Planning

Market Engagement - oral nutritional supplements for care homes

UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

17 Jul 2025 at 16:10

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The University of Plymouth is currently in the planning stage of a procurement process titled "Market Engagement - oral nutritional supplements for care homes," falling under the industry category of homogenised food preparations and dietetic products. This process intends to supply oral nutritional supplements (ONS) to approximately 30 care homes across Devon, West Midlands, and Dorset & Hampshire, with deliveries starting in October 2025 and continuing until April 2028. Interested suppliers are encouraged to express interest by contacting Megan Worth via email by 4 August 2025. The engagement is part of the REFRESH trial, with a total procurement value of £600,000. The process is for goods and aims to assess market interest and gather insights ahead of formal tendering.

This tender provides business growth opportunities for suppliers of nutritional and dietetic products, with a potential engagement extending over a few years and spanning multiple regions in the UK. The procurement is suitable for SMEs and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs), allowing diverse businesses to participate and expand their reach into the healthcare and food nutrition sectors. Suppliers adept in providing consistent and timely deliveries while offering a variety of product options that cater to different dietary needs will be particularly well-suited to compete in this tender. The procurement method focuses on strategic market engagement, opening the floor for negotiations and alignment of supply capabilities with the University's requirements.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Market Engagement - oral nutritional supplements for care homes

Notice Description

The University of Plymouth is leading the REFRESH trial to compare the effectiveness of oral nutritional supplements (ONS) and of food fortification with routine care. We are looking to procure ONS to supply to the care homes assigned. This will be approximately 30 care homes situated in Devon, West Midlands and Dorset & Hampshire, to give to a total of 510 residents, during the active study phase Oct 25 to May 28. To view more detail of the study please visit: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/penctu/refresh-trial

Planning Information

• We wish to procure the following three oral nutritional supplements or equivalent: o Ensure Compact (Abbott Nutrition) o Fortisip Compact (Nutricia) o Altraplen Compact (Nualtra) • These will need to be supplied and delivered to up to 30 care homes distributed throughout Hampshire, Dorset, Devon and the West Midlands participating in a research trial. • Supply will be in batches to named care homes to be delivered monthly. • Care homes will be given the option to use one of the three brands so a delivery to any given home will only be one brand, but should include all available flavours, or the flavours specified in the order. • The maximum order size will be approximately 1020/month. • The first care homes will start ordering these ONS from Oct 2025 and orders from subsequent care homes will start at different times throughout the following 15 months. • Each care home will have the monthly delivery for 12 months. • Orders will be placed between Oct 2025 and April 2028. • Each care home will specify their actual needs monthly so the actual delivery amount will vary according to their needs. This is to avoid over-ordering and product wastage. • The pattern of ordering will mean most ONS are ordered between Aug 2026 and Jun 2027 (i.e. all 30 care homes are active, after Jun 2027 care homes will start leaving the trial) • ONS normally have a 12-month shelf-life from date of manufacture. The delivered ONS will be expected to have at least a 6-month shelf-life. Please email Megan.worth@plymouth.ac.uk by 04/08/2025 with any expressions of interest and clarification questions

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0561af
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/041113-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

15 - Food, beverages, tobacco and related products

CPV Codes

15881000 - Homogenised food preparations

15882000 - Dietetic products

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Jul 20257 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
4 Aug 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
30 Sep 2025 - 1 May 2028 2-3 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
UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
supplier@plymouth.ac.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
PLYMOUTH
Postcode
PL4 8AA
Post Town
Plymouth
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK4 Devon
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK41 Plymouth
Delivery Location
TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber, TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLI London, TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England)
Local Authority
Plymouth
Electoral Ward
Drake
Westminster Constituency
Plymouth Sutton and Devonport

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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