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Contract for the Provision of Outpatient Pharmacy Dispensing Services and Associated Pharmacy Healthcare Services

Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

23 Sep 2026 at 14:45

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust is procuring outpatient pharmacy dispensing and associated pharmacy healthcare services for its Royal United Hospital in Bath. The service supports patients receiving outpatient care and is closely connected to the Trust’s clinical pathways and operational activity. The scope includes dispensing, safe and high-quality pharmacy provision, and collaboration with prescribers and clinical teams. The selected provider is expected to support patient access and experience, including patients with complex needs, and contribute to local workforce development and training. The service is delivered at the Royal United Hospital, Coombe Park, Bath. This is a healthcare pharmacy services requirement, combining dispensing operations with clinical coordination and patient-facing support.

The procurement has reached the intention-to-award stage under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023; the notice says the contract has not yet been formally awarded. Sulis Hospital, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Trust, has been selected as the most suitable provider through the Provider Selection Regime process, without a competitive procurement. The stated contract value is £8,000,000, with a six-year term structured as 2+2+2. The service is due to run from 11 January 2027 to 10 January 2033; the award notice was dated 23 September 2026. Assessment weightings were quality and innovation 35%, integration, collaboration and service sustainability 30%, value 15%, inequalities and access 10%, and social value 10%.

For suppliers tracking future outpatient pharmacy requirements at this Trust, this award shows that operational integration with existing clinical pathways was central to provider suitability. A credible competitor would need to demonstrate safe dispensing aligned with Trust clinical standards, established governance, access to patient records and electronic prescribing, and close working with prescribers and clinical teams. The assessment also favoured the ability to collaborate in real time, adapt to service changes or pathway redesign, and maintain a sustainable service aligned with the Trust and wider local care arrangements. Suppliers would need to evidence resilience, affordability and whole-life value, alongside a strong patient experience for vulnerable or complex patients. Local employment, workforce development, training and environmental aims such as reducing patient travel also formed part of the stated benefits considered.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Contract for the Provision of Outpatient Pharmacy Dispensing Services and Associated Pharmacy Healthcare Services

Notice Description

Contract for the Provision of Outpatient Pharmacy Dispensing Services and Associated Pharmacy Healthcare Services

Lot Information

Lot 1

Royal United Hospital (Bath) NHS Foundation Trust , (referred to in this Notice as RUH or "The Authority") intends to award a contract to Sulis Hospital for the Provision of Outpatient Pharmacy Dispensing Services and Associated Pharmacy Healthcare Services.

This Notice signifies an intention to award a contract under the Provider Selection Regime 2023 (PSR) using the Most Suitable Provider Process.

The approximate value of this contract is PS8,000,000 and the contract term is a total of six years. The contract will be awarded as a 2+2+2.

This Intention to Award Notice describes the process undertaken to assess potential providers within the market and determine the Most Suitable Provider under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023.

The Authority is intending to award a new Provider for an existing service.

The current contract with the incumbent Provider will remain in force, terminating on 10th January 2027. The new service will commence on the Service Commencement Date 11th January 2027 and terminate on 10th January 2033.

No competitive procurement was undertaken. The Authority assessed potential provider options against the published criteria and concluded Sulis Hospital as the Most Suitable Provider.

In order to assess a range of Providers and identify "The Most Suitable Provider" under the PSR regime, RUH considered the key criteria required under Regulation 11 of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 and concluded that Sulis Hospital, as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Authority, provides the optimum combination of quality, patient benefit, integration with existing clinical pathways, service sustainability and value.

Whilst ownership was considered as part of the assessment of integration and strategic alignment, the decision was based on the Authority's assessment against all Regulation 11 key criteria.

The evaluation process and final decision has been supported by significant background research and experience within this market. This includes the undertaking of a formal market engagement exercise in June 2025, background research, information provided by subject matter experts, advice from external experts including legal counsel and the Authority's own significant experience in procuring outsourced Outpatient Pharmacy Dispensing Services. This process has been formally documented.

The Authority identified and assessed its future service requirements, associated risks and provider suitability and has applied weighted criteria to measure Provider suitability.
The weightings were used to support a structured assessment of provider suitability and do not constitute a competitive tender evaluation.

Summary of Weightings and Award Rationale

Criterion
Quality and Innovation 35%
Value 15%
Integration and Collaboration 30%
Inequalities and Access 10%
Social Value 10%

"Quality and Innovation" and "Integration and Collaboration" were weighted and assessed as of most importance to RUH in the future delivery of its service.

Quality and Innovation

Sulis Hospital, a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of RUH, demonstrates the highest ability to deliver a safe, high-quality dispensing service aligned with Trust clinical standards, including:
- Established governance arrangements integrated with the Trust
- Direct access to patient records and electronic prescribing systems
- Close clinical oversight and collaboration with prescribers

Integration, collaboration and service sustainability
The Outpatient Pharmacy Service is intrinsically linked to the Authority's clinical pathways and operational flow.
Sulis Hospital:
- Operates as part of the Authority's system, ensuring seamless integration
- Supports real-time collaboration with clinical teams
- Aligns with wider ICS and place-based care models
- The Sulis business plan is the most aligned and integrated to the Authority's requirements

The WOS structure enables:
- Shared objectives and governance
- Flexibility to respond to service changes or pathway redesign quickly
- Long-term sustainability through organisational alignment

Value
Sulis Hospital demonstrated the most economically advantageous solution when taking account of investment requirements, enhanced operational resilience, future contract affordability and budget management and whole-life value for money.

Inequalities and Access
- Enhancing patient experience, particularly for vulnerable or complex patients
Closer integration with clinical services ensures:
- Reduced delays in treatment initiation
- Better support for patients with complex needs

Conclusion:
Sulis Hospital will contribute positively to access and patient experience, though this criteria is not the primary differentiator or key driver within this award.

Social Value
Sulis Hospital will deliver social value through:
- Local employment and workforce development
- Opportunities for training and education more closely aligned with the Trust
- Contribution to the local health economy
Additionally, Sulis Hospital is aligned with the Authority's sustainability goals (e.g. reduced patient travel).
While external providers also deliver social value, the WOS ensures these benefits are retained within the NHS system.
Conclusion:
Sulis Hospital delivers relevant social value, supporting local and system-wide objectives but this is not a key driver in this award process.

In summary, The Authority concluded that no alternative provider could reasonably be expected to deliver an equivalent level of integration, strategic alignment, increased operational resilience and patient benefit.

The final decision was approved in accordance with the Authority's Scheme of Delegation and Standing Financial Instructions.

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 do not apply to this award. To confirm, this contract has not yet formally been awarded; this Notice (F03 template) serves as an Intention To Award under the PSR.'

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0778be
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/090200-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award 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

85100000 - Health services

85149000 - Pharmacy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£8,000,000 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation 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
BATH
Postcode
BA1 3NG
Postcode Area
Bath
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK5 West of England
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK52 Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Delivery Location
TLK South West (England)
Local Authority
Bath and North East Somerset
Electoral Ward
Newbridge
Westminster Constituency
Bath

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Sulis Hospital

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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