Award

Community Pharmacy Locally Commissioned Service for Emergency Palliative Care Drugs

NHS SUSSEX INTEGRATED CARE BOARD

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

17 Oct 2025 at 15:09

Tender

15 Aug 2025 at 15:38

Summary of the contracting process

The NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board (ICB) is in the process of awarding a contract under the Provider Selection Regime (PSR) for the delivery of the Community Pharmacy Locally Commissioned Service for Emergency Palliative Care Drugs. This procurement effort focuses on ensuring access to medication for individuals with palliative and end-of-life care needs across East Sussex, West Sussex, and Brighton and Hove. The procurement method was competitive but did not require prior publication of a call for competition, as permitted under the PSR. As part of the process, 72 pharmacies have been identified as prospective service providers, with a total contract value of £190,513 over a period from 1st November 2025 to 31st March 2028. The standstill period, during which representations can be made, imposes a deadline on 30th October 2025.

This tender presents significant opportunities for local pharmacies to grow their business by engaging in a contract that is essential to community health services. Pharmacies that are located within the designated regions, have the necessary NHS dispensing contracts, and meet core operational requirements such as sufficient opening hours and service capabilities, are ideally positioned to participate. The focus on local distribution enhances the access that community pharmacies can offer, thereby supporting vital healthcare needs. By securing a place in this commission, pharmacies can enhance their service portfolio and contribute to critical health care solutions within the community, promoting both business growth and communal health benefits.

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Notice Title

Community Pharmacy Locally Commissioned Service for Emergency Palliative Care Drugs

Notice Description

NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board (ICB) has recommissioned the Community Pharmacy Locally Commissioned Service for Emergency Palliative Care Drugs to support people with palliative and end of life care needs access to medication in an emergency.

Lot Information

Lot 1

This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) Intention to Award Notice following the conclusion of a Competitive Process to appoint providers to deliver the Community Pharmacy Emergency Palliative Care Drugs Locally Commissioned Service on behalf of NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board (ICB), subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 or the Procurement Act 2023 do not apply to this award. The publication of this notice marks the commencement of the standstill period. Any representations in relation to this notice must be made to decisions makers by midnight on 30/10/2025. Any written representations should be sent to robert.kitt1@nhs.net. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an Intention to Award Notice under PSR 2023, to inform the market of the intention to award a contract, as a result of a Competitive Process. NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board (ICB) has recommissioned the Community Pharmacy Locally Commissioned Service for Emergency Palliative Care Drugs to support people with palliative and end of life care needs access to medication in an emergency. The ICB is seeking providers to hold a locally agreed range and minimum quantity of emergency palliative care drugs (based on the Sussex palliative and end of life care prescribing guidance) with a commitment to ensure that users of this service have prompt access to these medicines during the pharmacy's regular core and supplementary hours. NHS Sussex ICB intends to award the contract to 72 pharmacies within East Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton and Hove following a Competitive Process. The approximate lifetime value of the contract across the 29-month period from 1 November 2025 - 31 March 2028 will be PS190,513.

Renewal: Under the Provider Selection Regime 2023, the option of a Direct Award will be considered by the Commissioner.

Procurement Information

This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and the Procurement Act 2023 do not apply to this award. The standstill period begins on the day after the publication of this notice. Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority by midnight on 30/10/2025. Any written representations should be sent to robert.kitt1@nhs.net. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-058942
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/066453-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services


CPV Codes

85149000 - Pharmacy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£190,513 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Oct 20254 months ago
Submission Deadline
11 Sep 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
31 Jul 20256 months ago
Contract Period
1 Nov 2025 - 31 Mar 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NHS SUSSEX INTEGRATED CARE BOARD
Contact Name
Maggie Czapiewska
Contact Email
maggie.czapiewska1@nhs.net
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
LEWES
Postcode
BN7 2FZ
Post Town
Brighton
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ2 Surrey, East and West Sussex
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ22 East Sussex CC
Delivery Location
TLJ21 Brighton and Hove, TLJ22 East Sussex CC, TLJ27 West Sussex (South West), TLJ28 West Sussex (North East)

Local Authority
Lewes
Electoral Ward
Lewes Bridge
Westminster Constituency
Lewes

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

72 PHARMACIES

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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Project members were required to complete Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality Undertaking forms prior to receiving any sensitive documentation or being involved in any discussions in relation to the procurement. Prior to commencement of the Evaluation stage, two conflicts of interest were declared by a member of NHS Sussex ICB, and by a member of a Local Pharmaceutical Committee. Both conflicts were mitigated with no impact on the procurement process. The award decision makers are NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board (ICB) An expression of interest (EOI) exercise was undertaken to procure this service. Compliant EOIs were reviewed based on the criteria listed below so that the provision of the service is evenly distributed across the geographical area with sufficient access for service users. The following factors were used in priority order for all applicants in each Primary Care Network (PCN) footprint when awarding contracts: 1. Number of days per week pharmacy is open (highest number of opening days given priority within a Primary Care Network footprint 2. Opening hours per week (highest total weekly hours given priority within a PCN footprint) 3. If bidders for this contract match each other on the above criteria: * Where >1 pharmacy is required in a PCN, their proximity to an awarded contractor within their PCN will be used as a deciding factor (furthest distance is given priority). * Where only 1 pharmacy is needed in a PCN, their proximity to an awarded contractor in their neighbouring PCN(s) will be used as a deciding factor (further distance is given priority). Following the EOI process, 72 pharmacies were accepted by the Commissioner to deliver this service: * Arlington Road Pharmacy - FVM25 - Eastbourne - PS1,094.90 * Glyn Norris Pharmacy - FD172 - Arun - PS1,094.90 * Kamsons Pharmacy - FER70 - Arun - PS1,094.90 * Tesco Pharmacy - FEV35 - Worthing - PS1,094.90 * Kamsons Pharmacy - FJV00 - Arun - PS1,094.90 * Kamsons Pharmacy - FKF86 - Arun - PS1,094.90 * Little Common Pharmacy - FCM81 - Bexhill - PS1,094.90 * Boots the Chemists - FFC93 - Bexhill - PS1,094.90 * Boots the Chemists - FRV64 - Bexhill - PS1,094.90 * Jordans Pharmacy - FHG77 - Bognor Regis - PS1,094.90 * Boots the Chemists - FJV66 - Bognor Regis - PS1,094.90 * Bognor Regis Pharmacy - FP531 - Bognor Regis - PS1,094.90 * Dexter's Pharmacy - FWD07 - Bognor Regis - PS1,094.90 * Boots the Chemists - FTV55 - Burgess Hill - PS1,094.90 * S C Williams Pharmacy - FYX44 - Burgess Hill - PS1,094.90 * Boots the Chemists - FEV02 - Worthing - PS1,094.90 * Kamsons Pharmacy - FMW35 - Worthing - PS1,094.90 * Pyramid Pharmacy - FMW89 - Horsham - PS1,094.90 * Paydens Pharmacy - FTY98 - Horsham - PS1,094.90 * Kamsons Pharmacy - FGC12 - Chichester - PS1,094.90 * Boots the Chemists - FTG79 - Chichester - PS1,094.90 * Boots the Chemists - FCY75 - Worthing - PS1,094.90 * Boots the Chemists - FLC19 - Worthing - PS1,094.90 * Kamsons Pharmacy - FQM12 - Worthing - PS1,094.90 * Asda Pharmacy - FJ575 - Worthing - PS1,094.90 * Kamsons Pharmacy - FAL02 - Worthing - PS1,094.90 * Kamsons Pharmacy - FNN61 - Worthing - PS1,094.90 * Asda Pharmacy - FJ327 - Crawley - PS1,094.90 * Kamsons Pharmacy - FCL23 - Brighton and Hove - PS1,094.90 * Kamsons Pharmacy - FCQ88 - Brighton and Hove - PS1,094.90 * Asda Pharmacy - FA342 - Brighton and Hove - PS1,094.90 * Boots the Chemists - FRR58 - East Grinstead - PS1,094.90 * Asda Pharmacy - FJK61 - Eastbourne - PS1,094.90 * Boots the Chemists - FPA95 - Eastbourne - PS1,094.90 * Kamsons Pharmacy - FL244 - Eastbourne - PS1,094.90 * Kamsons Pharmacy - FX749 - Eastbourne - PS1,094.90 * Boots the Chemists - FQC51 - Lewes - PS1,094.90 * Boots the Chemists - FR198 - Brighton and Hove - PS1,094.90 * Tesco Pharmacy - FH723 - Uckfield - PS1,094.90 * Boots the Chemists - FEH23 - Hailsham - PS1,094.90 * Paydens Pharmacy - FHJ23 - Hailsham - PS1,094.90 * Kamsons Pharmacy - FJ416 - Hailsham - PS1,094.90 * Pharmacy @ Station Plaza - FH594 - Hastings - PS1,094.90 * Asda Pharmacy - FV050 - Hastings - PS1,094.90 * Boots the Chemists - FQL56 - Haywards Heath - PS1,094.90 * Kamsons Pharmacy - FAW68 - Haywards Heath - PS1,094.90 * Selbys Pharmacy - FGP96 - Haywards Heath - PS1,094.90 * Kamsons Pharmacy - FDQ95 - Crawley - PS1,094.90 * Boots the Chemists - FXM67 - Crawley - PS1,094.90 * Boots the Chemists - FP954 - Crowborough - PS1,094.90 * Boots the Chemists - FFF02 - Lancing - PS1,094.90 * Asda Pharmacy - FA088 - Brighton and Hove - PS1,094.90 * Boots the Chemists - FTM51 - Brighton and Hove - PS1,094.90 * Boots the Chemists - FY060 - Horsham - PS1,094.90 * Kamsons Pharmacy - FHG58 - Brighton and Hove - PS1,094.90 * Kamsons Pharmacy - FRT09 - Bognor Regis - PS1,094.90 * Kamsons Pharmacy - FVA18 - Bognor Regis - PS1,094.90 * Boots the Chemists - FP387 - Chichester - PS1,094.90 * Kamsons Pharmacy - FTH80 - Horsham - PS1,094.90 * Boots the Chemists - FEM25 - Rye- PS1,094.90 * Seaford Pharmacy - FJG00 - Lewes - PS1,094.90 * Boots the Chemists - FQY87 - Lewes - PS1,094.90 * Boots the Chemists - FEF75 - Shoreham - PS1,094.90 * Tesco Pharmacy - FTE40 - Shoreham - PS1,094.90 * Boots the Chemists - FMX53 - Crawley - PS1,094.90 * Kamsons Pharmacy - FQ107 - Crawley - PS1,094.90 * Boots the Chemists - FPD84 - Lewes - PS1,094.90 * Kamsons Pharmacy - FQ577 - Lewes - PS1,094.90 * Boots the Chemists - FTQ44 - Eastbourne - PS1,094.90 * Kamsons Pharmacy - FLA61 - Eastbourne - PS1,094.90 * Boots the Chemists - FAA02 - Brighton and Hove - PS1,094.90 * Kamsons Pharmacy - FJD49 - Brighton and Hove - PS1,094.90 The reason for the decision makers' intention to award to the successful bidders named, is that they achieved the highest compliant bid score in relation to the set criteria. 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