Official UK procurement notice
Specialist Medicines Service · UK public procurement notice
Authority: NHS SUFFOLK AND NORTH EAST ESSEX INTEGRATED CARE BOARD (NHS & healthcare)
What is being bought3 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionThe service aims to support the responsive and effective supply of essential medication for Palliative and End of Life Care (PEoLC) and the treatment of Clostridioides difficile (also known as Clostridium difficile, C. difficile or C. diff). This is a type of bacteria that can cause diarrhoea. The demand for palliative care treatments and the relevant antibiotics, vancomycin or fidaxomicin, may be urgent and/or unpredictable. The service will operate during all normal opening hours for the community pharmacy and/or any locally commissioned extended hours e.g., Public/Bank holiday rota. The pharmacy contractor(s) (provider) will stock minimum stock levels of a locally agreed list of drugs and will make a commitment to ensure those users of this service have prompt access to these medicines. The pharmacy will provide information and advice to the user, carer and clinician as required. Pharmacy teams should refer to the joint Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS)/Marie Curie UK Quality Improvement (Daffodil) Standards for support in continual improvement of their palliative and end of life care arrangements. They may also refer to the specialist palliative care advice lines at the local hospices within SNEE. The pharmacy will maintain stocks of the specified list of medicines required to deliver this service and will dispense these in response to NHS prescriptions presented. The stock levels may be requested where there have been reports of failure to hold minimum stocks. The pharmacy will be expected to hold the minimum stock level unless there is evidence of drugs being dispensed and awaiting stock replenishment. The pharmacy will be expected to report stock levels on a quarterly basis and will receive remuneration for each report submitted. Providers should seek to maintain adequate stocks of medication in line with local demand and in anticipation of reduced wholesaler deliveries, e.g., weekends, bank holiday periods.
CPV: Health services
Lots and requirements (3)Procurement structure
3 lots · no lot values published · same evaluation weights on every lotLot #1Provision for North East Essex AllianceAwarded
The aim of this service is to ensure the availability of medication used for palliative and end of life care and the treatment of c.difficile across Suffolk and North East Essex, the demand for which may be urgent and/or unpredictable. The service is designed to improve access to these medicines for patients, carers and healthcare professionals when they are required, in order to ensure that there is no delay to treatment whilst also providing choice. This service aims to ensure the provision of medication for Palliative and End of Life Care (PEoLC) and the treatment of c.difficile at all times whilst the pharmacy is open, from selected commissioned pharmacies within Suffolk and North East Essex. The service will operate during all normal opening hours for the community pharmacy and/or any locally commissioned extended hours e.g., Public/Bank holiday rota.
The pharmacy contractor (provider) will stock minimum stock levels of a locally agreed list of drugs and will make a commitment to ensure those users of this service have prompt access to these medicines. SNEE Integrated Care Board (ICB) may review the medication list and amend in accordance with advice and guidance which the provider must order, if not stocked, with immediate effect. Providers will be formally notified in writing by the ICB. If items are to be removed from the list, the ICB will continue to honour the date expiry compensation for that product whilst the contract is in place. The ICB will not be liable to provide funding for expired stock if ordered above the agreed minimum quantities.
NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board are awarding the contract named within this notice under the Direct Award C process which is outlined within the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. The provider named in this notice is an existing provider and has been reviewed through a Key Criteria assessment to ensure the awarding body is satisfied with current performance and reasonably expects the provider to be able to satisfy the contract which is the subject of this notice. The contract which is the subject of this notice has not changed considerably when compared with the existing / previous contract delivered by the named provider.
The ICB may wish to introduce additional services during the lifetime of the contract ("Contract modifications"). Such contract modifications will be contemplated where additional requirements are similar and or complementary to the services already included in the Specification, at any given time. Such expansion would be by the addition of services commissioned by the Authority as named in the Contract Notice. To this end, after the award of contract, there is a possibility that the contract may be varied as allowable in accordance with the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023.
Lot #2Provision for Ipswich and East Suffolk Alliance areaAwarded
The aim of this service is to ensure the availability of medication used for palliative and end of life care and the treatment of c.difficile across Suffolk and North East Essex, the demand for which may be urgent and/or unpredictable. The service is designed to improve access to these medicines for patients, carers and healthcare professionals when they are required, in order to ensure that there is no delay to treatment whilst also providing choice. This service aims to ensure the provision of medication for Palliative and End of Life Care (PEoLC) and the treatment of c.difficile at all times whilst the pharmacy is open, from selected commissioned pharmacies within Suffolk and North East Essex. The service will operate during all normal opening hours for the community pharmacy and/or any locally commissioned extended hours e.g., Public/Bank holiday rota.
The pharmacy contractor (provider) will stock minimum stock levels of a locally agreed list of drugs and will make a commitment to ensure those users of this service have prompt access to these medicines. SNEE Integrated Care Board (ICB) may review the medication list and amend in accordance with advice and guidance which the provider must order, if not stocked, with immediate effect. Providers will be formally notified in writing by the ICB. If items are to be removed from the list, the ICB will continue to honour the date expiry compensation for that product whilst the contract is in place. The ICB will not be liable to provide funding for expired stock if ordered above the agreed minimum quantities.
NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board are awarding the contract named within this notice under the Direct Award C process which is outlined within the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. The provider named in this notice is an existing provider and has been reviewed through a Key Criteria assessment to ensure the awarding body is satisfied with current performance and reasonably expects the provider to be able to satisfy the contract which is the subject of this notice. The contract which is the subject of this notice has not changed considerably when compared with the existing / previous contract delivered by the named provider.
The ICB may wish to introduce additional services during the lifetime of the contract ("Contract modifications"). Such contract modifications will be contemplated where additional requirements are similar and or complementary to the services already included in the Specification, at any given time. Such expansion would be by the addition of services commissioned by the Authority as named in the Contract Notice. To this end, after the award of contract, there is a possibility that the contract may be varied as allowable in accordance with the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023.
Lot #3Provision for West Suffolk Alliance areaAwarded
The aim of this service is to ensure the availability of medication used for palliative and end of life care and the treatment of c.difficile across Suffolk and North East Essex, the demand for which may be urgent and/or unpredictable. The service is designed to improve access to these medicines for patients, carers and healthcare professionals when they are required, in order to ensure that there is no delay to treatment whilst also providing choice. This service aims to ensure the provision of medication for Palliative and End of Life Care (PEoLC) and the treatment of c.difficile at all times whilst the pharmacy is open, from selected commissioned pharmacies within Suffolk and North East Essex. The service will operate during all normal opening hours for the community pharmacy and/or any locally commissioned extended hours e.g., Public/Bank holiday rota.
The pharmacy contractor (provider) will stock minimum stock levels of a locally agreed list of drugs and will make a commitment to ensure those users of this service have prompt access to these medicines. SNEE Integrated Care Board (ICB) may review the medication list and amend in accordance with advice and guidance which the provider must order, if not stocked, with immediate effect. Providers will be formally notified in writing by the ICB. If items are to be removed from the list, the ICB will continue to honour the date expiry compensation for that product whilst the contract is in place. The ICB will not be liable to provide funding for expired stock if ordered above the agreed minimum quantities.
NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board are awarding the contract named within this notice under the Direct Award C process which is outlined within the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. The provider named in this notice is an existing provider and has been reviewed through a Key Criteria assessment to ensure the awarding body is satisfied with current performance and reasonably expects the provider to be able to satisfy the contract which is the subject of this notice. The contract which is the subject of this notice has not changed considerably when compared with the existing / previous contract delivered by the named provider.
The ICB may wish to introduce additional services during the lifetime of the contract ("Contract modifications"). Such contract modifications will be contemplated where additional requirements are similar and or complementary to the services already included in the Specification, at any given time. Such expansion would be by the addition of services commissioned by the Authority as named in the Contract Notice. To this end, after the award of contract, there is a possibility that the contract may be varied as allowable in accordance with the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record · publisher note attached- Procedure method
- Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
- Legal basis
- CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded without competition
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Direct award (no call for competition)
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 4 Nov 2025, 15:19 GMT
- Last source update
- 12 Jan 2026, 09:46 GMT
- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-002115- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05da15Find a Tender
- Why no open competition
- The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the directive
- Published justification
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. The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority by midnight Friday 14th November 2025. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.
Publisher note: 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. The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to decision makers by midnight on Friday 14th November 2025, (8 working days following publication of intention to award notice). They should be submitted in writing to [email protected]. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR. Award decision-makers: SNEE ICS Community Pharmacy Commissioning Clinical Lead on 31st October 2025. No conflicts of interest, or potential conflicts of interest, were declared by any decision makes. The decision to award this contract in line with Direct Award Process C was based on evaluation against the five required key criteria as follows: • Quality and Innovation - Assured - SNEE ICB are assured that the provider is delivering a safe and effective service as required by the specification and contract they are currently delivering. • Value - Assured - SNEE ICB are assured that the provider is delivering value to the integrated care system and the cost of change would not be outweighed by the potential benefit of a new provider. • Integration, Collaboration and Service Sustainability - Assured - SNEE ICB are assured that the provider is positively impacting on the integrated care system through their integration and collaboration delivered as a requirement of the specification or alternative elements linked to the delivery. • Improving Access, Reducing Health Inequalities and Facilitating Choice - Assured - SNEE ICB are assured that the provider is meeting needs of the population to ensure equitable access and choice as required by the specification and contract. • Social Value - Assured - SNEE ICB are assured that the provider is delivering in line with the SNEE Green Plan, supporting with the implementation of carbon reduction and increase in initiatives which positively impact on the wider determinants of health.
Notice history
2 releases on Find a TenderPublished amendments (1)
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) confirmation of contract award notice. This contract has been awarded under the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award. This contract has now been formally awarded using direct award process C Contract award date: 4th …
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lot 1 · Provision for North East Essex Alliance1 award | |||
| West Bergholt Pharmacy | £1,900 † | — | Awarded |
| Lot 2 · Provision for Ipswich and East Suffolk Alliance area3 awards | |||
| Wickham Market PharmacySME | £2,244 † | — | Awarded |
| Mill Pharmacy | £4,144 † | — | Awarded |
| Boots Pharmacy | £4,144 † | — | Awarded |
| Lot 3 · Provision for West Suffolk Alliance area6 awards | |||
| Tesco Pharmacy | £2,244 † | — | Awarded |
| Station Pharmacy | £2,244 † | — | Awarded |
| Lords PharmacySME | £2,244 † | — | Awarded |
| Boots Pharmacy | £4,144 † | — | Awarded |
| Croasdales Pharmacy | £2,244 † | — | Awarded |
| Boots Pharmacy | £2,244 † | — | Awarded |
8 further award records carry no date or value.
Contracts
Contract 070921-2025-1 · West Bergholt Pharmacy
- Signed
- 1 Nov 2025
- Value
- £1,900
- Status
- active
Contract 070921-2025-10 · Wickham Market PharmacySME
- Signed
- 1 Nov 2025
- Value
- £2,244
- Status
- active
Contract 070921-2025-11 · Mill Pharmacy
- Signed
- 1 Nov 2025
- Value
- £4,144
- Status
- active
Contract 070921-2025-12 · Boots Pharmacy
- Signed
- 1 Nov 2025
- Value
- £4,144
- Status
- active
Contract 070921-2025-13 · Tesco Pharmacy
- Signed
- 1 Nov 2025
- Value
- £2,244
- Status
- active
Contract 070921-2025-14 · Station Pharmacy
- Signed
- 1 Nov 2025
- Value
- £2,244
- Status
- active
Contract 070921-2025-15 · Lords PharmacySME
- Signed
- 1 Nov 2025
- Value
- £2,244
- Status
- active
Contract 070921-2025-16 · Boots Pharmacy
- Signed
- 1 Nov 2025
- Value
- £4,144
- Status
- active
Contract 070921-2025-17 · Croasdales Pharmacy
- Signed
- 1 Nov 2025
- Value
- £2,244
- Status
- active
Contract 070921-2025-18 · Boots Pharmacy
- Signed
- 1 Nov 2025
- Value
- £2,244
- Status
- active
Contract 070921-2025-2
- Signed
- 1 Nov 2025
- Value
- £2,129
- Status
- active
Contract 070921-2025-3
- Signed
- 1 Nov 2025
- Value
- £4,029
- Status
- active
Contract 070921-2025-4
- Signed
- 1 Nov 2025
- Value
- £2,129
- Status
- active
Contract 070921-2025-5
- Signed
- 1 Nov 2025
- Value
- £2,129
- Status
- active
Contract 070921-2025-6
- Signed
- 1 Nov 2025
- Value
- £4,029
- Status
- active
Contract 070921-2025-7
- Signed
- 1 Nov 2025
- Value
- £2,244
- Status
- active
Contract 070921-2025-8
- Signed
- 1 Nov 2025
- Value
- £2,244
- Status
- active
Contract 070921-2025-9
- Signed
- 1 Nov 2025
- Value
- £2,244
- Status
- active
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Lot | Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Provision for North East Essex Alliance | 6bids | — | — | — |
| 2 · Provision for Ipswich and East Suffolk Alliance area | 6bids | — | — | — |
| 3 · Provision for West Suffolk Alliance area | 6bids | — | — | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
18 commercial parties on the notice- Aldeburgh PharmacyAwarded supplier
- Asda PharmacyAwarded supplier
- Boots PharmacyAwarded supplier
- Boots PharmacyAwarded supplier
- Boots PharmacyAwarded supplier
- Croasdales PharmacyAwarded supplier
- Holland PharmacyAwarded supplier
- Island PharmacyAwarded supplier
- Lords PharmacyAwarded supplier
- Marks Tey PharmacyAwarded supplier
Show 8 more suppliers
- Mill PharmacyAwarded supplier
- Oakley PharmacyAwarded supplier
- Station PharmacyAwarded supplier
- Tesco PharmacyAwarded supplier
- Walton PharmacyAwarded supplier
- West Bergholt PharmacyAwarded supplier
- Wickham Market PharmacyAwarded supplier
- Woodbridge PharmacyAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications
Official links; attachments are not copiedNo document links were published on the notice.