Planning

EoECPH - Pharmaceutical Wholesale Services

EAST OF ENGLAND NHS COLLABORATIVE HUB C/O WEST SUFFOLK NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

07 Oct 2025 at 12:49

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

16 Jul 2025 at 08:26

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The East of England NHS Collaborative Hub, in conjunction with the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, is planning a procurement process for pharmaceutical wholesale services under the title "EoECPH - Pharmaceutical Wholesale Services". This tender falls within the healthcare services industry and will cover the entire UK. Currently in the planning stage, the process includes preliminary market engagement, with an open procurement procedure anticipated for a four-year framework agreement starting on 1 July 2026. The key buyers associated with this procurement are various NHS trusts across the regions and publicly funded entities that comply with the necessary access agreement. Interested parties must respond to the pre-market engagement questionnaire via the Atamis portal by 21 October 2025.

This procurement offers significant opportunities for pharmaceutical wholesalers, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs), to participate and potentially secure a contract within a high-value framework expected to reach up to £15 billion. Businesses with the capability to provide safe, efficient, and cost-effective pharmaceutical distribution services, while working collaboratively with NHS Trusts to meet evolving healthcare demands, will find this tender particularly suitable. The open procurement method ensures a competitive environment, allowing companies to demonstrate their value through technical, quality, and social criteria to become an approved supplier, thereby supporting business growth and integration into national healthcare supply chains.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

EoECPH - Pharmaceutical Wholesale Services

Notice Description

The Commercial schedule is comprised of discounts offered and innovative pricing: The market can be categorised into contracted lines, non-contract (agency lines) and non-contract lines eligible for discount, the focal point of the commercial element of this framework agreement. Innovative offers will not be evaluated as part of the commercial offering but will be considered by local trusts when selecting the most appropriate bidder for their specific service and requirements. The projected value of service delivery, inclusive of all medicines expenditure under this framework, is estimated at PS15,000,000,000 (PS15billion) over the four years contract period. The proposed figure accounts for growth in this service area. The proportion of spend considered influenceable has been calculated at approximately 1.2% of the total contract value. Influenceable Spend: - Includes products defined by the wholesalers as 'Qualifying Non-contract lines'. The products defined under this term will vary throughout the life of the framework agreement. Each participating wholesaler will negotiate existing and new medicine distribution contracts with participating manufacturers. EoECPH have no influence on which manufacturers and products are defined as 'Qualifying Non-contract lines'. - Where wholesalers provide their 'Qualifying Non-contract line' product list EoECPH may be able to influence through the procurement of Pharmaceutical wholesale Services. - We estimate this to be on average 1.2% of the total annual spend through the framework. This figure is based on the current EoECPH framework which is in year 4 of its 4 year term. Non Influenceable Spend: - EOECPH will not ask bidders to submit prices for the medicines purchased. - NHS Contract Medicines prices are set through frameworks managed by NHS England Medicines Procurement and Supply Chain team - EOECPH is unable to influence these prices. - Wholesalers distribute a large proportion of MPSC NHS contracted medicines. Therefore total spend through the wholesaler services framework reflects this spend value. - Non contract (Non-Qualifying Agency lines) - Pricing is agreed between the manufacturer and wholesaler. - EOECPH is unable to influence these prices. Total Spend - This is the 'headline' figure. - Combined influenceable and Non Influenceable Spend (MPSC NHS contracted lines + Non-contract agency lines). - We estimate this total combined medicines spend could be up to PS15bn over the 4 year term. The above figures include the 7 regions nationwide. This figure may change if further information comes to the attention of EOECPH. High level Spend data has been sourced using Exend (RxInfo software) NHS Medicines spend data to obtain an indicative National picture. High level data provided by two of the four main suppliers on the current framework supports the proposed spend value.

Planning Information

EoECPH – Pharmaceutical Wholesale Services Preliminary Market Engagement Notice The East of England NHS Collaborative Procurement Hub (the Authority) is procuring a Framework Agreement for the provision of Pharmaceutical Wholesale Services. The aims and objectives of the Framework Agreement is to provide an appropriate route to market for Pharmaceutical Wholesale Services for participating NHS Trusts. This framework agreement is for the provision of pharmaceutical wholesale services to member organisations of the East of England Collaborative Procurement HUB (EoECPH), NHS Commercial Solutions (NHS CS), South East Pharmacy Procurement Service (SEPPs) and Peninsula Purchasing & Supply Alliance (PPSA). The framework agreement is available to any publicly funded entities (not already a full or pharmacy member of the above mentioned organisation(s)) who sign the framework customer access agreement. The purpose of the PME is to gauge interest and connect with providers within this market-place to better understand market interest, capability and capacity to deliver the requirements. This notice is for information only and the Contracting Authority reserves the right to not proceed to tender or at its absolute discretion to amend it at the time of issue of any further notice or notices or at any other time. As part of this pre-tender strategy, EOECPH would like to connect with providers of this type of service via a pre-market engagement exercise. We are therefore asking for assistance through completion of our questionnaire. The information provided will help us to form and shape the way the service specification is refreshed and updated for a framework that will last 4 years. Potential Scope and Service Requirements This framework agreement is for the provision of safe, legal, efficient and cost-effective pharmaceutical wholesale services comprising the delivery of medicines and other pharmaceutical products to Participating Authorities. The scope includes a requirement for the suppliers to work with Trusts, where reasonable and practicable, to meet the needs of the changing landscape such as seven day working or projects which integrate clinical pharmacy services and support risk avoidance and clinical governance agendas. Framework Details Procurement Procedure: Open Proposed Framework Length: 48 months The projected value of service delivery, inclusive of medicines expenditure under this framework, is estimated at £15,000,000,000 (£15billion) over the four years contract period. The proportion of spend considered influenceable has been calculated at approximately 1.2% of the total contract value. Our intention is to award all bidders who meet a specified technical /quality/Social Value threshold on an unranked basis. This is intended to ensure the framework agreement can be utilised as a contractual vehicle allowing participating authorities to select their preferred supplier based on their particular needs in accordance with the call-off procedure The main objectives of this procurement are: • Coverage of all key market players • Competitive prices delivering cost savings against some previous framework rates • Compliant route to market for Pharmaceutical Wholesale Services • Robust call-off procedure providing significant contract management The market can be categorised into contracted lines, non-contract (agency lines) and non-contract lines eligible for discount, the focal point of the commercial element of this framework agreement. This new framework agreement utilises the national service specification for pharmaceutical wholesale services and the national key performance indicators. The scope of the agreement remains fundamentally unchanged from the outgoing framework with a selection of refinements based on learnings over the previous framework period. Service Fundamentals Suppliers will work in partnership with the Purchasing Authority to ensure: • Patient safety • Best possible clinical outcomes • Patient satisfaction • Minimal additional costs to the Participating Authority as a publicly funded body The Purchasing Authority and Supplier will comply with the current Professional Standards. To the extent applicable, the Supplier and Purchasing Authority shall comply with all requirements of relevant regulatory bodies e.g. General Pharmaceutical Council, Medicines and Health Regulatory Agency, Care Quality Commission and Nursing and Midwifery Council. The Contracting Authority intends to use an eTendering system, Atamis, in any resulting procurement exercise. The questionnaire will run on: The Atamis portal: https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome How to access the Questionnaire on the portal: • Suppliers should register on the portal, if not already registered: • To Express an Interest in this market engagement, search and Select contract reference - C386060- Market Engagement – EoECPH – Pharmaceutical Wholesale Services • Please complete the questionnaire within the requirements section • Suppliers can contact the Atamis helpdesk at - support-health@atamis.co.uk or by calling 0800 9956035 for technical assistance when completing responses The closing time and date for the return of your responses are 12:00 Midday on 21 October 2025. Responses received after this date may be considered at EoECPH discretion. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest and participation.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-055ffd
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/062882-2025
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
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85149000 - Pharmacy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£12,000,000,000 Over £10B
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
7 Oct 20254 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
24 Nov 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
30 Jun 2026 - 30 Jun 2030 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
EAST OF ENGLAND NHS COLLABORATIVE HUB C/O WEST SUFFOLK NHS FOUNDATION TRUST
Additional Buyers

EAST OF ENGLAND NHS COLLABORATIVE HUB

Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
pharmacy@eoecph.nhs.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
FULBOURN
Postcode
CB21 5XA
Post Town
Cambridge
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH4 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH42 Cambridgeshire CC
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
South Cambridgeshire
Electoral Ward
Fen Ditton & Fulbourn
Westminster Constituency
South Cambridgeshire

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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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