Market Engagement for MES with associated Medical Consumables & Contrast Media

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL) requires the provision of a Managed Equipment Service with associated Medical Consumables & Contrast Media. Interested suppliers are invited to participate in pre-market engagement for this opportunity.

This is Round 2 of market engagement for this service. Feedback is now invited on the proposed commercial model and associated commercial schedule, as well as the conditions of participation. The intention is to undertake a two-stage competitive flexible procedure under the Procurement Act 2023, due to launch towards the end of the calendar year.

Interested suppliers are welcome to view the initial market engagement content (Round 1) and engage on the Round 2 content. Please register your interest on the Atamis portal: atamis-1928.my.site.com/s/Welcome ↗ (Ref: C475585).

The content will be made available in October 2026 and a prompt turnaround period will be required and interested suppliers will be informed via the portal.

The contract term is intended to be 10 years, with a potential option to extend at the Authority’s discretion for an additional term of up to 5 years. Over the 15 years, the potential total contract value would be £707 million (£47.1 million per annum, exclusive of VAT). Consumables represent the majority of this contract value: £32 million of the £47.1 million annual estimate. The contract start date is subject to change.

The responses or information received during this market engagement exercise will not be taken into account in any future evaluation as part of the formal procurement process. This pre-market engagement is an independent and voluntary phase, and the Trust will not be responsible for any costs incurred by interested parties. This notice is not a call for competition and does not oblige the Trust to initiate a procurement process. A formal procurement process will be announced through the publication of a tender notice.

Scope summary

Equipment

The service will include the purchasing/financing, installation and maintenance of equipment and materials within scope of the contract.

The service will include the procurement and installation of diagnostic/radiotherapeutic equipment and clinical robots, together with the procurement of contrast media to meet clinical demand, including all ancillary equipment and software required to ensure systems are operational and fit for purpose.

The Service Provider will also be responsible for the purchase, supply, maintenance and replacement of specified consumables and medical devices required for operation of the equipment, including monitoring and maintaining stock levels, stock rotation, usage analysis/reporting and proactive prevention of wastage and expiry.

The Service Provider will be required to employ and train sufficient inventory control staff and manage any third-party involvement associated with delivery of the service.

Equipment within scope includes imaging, catheter labs, hybrid theatre, mammography, radiotherapy and pharmacy robots. Regular software upgrades will also be required.

Consumables

The Service Provider will be responsible for the provision, procurement, maintenance and replacement of specified consumables required to meet clinical demand within the scope of the contract. This includes, but is not limited to, implantable cardiac valves and devices such as TAVI valves, TEER clips, pacemakers and defibrillators, as well as guide wires, stents, mapping and ablation catheters. The Service Provider must ensure appropriate stock levels are maintained at all times to support emergency and routine activity, taking account of market conditions, lead times and any supply chain risks.

The Service Provider will be required to liaise with the Trust in relation to the purchase, supply, maintenance and replacement of specified consumables required for operation of the equipment. This will include monitoring and maintaining stock levels, stock rotation, usage analysis and reporting, and proactive prevention of wastage and expiry. The Service Provider must employ and train sufficient inventory control staff and manage any third-party involvement required to deliver these obligations.

All consumables and devices must meet applicable legal, clinical and regulatory requirements, together with relevant best practice guidance, including product traceability legislation relating to implantable medical devices. The Service Provider will also be required to source tariff-excluded devices via NHS Supply Chain under the NHS England Specialised Services Devices Programme (SSDP), formerly HCTED, where applicable. This requirement applies to any relevant devices produced by the Service Provider, associated companies and/or third parties.

The Trust requires transparent pricing, supported by competitive market analysis, stock management information and usage analysis, to provide assurance of value for money when procuring stock on behalf of the Trust. The Service Provider should explain how it will secure best value for the Trust and leverage its market position to maximise economies of scale.

General

The Trust requires a vendor-independent solution based on clinical choice by the Trust within the parameters of any agreed contract. The Service Provider will be responsible for lifecycle management, ensuring the Trust has access to the latest medical technologies without the burden of capital investment. Estates enabling works for replacement equipment are excluded from the scope.

The Trust reserves the right to introduce new technology, equipment and consumables where it has been involved in their development, in collaboration with the Service Provider. The Trust considers that a Managed Equipment Service can provide a cost-effective route to accessing the latest technology, improving patient care and efficiency while supporting ongoing maintenance and financial cost improvement.