Planning

Unlicensed and Specials Medicines

REGIONAL BUSINESS SERVICES ORGANISATION PROCUREMENT AND LOGISTICS SERVICE

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

05 Jun 2025 at 13:38

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process initiated by the Regional Business Services Organisation Procurement and Logistics Service relates to the supply of "Unlicensed and Specials Medicines" for Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland. This process is currently in the planning stage, with a significant Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) scheduled until the 27th of June 2025. The process involves gathering insights through a questionnaire and one-on-one Microsoft Teams meetings with potential suppliers on the 30th of June 2025. The engagement aims to inform the development of a multi-supplier framework to be established potentially by May 2026. This buying organisation, located in Belfast, operates under Northern Irish devolved regulations and focuses on both pharmaceutical products and pharmacy services within the services industry category.

This tender offers substantial growth opportunities for businesses specialising in pharmaceutical manufacturing or distribution, particularly those dealing with unlicensed or special medications. Suppliers capable of providing aseptically prepared medicines, imported specials, non-aseptic specials, and over-labelled medicines could significantly benefit from this opportunity. Engaging in the PME offers a unique chance to influence the tender specifications and adapt to any potential procurement barriers. Businesses with a strong presence in Northern Ireland or the capacity to meet regional health trust demands will find this tender particularly advantageous.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Unlicensed and Specials Medicines

Notice 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.

Planning Information

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.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0543bd
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/030294-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

33 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

33600000 - Pharmaceutical products

85149000 - Pharmacy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
5 Jun 20258 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
27 Jun 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
30 Apr 2026 - 30 Apr 2030 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
REGIONAL BUSINESS SERVICES ORGANISATION PROCUREMENT AND LOGISTICS SERVICE
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
pdrandops.sourcing@hscni.net
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
BELFAST
Postcode
BT12 6HU
Post Town
Northern Ireland
Country
Northern Ireland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLN Northern Ireland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLN0 Northern Ireland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLN06 Belfast
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Belfast
Electoral Ward
Blackstaff
Westminster Constituency
Belfast South and Mid Down

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts. 

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