This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

29 Jul 2026 at 14:49

PlanningUpdate

28 Jul 2026 at 14:45

PlanningUpdate

28 Jul 2026 at 13:29

Planning

28 Jul 2026 at 13:25

Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process initiated by the Department for Education, a central government public authority based in London, is focused on a market engagement for the provision of adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) to schools across the United Kingdom. This planning stage supports the upcoming statutory requirements under the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026, which mandates that schools stock 'spare' AAIs for managing anaphylaxis emergencies. The Department is keen to understand the current market landscape by engaging with potential suppliers through a webinar and subsequent 1-to-1 discussions scheduled for early August 2026. Interested parties must register by 10 August 2026, and the market engagement is planned to conclude by the end of August 2026.

This early market engagement presents significant opportunities for businesses in the pharmaceutical and medical devices sectors, particularly manufacturers, distributors, and wholesalers of AAIs. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as well as voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs) are encouraged to participate, given their potential to offer innovative and cost-effective solutions that could simplify access and reliability of supply for schools. By contributing insights into market dynamics and operational considerations, these businesses have the chance to shape the framework for how schools will procure these life-saving devices, potentially leading to new commercial relationships through voluntary offers and sponsorships.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Working Collaboratively Opportunity - Supporting School Access to Adrenaline Auto-Injectors (AAIs)

Notice Description

Keeping children and young people with allergies safe while in school is a key priority for the Government. Section 34 of the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 (www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2026/21/section/34/enacted) places new allergy safety duties on schools. We have published new statutory guidance on Allergy safety in schools (www.gov.uk/government/publications/allergy-safety-in-schools). Currently under the Human Medicines (Amendment) Regulations 2017, schools in England are permitted to purchase "spare" adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) without a prescription for emergency use in cases of anaphylaxis. The Government intends to require all schools to stock "spare" AAIs. Further education (FE) colleges and other post-16 institutions are not included in this exemption. Any extension would require regulatory change, which has not yet been implemented. Suppliers should therefore continue to operate in line with the current legal framework. This early engagement supports the Department for Education's (DfE) preparatory work ahead of new statutory guidance, with the aim of ensuring schools can access "spare" adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) quickly, reliably and affordably to support pupil safety. The Department is therefore initiating early market engagement with organisations that supply AAIs, including manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers and other authorised suppliers, to better understand the current market landscape and the options available to support schools in accessing "spare" AAIs. This engagement will inform consideration of a potential working sponsorship approach, through which the provider market may develop voluntary commercial offers directly to schools in return for a rights package. The intention is to support improved affordability, simplify access, and enhance reliability of supply, while maintaining schools' independence in purchasing decisions. To inform this approach, the Department is seeking insight into existing routes to market through which schools purchase AAIs, as well as the practical and operational considerations faced by suppliers, delivery models, and any relevant regulatory factors. This includes understanding potential risks or constraints associated with scaling supply at a national level. The Department intends to hold a market engagement webinar via Microsoft Teams on Tuesday 11 August at 11:30 - 12:00 to provide further context on this initiative. Following this webinar, the Department intends to hold 1-to-1 discussions with interested organisations, to support a more detailed exploration of market capability and gather more detailed insight. To register your interest in attending this event and/or the 121 discussions, please email Adrenalinedevices.PARTNERSHIP@education.gov.uk before 12:00 on Monday 10 August. Please note that this notice is for early market engagement and exploratory purposes and is not a call for competition. The Department reserves the right not to enter any formal processes or agreements. Accordingly, the Department will not be liable for any cost, expenditure, work, or effort incurred by a provider in acting based on this notice.

Planning Information

The Department intends to hold a market engagement webinar via Microsoft Teams on Tuesday 11 August at 11:30 – 12:00 to provide further context on this initiative. Following this webinar, the Department intends to hold 1-to-1 discussions with interested organisations, to support a more detailed exploration of market capability and gather more detailed insight. To register your interest in attending this event and/or the 121 discussions, please email Adrenalinedevices.PARTNERSHIP@education.gov.uk before 12:00 on Monday 10 August. Please note that this notice is for early market engagement and exploratory purposes and is not a call for competition. The Department reserves the right not to enter any formal processes or agreements. Accordingly, the Department will not be liable for any cost, expenditure, work, or effort incurred by a provider in acting based on this notice.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d560
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/071837-2026
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

33 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products


CPV Codes

33190000 - Miscellaneous medical devices and products

33600000 - Pharmaceutical products

33690000 - Various medicinal products

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
29 Jul 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
31 Aug 20264 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
2 Nov 2026 - 2 Nov 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1P 3BT
Post Town
South West London
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England)

Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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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