---
title: "Medicinal Product Trial -Metformin"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0557aa"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0557aa"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0557aa.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0557aa.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "PENNINE CARE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST"
published: "2025-11-25"
---

# Medicinal Product Trial -Metformin

Buyer: PENNINE CARE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0557aa

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0557aa)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0557aa.json)

## Summary

The public procurement process for the "Medicinal Product Trial - Metformin" was conducted by the Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, aiming to investigate the effects of metformin in individuals newly diagnosed with psychosis. The procurement falls within the services category of the design and execution of research and development. Located at Ashton-Under-Lyne, the buyer had set a project timeline from June 2026 to November 2028 for the trial execution. The tendering step is complete, with key procurement documentation dated 25th November 2025, and the process utilised an open procedure for supplier selection. The awarded contract, signed on 13th November 2025, spans from 14th November 2025 to 13th November 2028 and can be renewed up to six years. Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, operating as "Huddersfield Pharmacy Specials", was the successful supplier.

This tender presents significant business growth opportunities within the pharmaceutical and clinical research industries, especially for enterprises with capabilities in pharmaceutical production and logistical services. Companies experienced in manufacturing and distributing medical trial substances such as metformin and matched placebos are particularly well-positioned to compete. The procurement's open nature supports wider business participation, allowing varied businesses, including SMEs, to bid for similar opportunities in future tenders. Successful involvement can lead to enhanced industry standing and potential collaborations with public health organisations. The effort aligns with national health enhancement goals, providing companies a platform to showcase their expertise in specialised, high-stakes medical trials.

## Notice

The trust was successful in obtaining a grant from NIHR for a clinical trial to look at the use of metformin in people newly diagnosed with psychosis. The clinical trial (including the recruitment phase) is estimated to take place between June 2026 to November 2028. As part of that grant we need to source a supplier that has the capability to purchase or manufacture Metformin and an identical placebo for a clinical trial, to package and label both to our requirements and distribute to Trusts across the UK in a predetermined schedule

### Planning Information

During the pre-market engagement activity for the MAP trial tender, six suppliers known to the University of Sheffield Clinical Trial Research Unit (CTRU) were contacted. The goals of this activity were to: Identify suppliers with previous experience in developing a matched placebo to metformin to guide the tender requirements. Provide suppliers the opportunity to review the tender specification and offer feedback on any unclear, unreasonable, or missing elements. Notify potential suppliers about the upcoming tender. Out of the six suppliers, only two reported prior experience in developing a metformin placebo. Consequently, prior experience will not be a mandatory requirement in the tender, but it will be considered as a criterion for evaluating tender submissions. Additionally, one supplier commented on the 2-3 month requirement for campaign lead times. In response, the tender specification has been amended to 4-5 months, although shorter lead times will be taken into account during the evaluation process

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/077048-2025 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Planning, Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 25 Nov 2025 |
| Submission deadline | 5 Sep 2025 |
| Future notice date | 18 Jul 2025 |
| Award date | 2 Oct 2025 |
| Contract period | 14 Nov 2025 - 13 Nov 2028 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £248,333 |
| Lots value | £248,333 |
| Awards value | £250,114 |
| Contracts value | £250,114 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Active, Pending |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | PENNINE CARE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST |
| Locality | ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE |
| Post town | Oldham |
| Postcode | OL6 7SR |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLD3 Greater Manchester |
| ITL 3 | TLD35 Greater Manchester South East |
| Local authority | Tameside |
| Electoral ward | St Peter's |
| Westminster constituency | Ashton-under-Lyne |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | CALDERDALE AND HUDDERSFIELD NHS FOUNDATION TRUST TRADING AS "HUDDERSFIELD PHARMACY SPECIALS |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73300000 - Design and execution of research and development

## Release History

- 25 Nov 2025 at 18:37 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/077048-2025
- 7 Oct 2025 at 16:06 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/063030-2025
- 11 Aug 2025 at 15:37 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/047763-2025
- 2 Jul 2025 at 14:21 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/036872-2025
- 2 Jul 2025 at 13:44 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/036841-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/077048-2025
  25th November 2025 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/063030-2025
  7th October 2025 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/047763-2025
  11th August 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/036872-2025
  2nd July 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/036841-2025
  2nd July 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome
- https://services.atamis.co.uk/docs/Supplier_User_Guide.pdf
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.penninecare.nhs.uk/

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0557aa. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0557aa.json.