parent company guarantee, if requested, prior to contract commencement.
Scoring: Pass = Yes with confirmation; Fail = No.
o ☐ Confirmed
o ☐ No
Performance Bond
• Confirm if your organisation is prepared to provide a performance bond, if requested, prior to contract commencement.
Scoring: Pass = Yes with confirmation; Fail = No.
o ☐ Confirmed
o ☐ No
Technical ability conditions of participation
Technical Conditions of Participation
Please provide details of at three contracts to meet conditions of participation relating to technical ability. The bidder is asked to supply three examples of provision of an Outpatient Pharmacy Dispensing Service, preferably in an NHS environment but as a minimum, in a Public Sector setting, for example HMPS.
The examples must be from the past three years.
The bidder must not use examples from BSW Hospital Alliance Trusts.
The named contact provided should be able to provide written evidence to confirm the accuracy of the information provided.
a) Relevant experience
Does your organisation have specific relevant experience of developing a service that promotes a reduction in patients attending the hospital site to collect medication and supports the "Care Closer to Home" Agenda.
Please provide a brief description or supporting document if "Yes".
Scoring: Pass = Yes with at least one qualifying example; Fail = No cannot provide at least one qualifying example.
b) Statutory and Regulatory Compliance
Does your organisation fully comply with all relevant statutory and regulatory requirements for operating an Outpatient Pharmacy Dispensing Service?
[Insert Yes or No]
Please provide a brief statement or evidence of compliance.
Scoring: Pass = Yes with confirmation; Fail = No.
c) Acceptance of minimum standards - KPIs
Please review the enclosed document containing the Trust's minimum standard KPIs. Please confirm that you accept these KPIs as the minimum standard required to perform this service.
o ☐ Yes
o ☐ No
Scoring: Pass = Yes Fail = No.
Submission
Enquiry deadline
31 December 2025, 12:00pm
Submission type
Requests to participate
Deadline for requests to participate
9 January 2026, 3:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
RUH requests the submission of expressions of interest and the return of a completed PSQ by the participation deadline. Please submit here: https://atamis-1928--prospend.vf.force.com/apex/CS_ContractPage?filters=&page=1&Preview=Yes&searchStr=&SearchType=Projects&sortStr=Alphabetical&uid=a07Sr00000lbCUOIA2&sfdcIFrameOrigin=https://atamis-1928.lightning.force.com
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Suppliers to be invited to tender
1 to 3 suppliers
Selection criteria:
Completion of PSQ and all conditions of participation scored as a PASS
Award decision date (estimated)
15 April 2026
Recurring procurement
Publication date of next tender notice (estimated): 16 April 2026
Award criteria
| Name | Description | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Technical/Quality | 50% |
Quality |
| Social Value | 10% |
Quality |
| Service Charge | 40% weighting |
Price |
Weighting description
The award criteria weighting description is
60% Technical/Quality including 10% allocated to Social Value
40% Cost
Other information
Payment terms
TBA
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Competitive flexible procedure
Competitive flexible procedure description
This procurement is being delivered using the Competitive Flexible Procedure and includes two individual stages, with a stated option to add further stages if required. The objective of the procurement is to select and award a provider for the provision of an Outpatient Pharmacy at Royal United Hospital, Bath. (RUH)
The Procurement approach
A Pipeline Notice was published on 21/05/2025, under notice number UK1244. A Preliminary Market Engagement Notice was subsequently published on 28/05/2025, under notice number UK1912, to invite interested providers to complete a Supplier Questionnaire and meet the Project Team to further discuss their responses. Information was collated during this event and has been used to inform the following stages.
Stage 1
RUH would like to invite potential bidders to express an interest in this opportunity. A Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) containing Conditions of Participation, is located via the Atamis link below and potential bidders are requested to complete and return this document within the timeframe specified. To assist potential bidders, a draft specification, including data captured from the existing outpatient pharmacy dispensing service, has been published.
The responses will be evaluated and the three highest scoring potential bidders, that meet all conditions of participation, will be asked to enter Stage 2, Invitation To Tender. The ITT will also contain the full Tender Response Pack.
Stage 2
During Stage 2, a maximum of three potential bidders will be invited to view the existing premises and meet the Project Team for further discussion. Bidders will be asked to submit their tender responses and evaluation will take place. RUH will identify a Preferred Bidder, continue further negotiation and proceed to Board Approval, Standstill and Contract Award.
Optional Stage 3
Post the receipt of tenders in Stage 2, RUH may opt to exclude the lowest scoring bidder, request further clarification meetings to refine the solution and/or pricing and request a tender further submission. The bidders will be informed if this stage is required.
Justification for not publishing a preliminary market engagement notice
Notices were published. See narrative.
Contracting authority
Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PXRL-3879-BBGR
Procurement Team, E9 Mezzanine, Combe Park
Bath
BA1 3NG
United Kingdom
Contact name: Debbie Parin
Telephone: 07876744674
Email: debbie.parin@nhs.net
Website: https://www.ruh.nhs.uk/
Region: UKK12 - Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Organisation type: Public authority - central government