Number: 7852805
Country: United Kingdom
Source: TED
The Healthy Start Vitamin Scheme Manufacture of Women"s Products
The Healthy Start Scheme provides free vitamins for Healthy Start Recipients. Pregnant women and new mothers can receive free vitamins containing vitamins C, D and Folic acid. Children from birth up to 4 years can receive free vitamins containing vitamins A, C and D.
The Department of Health is going to market for the Re-Procurement of the Healthy Start Vitamin Product Manufacture women"s vitamins.
The Secretary of State for Health is obliged to make available free vitamins to eligible recipients. This obligation is discharged by the Department of Health (DH) via the Healthy Start Scheme. Recipients are eligible pregnant women and new mothers who receive vitamins containing vitamins C, D and folic acid. DH (via NHS Business Services Authority) sells the vitamins to local authorities and NHS providers in England who then distribute the vitamins to recipients. DH is also procuring this requirement on behalf of NHS Northern Ireland, [and] NHS Scotland [and NHS Wales]. It is possible but it is not guaranteed or represented that DH or NHS Business Services Authority may elect to sell vitamins to non-public sector bodies during the term of the framework agreements.
DH wishes to procure a suitable provider to manufacture the women"s vitamins.
DH has allowed for full product testing of the manufactured Products by the supplier in the first year of the Framework Period, during which time no orders for vitamins may be placed by a Contracting Authority.
There will be no separate costs to deliver full Product testing and implementation activities during the first year of the Framework Period. Costs for this activity should be included in the overall pricing for the Product.
The Authority reserves the right to terminate the Framework Agreement prior to the operational start date if the awarded supplier fails to meet the testing requirements in the first year of the Framework Period.
The form of agreement is a Framework Agreement. Orders may last beyond the term of each Framework Agreement. The Authority does not guarantee, warrant or represent that any Orders will be issued pursuant to the Framework Agreement.
This is a re-tender for the Healthy Start Vitamins — Women"s vitamins. The Authority undertook a comprehensive procurement exercise that followed recommended best practice throughout. Due to a failed procurement process, the Authority has provided contingency arrangements but these will only cover the Authority sufficiently if we can issue the re-tender by using the accelerated procedure, if the Authority observes the full 30 day time limit this gap in coverage will pose a risk to the Authority and to the programme nationally.
The Authority has followed the principles of fair and open competition, and firmly believes that it has undertaken all the necessary activity to ensure the market has the opportunity to respond to our requirements.
Participation Instructions:
This procurement exercise will be completed via the DH eTendering portal (BMS) and candidates wishing to be considered for this (or any other) DH contract must submit their response via BMS. The BMS reference number for this exercise is 60479.
Suppliers should visit https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health/about/procurement to register and download instructions on how to respond.
If you require assistance, please contact the Supplier Helpdesk on 0113 254 5777 [email protected]
This helpdesk is available 10:00 to 16:00, Monday to Friday excluding Bank Holidays.
Transparency:
Potential Bidders should note that, in accordance with the Government"s policies on transparency, the Authority intends to publish the Invitation to Tender (ITT), and any Contract awarded, subject to possible redactions at the discretion of the Authority. Further information on transparency can be found at the following pages:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/guidance-transparency
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/transparency-requirements-for-publishing-on-contracts-finder
General:
The Authority reserves the right to terminate the procurement process (or part of it), to change the basis of and the procedures for the procurement process at any time, or to procure the subject matter of the contract by alternative means if it appears that it can be more advantageously procured by alternative means.
The most economically advantageous or any tender will not automatically be accepted.
Tenders and all supporting documentation for the contract must be priced in sterling and written in English. Any agreement entered into will be considered a framework contract made in England according to English law and will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English Courts.
