In the event of a pandemic or other health emergency it is likely that medicines supply may be disrupted. Supply disruptions could put an additional burden on the health system. As part of ongoing work to ensure the continuity of medicine supplies particularly during a pandemic or other emergency, the Secretary of State for Health, acting through the Department of Health and Social Care own an Essential Medicines Buffer Stockpile.

Clinical gaps in the current EMBS contract were identified of which the most important gaps are intravenous (IV) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) fluids for which there are no contracts or buffer stocks. Creating an Essential Medicines Buffer Stock for IV and PD fluids is the subject of this procurement. The Authority is looking for a supplier / suppliers to be able to supply the products listed in service description and product specification (Attachment 3). This procurement is split into 2 lots in which suppliers can bid for both.

Lot 1 — Intravenous Fluids — a full list of IV fluids and the related tender documents are published on contracts finder. Please follow the link — https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search.

Please sign up to the Department's tendering system via the below link to be able to register interest and complete your tender submission.

https://dh.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html

The Secretary of State for Health, acting through the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) owns an Essential Medicines Buffer Stockpile (EMBS), which was first set up in 2009. The purpose of the EMBS is to have medicines that are routinely used in the NHS, available for release into the UK supply chain in the event of pandemic or other health emergency. The current EMBS contract was finalised in November 2015 and runs for 4 years to November 2019.

Clinical gaps in the current EMBS contract were identified of which the most important gaps are intravenous (IV) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) fluids for which there are at present no contracts or buffer stocks. Creating an Essential Medicines Buffer Stock for IV fluids is the subject of this lot.

The Essential Medicines Buffer Stock for IV and PD fluids will operate differently to other national stockpiles in that the suppliers who win the contracts are required to store and rotate the stock through their normal supply chain to prevent it from expiring. All the stock must be held with at least a 12 month expiry date and it must be held within the UK. The Contract will be for a period of up to 19 months with the option to extend a further 12 months at the Authorities discretion.

Lot 2 — Peritoneal Dialysis Fluids — a full list of PD fluids and the related tender documents are published on contracts finder.

Please follow the link — https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search.

Please sign up to the Department's tendering system via the below link to be able to register interest and complete your tender submission.

https://dh.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html

The Secretary of State for Health, acting through the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) owns an Essential Medicines Buffer Stockpile, which was first set up in 2009. The purpose of the EMBS is to have medicines that are routinely used in the NHS, available for release into the UK supply chain in the event of pandemic or other health emergency. The current EMBS contract was finalised in November 2015 and runs for 4 years to November 2019.

Clinical gaps in the current EMBS contract were identified of which the most important gaps are intravenous (IV) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) fluids for which there are at present no contracts or buffer stocks. Creating an Essential Medicines Buffer Stock for PD fluids is the subject of this lot.

The Essential Medicines Buffer Stock for IV and PD fluids will operate differently to other national stockpiles in that the suppliers who win the contracts are required to store and rotate the stock through their normal supply chain to prevent it from expiring. All the stock must be held with at least a 12 month expiry date and it must be held within the UK. The Contract will be for a period of up to 19 months with the option to extend a further 12 months at the Authorities discretion.