The Healthy Start Vitamin Scheme Manufacture of Women's Products

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 notification that the Department is running an OJEU Accelerated Procurement for the work described. - (for which see ITT ref number 60479). Interested suppliers need to register on the BMS system if they have not done so already. Details of registration can be found on the attached document and link provided.