Award

Automated dispensing system - Pill Pac Plus

NORTHERN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE TRUST

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

10 Mar 2026 at 16:25

Award

10 Mar 2026 at 16:13

Summary of the contracting process

The Northern Health and Social Care Trust is seeking to award a contract for an automated dispensing system known as Pill Pac Plus. The contract covers the acquisition of a machine, consumables, and servicing necessary for dispensing clozapine, specific to technical requirements that necessitate a direct award. Located in Antrim, Northern Ireland, the buyer operates under the Northern Irish devolved regulations. The procurement method employed is direct, justified by Schedule 5 under Section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023, as no competition exists for the technical reasons outlined. The award procedure is currently pending, with the standstill period ending on 20th March 2026 and the contract expected to commence on 21st March 2026, lasting until 28th February 2031. This contract falls under the services category, particularly within medical equipment and related repair services.

This tender represents a significant opportunity for PillPacPlus Ltd., a supplier based in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, with expertise in medical equipment. The award provides business expansion potential for SMEs engaged in medical equipment supply and servicing, particularly those capable of providing niche products that meet precise technical specifications. Businesses with advanced manufacturing capabilities or specialisation in automated systems, especially within the healthcare sector, could find suitable expansion opportunities from such procurement processes. The contract's focus on clozapine dispensing machine procurement suggests that firms involved in pharmaceutical or medical equipment with bespoke servicing solutions stand to benefit significantly from similar opportunities.

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Notice Title

Automated dispensing system - Pill Pac Plus

Notice Description

The intended contract is for the procurement of a Pill Pac Plus machine, consumables and servicing by Northern Health and Social Care trust

Procurement Information

A direct award under Section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023 is justified under Schedule 5, paragraph 6 (absence of competition for technical reasons). Pill Pac Plus is the machine that meets the trust's technical requirement to only dispense clozapine. Other options are either significantly more expensive or too complex for the task required. Therefore, only one supplier is technically capable of meeting the requirement, and direct award is permitted under Section 41 because a Schedule 5 justification applies.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0666a5
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/021488-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

33 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products

50 - Repair and maintenance services


CPV Codes

33100000 - Medical equipments

50421000 - Repair and maintenance services of medical equipment

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£157,600 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
10 Mar 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
10 Mar 20265 days ago
Contract Period
21 Mar 2026 - 28 Feb 2031 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NORTHERN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE 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
ANTRIM
Postcode
BT41 2RL
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)
TLN0D Antrim and Newtownabbey
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Antrim and Newtownabbey
Electoral Ward
Springfarm
Westminster Constituency
South Antrim

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

PILLPACPLUS

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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