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Find a TenderAwardedContract award notice
Published 8 Apr 2025, 17:12 BST

Official UK procurement notice

National Specialist Medicines Services (NSMS) 2027-30

Official notice

Authority: NHS England (Central government)

5 lotsServicesOpen procedureAbove thresholdSME suitableVCSE suitable
Sectors: Health & Social Care (85) Delivery: Delivery location not published
Published estimate£36,000,000total for 5 lots · £43,200,000 inc. VAT · 3 value updates
Submissions closed 17 Jul 2026awarded 14 Oct 2026
Award (standstill) to Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (LUHFT)
Contract term 3 yrsends 31 Mar 2030 · up to 31 Mar 2031 with extensions · starts 1 Apr 2027

What is being bought5 lots · detail below

Published requirement description

The National Specialist Medicines Service (NSMS) provides specialist national services covering medicines procurement, quality assurance, medicines optimisation, safer medicines use and coordination. It supports NHS England and the wider NHS through specialist expertise and nationally coordinated medicines services.

  • The authority expects to re-tender this requirement around 1 Apr 2028, 23:59 BST.

CPV: Pharmacy services

Lots and requirements (5)Procurement structure

5 lots · all with a published value (£36,000,000 together) · same conditions of participation on every lot · evaluation weights differ by lot
Lot #1Medicines ProcurementAwardedRenewal 3 yrsSMEVCSEPublished value£12,000,000

The source published no individual description for this lot.

Contract period: 1 Apr 2027 – 31 Mar 2030 (3 yrs) · up to 31 Mar 2031 with extensionsValue: £12,000,000 exc. VAT · £14,400,000 inc. VAT
Eligibility: SME eligibleVCSE eligible
Extensions: The Contract/s will contain an optional extension for an additional period of up to 12 months subject to additional budgetary approval. If the Authority wish to extend this contract it will do so by way of a contract variation utilising the Change Control Process set out within the contract and advertise the variation in line with the Procurement Act 2023. · The Contract/s will contain an optional extension for an additional period of up to 12 months subject to additional budgetary approval. If the Authority wish to extend this contract it will do so by way of a contract variation utilising the Change Control Process set out within the contract and advertise the variation in line with the Procurement Act 2023.
85149000 Pharmacy services
Pre-qualification & selection criteria (PQQ)2
  • Economic & financial standing

    See instructions to Tender Document 1

  • Technical & professional ability

    See instructions to Tender Document 1

Lot #2Quality AssuranceAwardedRenewal 3 yrsSMEVCSEPublished value£12,000,000

The source published no individual description for this lot.

Contract period: 1 Apr 2027 – 31 Mar 2030 (3 yrs) · up to 31 Mar 2031 with extensionsValue: £12,000,000 exc. VAT · £14,400,000 inc. VAT
Eligibility: SME eligibleVCSE eligible
Extensions: The Contract/s will contain an optional extension for an additional period of up to 12 months subject to additional budgetary approval. If the Authority wish to extend this contract it will do so by way of a contract variation utilising the Change Control Process set out within the contract and advertise the variation in line with the Procurement Act 2023. · The Contract/s will contain an optional extension for an additional period of up to 12 months subject to additional budgetary approval. If the Authority wish to extend this contract it will do so by way of a contract variation utilising the Change Control Process set out within the contract and advertise the variation in line with the Procurement Act 2023.
85149000 Pharmacy services
Pre-qualification & selection criteria (PQQ)2
  • Economic & financial standing

    See instructions to Tender Document 1

  • Technical & professional ability

    See instructions to Tender Document 1

Lot #3Medicines OptimisationAwardedRenewal 3 yrsSMEVCSEPublished value£4,000,000

The source published no individual description for this lot.

Contract period: 1 Apr 2027 – 31 Mar 2030 (3 yrs) · up to 31 Mar 2031 with extensionsValue: £4,000,000 exc. VAT · £4,800,000 inc. VAT
Eligibility: SME eligibleVCSE eligible
Extensions: The Contract/s will contain an optional extension for an additional period of up to 12 months subject to additional budgetary approval. If the Authority wish to extend this contract it will do so by way of a contract variation utilising the Change Control Process set out within the contract and advertise the variation in line with the Procurement Act 2023. · The Contract/s will contain an optional extension for an additional period of up to 12 months subject to additional budgetary approval. If the Authority wish to extend this contract it will do so by way of a contract variation utilising the Change Control Process set out within the contract and advertise the variation in line with the Procurement Act 2023.
85149000 Pharmacy services
Pre-qualification & selection criteria (PQQ)2
  • Economic & financial standing

    See instructions to Tender Document 1

  • Technical & professional ability

    See instructions to Tender Document 1

Lot #4Safer Medicines UseAwardedRenewal 3 yrsSMEVCSEPublished value£4,000,000

The source published no individual description for this lot.

Contract period: 1 Apr 2027 – 31 Mar 2030 (3 yrs) · up to 31 Mar 2031 with extensionsValue: £4,000,000 exc. VAT · £4,800,000 inc. VAT
Eligibility: SME eligibleVCSE eligible
Extensions: The Contract/s will contain an optional extension for an additional period of up to 12 months subject to additional budgetary approval. If the Authority wish to extend this contract it will do so by way of a contract variation utilising the Change Control Process set out within the contract and advertise the variation in line with the Procurement Act 2023. · The Contract/s will contain an optional extension for an additional period of up to 12 months subject to additional budgetary approval. If the Authority wish to extend this contract it will do so by way of a contract variation utilising the Change Control Process set out within the contract and advertise the variation in line with the Procurement Act 2023.
85149000 Pharmacy services
Pre-qualification & selection criteria (PQQ)2
  • Economic & financial standing

    See instructions to Tender Document 1

  • Technical & professional ability

    See instructions to Tender Document 1

Lot #5Co-ordinationAwardedRenewal 3 yrsSMEVCSEPublished value£4,000,000

The source published no individual description for this lot.

Contract period: 1 Apr 2027 – 31 Mar 2030 (3 yrs) · up to 31 Mar 2031 with extensionsValue: £4,000,000 exc. VAT · £4,800,000 inc. VAT
Eligibility: SME eligibleVCSE eligible
Extensions: The Contract/s will contain an optional extension for an additional period of up to 12 months subject to additional budgetary approval. If the Authority wish to extend this contract it will do so by way of a contract variation utilising the Change Control Process set out within the contract and advertise the variation in line with the Procurement Act 2023. · The Contract/s will contain an optional extension for an additional period of up to 12 months subject to additional budgetary approval. If the Authority wish to extend this contract it will do so by way of a contract variation utilising the Change Control Process set out within the contract and advertise the variation in line with the Procurement Act 2023.
85149000 Pharmacy services
Pre-qualification & selection criteria (PQQ)2
  • Economic & financial standing

    See instructions to Tender Document 1

  • Technical & professional ability

    See instructions to Tender Document 1

What it takes to win
i

How this buyer will score bids.

The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).

Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add more
How bids were scored

Lots publish different evaluation splits; there is no single procedure weighting.

LotQualityPriceSplit
1 · Medicines Procurement70%30%
2 · Quality Assurance70%30%
3 · Medicines Optimisation70%30%
4 · Safer Medicines Use70%30%
5 · Co-ordination70%30%
Lot distribution rule: A supplier may bid for one or more or all lots. The Authority may award to one or more suppliers. Lot 1 Medicines Procurement The provision of strategic advice to policy makers and implementation support for the procurement of medicines in the NHS, operational activity on shortage management across the system, alignment with the NHS Greener medicines programme and horizon scanning. Lot 2 Quality Assurance The provision of a range of activities relating to the audit of NHS Section 10 aseptic units, production of advice, guidance and support tools, standards, quality assurance advice for procurement, and quality assurance strategic leadership. Lot 3 Medicines Optimisation The provision of specialist advice and expertise about medicines use, maximising value, quality and patient outcomes. This includes the development of key enablers such as Patient Group Directions (PGDs) Standard Operating procedures (SOPs) relating to medicines. Lot 4 Safer Medicines Use The provision of advice to enable commissioners and providers to implement national priorities and local initiatives to deliver services and to improve medicines safety. Lot 5 Co-ordination The co-ordination of the delivery of the service to ensure consistent high-quality delivery across all five elements of the service which will include: • Addressing any interrelated issues and interdependencies and developing and overseeing delivery of plans for outputs that would require all aspects of the service to contribute to successful outcomes. • Contract management of suppliers for each Lot will remain an Authority activity. • The Supplier will also work closely with NHS pharmacy professional leadership and review annual workplans to ensure there is no duplication, appropriate collaboration and attention to cross-cutting priorities, such as productivity and efficiency and sustainability. • The Supplier will identify and nominate specialist subject matter expertise to inform local and national initiatives to develop the technical pharmacy workforce. • To provide administration of payments on behalf of the contract holder. These services will be user friendly, easily accessible and be underpinned by digital support that meets all NHS and public service standards which includes Information governance; Cyber Essentials Security Certification compliance and Data Security and Protection Toolkit Certified
Conditions of participation · identical on every lot2
  • Economic & financial standing

    See instructions to Tender Document 1

  • Technical & professional ability

    See instructions to Tender Document 1

What this means for your bid
  • Price carries 30 points on every lot: a 10% discount moves about 3 points.

Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Procedure method
Open procedure
Legal basis
UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Procurement category
Services
Notice status
Awarded
Procurement threshold
Above threshold (FTS publication)
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement
Yes · next expected 1 Apr 2028
First published
8 Apr 2025, 17:12 BST
Last source update
15 Oct 2026, 11:53 BST
Award evaluation window
Submission end – 14 Oct 2026
Authority reference
C403537
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-050788
Latest notice
Contract award notice (UK6)
Classification (CPV)
Pharmacy services
Delivery area
Not published
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-04ff2c Find a Tender
Contract terms summary

Quarterly in arrears

How it was run

Official notice
Run through: Atamis legacy domain (health-family.force.com) · Who buys & how to bid on Atamis
Supplier login requiredElectronic submission allowedLanguage: EN
Access & registration note: Legacy Salesforce domain still used in notices — use the current Atamis portal · this portal address is a legacy domain; the operator has migrated
Submission deadline
17 Jul 2026, 12:00 BST
Clarification deadline
2 Jul 2026, 17:00 BST
Submission channel
Official e-sourcing portal
Electronic submission
Allowed
Accepted languages
en
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

The Contracting Authority is utilising an electronic Tendering system (“E-Tendering Portal”) to manage this procurement and communicate with Tenderers. Accordingly, there will be no hard copy documents issued to Tenderers and all communications with the Contracting Authority, including the submission of Tender responses will be conducted solely via the following link:

health-family.force.com/s/Welcome ↗

User Guide:

services.atamis.co.uk/docs/Supplier_User_G… ↗

Timeline

8 Apr 2025 → 1 Apr 2027 · 11 dates
  1. Planning notice published
    8 Apr 2025, 17:12 BST
  2. Market engagement197 days ago
    13 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST

    NHS England is commissioning the National Specialist Medicines Service (NSMS) 2027-2030 contract. The contract holders will support in the implementation of national policies and priorities in medicines use and safety by developing cost effective standardised tools and processes that can be adopted/integrated locally.

    It will provide expert clinical quality assurance in medicines technical services and supports the NHS to get best value optimisation from the medicines budgets. In addition, it will provide clinical support for frontline service delivery in relation to medicines and to enable strategic commissioning of medicines related services.

    The NSMS will provide essential information on clinical and cost effectiveness use of medicines and their supply at local and national level to ensure patient access to essential treatment to a range of stakeholders and citizens.

    The premise of the contract is that these activities can avoid duplication at local level giving local clinicians more time for their patients and that opportunities to improve quality and value are taken up comprehensively.

    This preliminary market engagement session is due to be held on the 14th April 2026 between 1-2pm, where details of the Tender timetable will be made available, however, we will launch the ITT following the May elections and it will be out in the market for approximately 60 days to allow amply time for interested bidders to form a response. All parties interested in attending the session should register their interest by sending an email to jacqueline.powell9@nhs.net by 1pm Monday 13 April 2026.

    Please note up to a maximum of 3 attendees per supplier is permitted. When registering your interest, please ensure name and email address for all attending are provided, as a Teams invite will be sent to those registered. Please DO NOT forward the Teams invite on to any other party than those names provided.

    If unable to attend this session, a transcript will be made available upon request.

    Participation (or non participation) will not advantage or disadvantage suppliers in any future procurement.

  3. Next notice expected169 days ago
    11 May 2026, 23:59 BST
  4. Tender notice published152 days ago
    29 May 2026, 12:13 BST
  5. Clarification questions by117 days ago
    2 Jul 2026, 17:00 BST
  6. Submission deadline103 days ago
    17 Jul 2026, 12:00 BST
  7. Award decision expected by13 days ago
    14 Oct 2026, 23:59 BST
  8. Assessment summaries sent13 days ago
    15 Oct 2026, 00:00 BST
  9. Latest notice published13 days ago
    15 Oct 2026, 11:53 BST
  10. Standstill ends39h ago
    26 Oct 2026, 23:59 GMT
  11. Today
    28 Oct 2026
  12. Contract startsin 154 days
    1 Apr 2027, 00:00 BST

Notice history

12 events · 5 releases on Find a Tender · since 8 Apr 2025
  1. Preliminary market engagement notice published
    8 Apr 2025, 17:12 BST
    UK2
  2. Pipeline notice published
    21 May 2025, 13:46 BST
    UK1
  3. Status changed to planned
    21 May 2025, 13:46 BST
  4. Preliminary market engagement notice published
    8 Apr 2026, 14:07 BST
    UK2
  5. Tender notice published
    29 May 2026, 12:13 BST
    UK4
  6. Published value updated to £36,000,000
    29 May 2026, 12:13 BST
    was £30,000,000
  7. Status changed to active
    29 May 2026, 12:13 BST
  8. Procurement method changed
    29 May 2026, 12:13 BST
  9. Deadline published: 17 Jul 2026, 12:00 BST
    29 May 2026, 12:13 BST
  10. Contract award notice published
    15 Oct 2026, 11:53 BST
    UK6
  11. Status changed to complete
    15 Oct 2026, 11:53 BST
  12. Contract signature expected
    17 Nov 2026, 23:59 GMT
    scheduled
Routine re-releases (5)
  • 2025-05: 1 release · 21 May 2025
  • 2025-04: 1 release · 8 Apr 2025

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 1
Awarded value £27,000,0001 award exc. VAT
Bids received 5
Named bidders 1published on the award notice
Awarded toValueDateStatus
Across several lots1 award
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (LUHFT)1 Apr 2027 – 31 Mar 2030 · up to 31 Mar 2031Extensions: Option to extend for further 12 months subject to approval · Options: Option to extend for further 12 months subject to approval£27,000,00014 Oct 2026standstill to 26 Oct 2026Standstill

Bid statistics published by the authority

LotBidsSMEVCSEValid bid range
1 · Medicines Procurement1final-stage tenders00—
2 · Quality Assurance1final-stage tenders00—
3 · Medicines Optimisation1final-stage tenders00—
4 · Safer Medicines Use1final-stage tenders00—
5 · Co-ordination1final-stage tenders00—

Who bid

Bidders as named on the Procurement Act 2023 award notice. “Won” means the bidder holds an award on this notice.

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

NHS England

Contracting authorityPublic authority - central government GB-PPON: PDPT-3135-BWWY Wellington House, 133-135 Waterloo Rd, London, London, SE1 8UGContact name, email, phone

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice

Official documents & specifications (5)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure