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Framework for the supply of Unlicensed Specials

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

01 Sep 2026 at 12:39

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

19 Mar 2026 at 11:01

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

09 Jun 2025 at 13:50

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust, through the East Midlands Pharmacy Collaborative, established a multi-supplier framework for pharmaceutical products known as unlicensed specials. The framework is for member NHS trusts and covers the supply of medicines made or sourced when a licensed product does not meet a patient’s requirements. Suppliers may provide products they manufacture themselves or through manufacturing partners. The requirement is structured as one flexible lot, allowing suppliers to offer as many products as they can manufacture. The buying organisation is the Trust, while the collaborative manages the framework for participating member trusts. The awarded suppliers are Rosemont Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Prulab Pharma Ltd, Vertical Pharma Resources Ltd/IPS Pharma, Eaststone Ltd and Ascot Laboratories.

The procurement has been awarded through an open procedure and is a closed, multi-supplier framework with five final-stage bidders from six initial bids. The tender estimated value was £500,000; the award value is £1,000,000. The award date is 1 September 2026, with a standstill period ending 10 September 2026. The awarded framework is scheduled to run from 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2028, with an option to extend for two years to 30 September 2030. Call-offs may be made by direct award or mini-competition, with suppliers selected according to product availability, patient suitability, shelf life, price, lead times and local performance. Evaluation weighted technical quality at 60% and commercial factors at 40%.

This award demonstrates established NHS demand for unlicensed specials supplied across participating East Midlands trusts through a framework rather than a single-supplier contract. A credible future competitor would need the ability to manufacture or reliably source a broad range of unlicensed medicines, respond to patient-specific requirements and maintain dependable availability, shelf life and lead times. Regulatory capability is central: awarded supply chains relied on manufacturing subcontractors holding MHRA Manufacturer’s Specials Licences, including NHS manufacturing units and specialist pharmaceutical organisations. Suppliers also needed to satisfy economic and technical participation requirements. The process attracted SMEs, and all five final-stage bidders were SMEs, indicating that smaller pharmaceutical manufacturers and specialist distributors can compete where they can demonstrate technical quality, compliant production arrangements and reliable local supplier performance.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Framework for the supply of Unlicensed Specials

Notice Description

East Midlands Pharmacy Collaborative (EMPC) as the Authority wishes to establish a multi-supplier Framework Agreement on behalf of its member Trusts for the supply of Unlicensed Specials

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: This Contract can be extended at the discretion of EMPC and the Suppliers

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-054547
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/082617-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

33 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products

CPV Codes

33600000 - Pharmaceutical products

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£500,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
£500,000 £500K-£1M
Awards Value
£1,000,000 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
1 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
13 May 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
2 Mar 2026Expired
Award Date
1 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Contract Period
1 Oct 2026 - 30 Sep 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
2030-01-02

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Pending
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
DERBY
Postcode
DE22 3NE
Postcode Area
Derby
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLF East Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLF1 Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLF11 Derby
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Derby
Electoral Ward
Littleover
Westminster Constituency
Derby North

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
5
Supplier Names

Rosemont Pharmaceuticals Ltd

Prulab Pharma Ltd

Vertical Pharma Resources Ltd/IPS Pharma

Eaststone Ltd

Ascot Laboratories Ltd

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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