Storage & Distribution of Human Medicines, Vaccines & Associated Medical Product

UKHSA is seeking to establish a contractual agreement with a pharmaceutical wholesaler for human medicines who can act as a third party on behalf of the Agency for the UK storage and distribution of the Agency's vaccines, other medicines and associated medical products (ownership remains with the UKHSA).

A new storage and distribution contract is needed to ensure that storage and distribution of UKHSA-owned goods, including, but not exclusively limited to, consumables, pharmaceutical goods including controlled drugs (CDs), medical devices, immunoglobulins, antitoxins, antivenoms and vaccines, can continue to be safely received from manufacturers, stored, and distributed to the NHS and other specified recipients under appropriate conditions as per licence requirements.

The products require specialist storage and distribution to ensure that they are not damaged, both physically and biologically.

To support this, effective stock management and audit systems are essential in accordance with GDP requirements.

The proposed requirement is to provide ambient temperature controlled (ie. below 15C to 25C), chilled (ie.

2C to 8C), frozen (ie. -15C to -50C) and ultra-low temperature (eg. -60C to -90C) warehousing, distribution and management services across the UK (including Northern Ireland and Crown Dependencies) for the supply of human medicines, vaccines and associated medical products, covering a multi-tiered response level (including scheduled routine deliveries and urgent same-day service levels).

Prior to the operational service commencement date the provider should also have the capability for repack and thaw activities in compliance with its Manufacturing Specials (MS) Licence.