Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust
Queen Alexandra Hospital Southwick Hill Road
Cosham
PO63LY
UK
Contact person: Jonathan Peer
E-mail: jonathan.peer@nhs.net
NUTS: UKJ31
Internet address(es)
Main address: www.porthosp.nhs.uk
I.3) Communication
Access to the procurement documents is restricted. Further information can be obtained at:
www.porthosp.nhs.uk
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent to the abovementioned address
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
I.5) Main activity
Health
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Outpatient Pharmacy Services
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85149000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Delivery of the outpatient pharmacy services within the Queen Alexandra hospital at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
30 700 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKJ31
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Outpatient Pharmacy Services - Procurement approach.
The current contract is due to expire on the 31st of January 2027
The contract was novated to Rowlands Pharmacy LTD for 2 years, for a total Value of circa £28,000,000
The Contracting Authority is to undertake a Direct Award Process C under the PSR regulations and award a new contract to the incumbent supplier until a competitive process can be awarded.
The key criteria to award a contract via award Direct Award Process has been analysed by the Pharmacy department. Key observations include the following.
The provider is already established in the Trust and has a good working relationship with Pharmacy Care Group. To date there have been no serious incidents or harm reported related to the service. To continue with this provider reduces the risk of service disruption and patient harm that may otherwise arise from a rapidly expedited change in provider.
The provider continues to monitor and respond to any safety learning events or complaints in collaboration with the Medication Safety Team and the wider Pharmacy Care Group to ensure patient safety. They also support patients through medication counselling and advice
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
30 700 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 24
This contract is subject to renewal: No
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Restricted procedure
- Accelerated procedure
Justification:
This contract is to be awarded and subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023 via direct award process C.
Prior market engagement was undertaken in April 2026 to determine the risk and issues of undertaken a competitive process where the service model and specification were consulted. The specification for a long term contract award is taking place and a further market engagement notice will be published in the new year. This contract is therefore a short term solution,
For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award.
This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
31/12/2026
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
No
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Independent patient choice and procurement panel
Independent patient choice and procurement panel
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
10/11/2026