Urgent Palliative Care Medicines Cheshire East
Overview
Summary, notice description and lot information
The procurement process, managed by NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board, pertains to the contract award for emergency palliative care medicines across pharmacy sites in Cheshire East. This process is classified under health services, specifically within the services category, and falls outside the scope of Public Contracts Regulations 2015 as per the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. It was initiated as a tender and has reached the award stage, with the contract commencing on 1st April 2024 and concluding on 31st March 2025.
The procurement method employed was a direct award without the prior publication of a call for competition, addressing the urgent and unpredictable demand for specific medicines. This tender offers business growth opportunities in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors, particularly for pharmacies capable of managing stock adequately and providing consistent service. Larger-scale pharmacies like Boots Pharmacy, Clear Pharmacy, and Well Pharmacy, among others, have been identified as suppliers, signifying the preference for established businesses with extensive supply chain capabilities.
The contract includes a fixed annual service fee, incentivising the continuous availability of essential palliative care medicines, presenting a potential revenue stream that benefits pharmacies able to efficiently manage and maintain stock levels despite variable demand and specific storage requirements.
The demand for palliative care drugs can be urgent and/or unpredictable. A number of the drugs used in palliative care are rarely used in other circumstances and are therefore often not widely available in community pharmacies. The stock held for the Urgent Palliative Care Medicine Service should be over and above the core stock holding and the ICB agrees to reimburse contractors should this medicine be held beyond the expiry date.
The Service provider is expected to order and continuously hold the range and quantity of stock specified for the total number of hours the pharmacy is open, including bank holiday and rotas and during any periods of locum cover. Payment Details
- PS201.80 annual fee for providing full and continuous service as outlined in the service specification and irrespective of the number of prescriptions dispensed.
- The fee will be paid in four instalments of PS50.45 on the completion of the quarterly audit.
- The commissioner has the discretion to withhold quarterly payments where the commissioned service provider fails to/is unable to, respond to the commissioner's assistance, including early termination of a contract for repeated transgressions.
- The pharmacy is expected to carry out good stock management and on the rare occasions when medicines on the approved list expire, Cheshire East Place will reimburse the Drug Tariff or cost price of stock that reaches its expiry date.
NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICB has awarded a one year contract via Direct Award A to Local Pharmacists within Cheshire East Cheshire and Merseyside ICB. The contract commenced on 1st April 2024 and will expire on the 31st March 2025 with an estimated combined Cheshire East Indicative annual contract value of PS 2,825.20 for the selected pharmacists to participate in this scheme. The reimbursement of palliative care drugs is funded separately.
Procurement Classification
Notice type, method, and CPV codes
Contract Values
Financial information and value estimates
Contract duration information not available.
Key Dates
Publication, submission, and award timeline
Notice Status
Current status of tender, lots, awards, and contracts
Contracting Authority
Buyer organisation and contact details
Awarded Supplier
Supplier who was awarded this contract
Documents & Links
External resources and data downloads
The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector.
Need help with your tender submission?
Our expert team can help you prepare a winning bid. Get professional support from CareSync Experts.
Get in touch with our team at Care Sync Experts today for a consultation.
Email: hello@caresyncexperts.co.uk
Phone: 0333 577 0877
Contact UsBidding for contracts like this
Other tenders in Warrington
- Qwell online mental health counselling platform in St Helens in Warrington
- Dynamic Key Working for Children and Young People with Learning Difficulties and/or Autism Service in St Helens in Warrington
- Referral Management Service - Specialist Clinical Triage in St Helens & Warrington areas in Warrington
- Out of Hours Falls Lifting Response Service in Liverpool in Warrington
- Community Dementia Support for Patients, Carers & Families in Cheshire East Place in Warrington
- Cancer support for adults in Sefton Place in Warrington