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Controlled Drugs Management System including Electronic Controlled Drugs Register

NORTH WEST AMBULANCE SERVICE NHS TRUST

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

17 Aug 2026 at 14:57

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust is preparing to procure a controlled drugs management system, including an electronic controlled drugs register (eCDR). The system is intended to support the management of controlled drugs and allow front-line paramedics to place internal orders for controlled drugs into the Medicines Supply Hub. This is a medical software package and is categorised as goods. Delivery will cover the North West of England. The work is for an NHS ambulance service, so relevant suppliers are likely to provide software that can support medicines governance, controlled-drug records, operational ambulance environments and ordering workflows linking clinical staff with a medicines supply function. The procurement is being developed by the Trust, based in Bolton.

The procurement is at the planning stage and is not yet a call for competition or invitation to tender. The Trust expects a single-lot contract, with an intended contract period from 1 October 2027 to 30 September 2030 and an option to renew or extend it to 30 September 2032. The Trust is conducting preliminary market engagement to test the feasibility of its requirements, understand delivery models, refine its procurement strategy, cost estimates and timelines, and develop the full specification. Suppliers are expected to complete a pre-market engagement questionnaire by 12:00 on 11 September 2026. The Trust may invite up to three suppliers to demonstrate their solutions to the project team. The procurement is above the relevant threshold.

This early engagement will suit suppliers that already deliver medical or medicines-management software and can shape a solution for controlled drugs in an ambulance service. Useful capabilities include an electronic controlled drugs register, secure audit trails, stock and records management, controlled-drug governance, user permissions, reporting and ordering functionality. Suppliers should be able to demonstrate how front-line paramedics would order controlled drugs internally and how those orders would flow into the Medicines Supply Hub. Experience of integrating clinical, medicines-supply or inventory systems, supporting distributed operational teams and implementing software in NHS or other regulated healthcare settings would be relevant. The Trust is seeking practical evidence on feasibility, delivery models, requirements and solution demonstrations, so suppliers should prepare a clear operating model and demonstration of these capabilities before the future procurement reaches the market.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Controlled Drugs Management System including Electronic Controlled Drugs Register

Notice Description

North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust ("the Trust") is preparing to undertake a procurement exercise for a controlled drugs management system including an Electronic Controlled Drugs Register (eCDR) and capability of internal ordering of Controlled Drugs (CDs) by front line paramedics into the Medicines Supply Hub (MSH).

Planning Information

Before initiating any procurement, the Trust intends to engage with the market to discuss a range of key topics, including those criteria considered critical to the success of any future procurement. The Trust is conducting preliminary market engagement to: • Test the feasibility of requirements • Understand delivery models • Refine our procurement strategy • Refine cost estimates and timelines • Develop our full specification This is not a call for competition and does not form part of any formal procurement process. Suppliers are invited to complete a pre market engagement questionnaire due for submission by Friday 11th September 2026 at 12:00. Suppliers will be further invited to demonstrate their solutions to the project team, a maximum of 3 may be invited to present. Any suppliers who wish you express an interest in this pre market engagement process should email: strategicprocurement@nwas.nhs.uk

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e5c0
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078179-2026
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
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems

CPV Codes

48180000 - Medical software package

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
11 Sep 20263 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Oct 2027 - 30 Sep 2030 3-4 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
NORTH WEST AMBULANCE SERVICE NHS 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
BOLTON
Postcode
BL1 5DD
Postcode Area
Bolton
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD3 Greater Manchester
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD36 Greater Manchester North West
Delivery Location
TLD North West (England)
Local Authority
Bolton
Electoral Ward
Heaton, Lostock & Chew Moor
Westminster Constituency
Bolton West

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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