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Concession Contract for Publishing, Selling and Marketing of the British Pharmacopoeia

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

14 Sep 2026 at 17:35

UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Planning

14 Sep 2026 at 17:33

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) intends to procure a concession contract for publishing, selling and marketing the British Pharmacopoeia, covering the 2029 to 2035 editions. The requirement includes publishing services, marketing services and worldwide web design services. The work will support the production and commercial distribution of the British Pharmacopoeia, with delivery across the United Kingdom. MHRA is the central government buyer. This is a services procurement and is being planned as one lot. The requirement is relevant to organisations with an integrated publishing and commercial distribution operation, or to businesses able to provide these services through a suitable consortium or delivery model. The concession structure indicates that the commercial arrangements will be central to the eventual contract.

This procurement is at the planning stage: MHRA has announced its intention to procure and is undertaking pre-market engagement, not inviting tenders. The expected route is a two-stage competitive flexible procedure using an open process. MHRA expects two webinars on 30 September and 28 October 2026, covering the requirement, market questions, proposed route to market, key performance indicators and tender timelines; attendees will receive a questionnaire after each session. The buyer expects the next tender notice on 23 December 2026. Its indicative enquiry deadline is 23 December 2026, tender submission deadline 29 January 2027 at 12:00, and award decision by 31 March 2027. The planned contract would run from 31 March 2027 to 31 March 2032, with two possible 12-month renewals to 31 March 2034. Estimated value is £39,810,000 excluding VAT (£47,772,000 including VAT).

The planned contract should suit publishers, specialist scientific or technical content businesses, booksellers and distributors, marketing agencies, and web or digital commerce providers with relevant experience in bringing authoritative professional publications to market. MHRA is seeking a supplier able to combine publishing, sales, marketing and website capability for the British Pharmacopoeia editions, rather than providing only a single isolated service. The opportunity is explicitly identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises, so smaller firms with the required capability may be well placed to prepare. Businesses should use the planned engagement to understand the proposed operating model, commercial arrangements, performance measures and two-stage process, and to explain which market segment and delivery capability they could contribute when the procurement reaches the tender stage.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Concession Contract for Publishing, Selling and Marketing of the British Pharmacopoeia

Notice Description

Concession Contract for Publishing, Selling and Marketing of the British Pharmacopoeia 2029-2035 editions

Planning Information

The purpose is to notify the market of our up coming procurement and to gain more understanding of the market and how our requirement fits into market segments. 2 webinars due to take place on 30th September and 28th October. More detailed agendas will be made available via our mailing list. Please email Commercial@mhra.gov.uk to sign up to our mailing list FAO Imogen Pether, for all future communications regarding this pre-market engagement. 30th September to cover (but not limited to) The Agency, our requirement for the British Pharmacopeia and opportunity for the market to ask us questions. 28th October to cover (but not limited to) proposed route to market, KPIs and tender timelines. We also welcome feedback from attendees and a questionnaire will be issued all attendees after each webinar.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f990
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/087063-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

72413000 - World wide web (www) site design services

79342000 - Marketing services

79970000 - Publishing services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£39,810,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£39,810,000 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
14 Sep 2026Yesterday
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
23 Dec 20264 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2027 - 31 Mar 2032 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency
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
E14 4PU
Postcode Area
East London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI42 Tower Hamlets
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Tower Hamlets
Electoral Ward
Canary Wharf
Westminster Constituency
Poplar and Limehouse

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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