2025+ Covid Vaccine Procurement

Description

UK Health Security Agency is inviting suppliers to participate in a market engagement activity to help inform and shape our approach to the future procurement of COVID-19 vaccines.<br/><br/>COVID-19 vaccination remains important in protecting the public, particularly those vulnerable to more severe illness, as well as reducing pressure on hospitals, the wider healthcare system and protecting our economy. As such there will be an ongoing need for covid vaccines beyond our current supply agreements which end in 2024. UKHSA is looking to establish a flexible procurement model which can be used to ensure the efficient delivery of covid vaccines and be dynamic enough to adapt to both changing demand requirements as well as any new opportunities and developments in vaccine technology. Lot 1: UKHSA Strategic priorities include improving health outcomes through vaccines and reducing the impact of infectious diseases. As part of that activity, UKHSA is responsible for purchasing vaccines used in the national immunisation programme, including those against COVID-19. <br/><br/>During the pandemic, contracts were agreed with a number of suppliers to meet the need for urgency and high volume of vaccines required to protect the population. These contracts come to an end in 2024 and as we move into an endemic phase of the disease, we are considering how best to meet our vaccine demand requirements in the future. <br/><br/>The objective of future procurements will be to match supply to the particular requirements of the planned vaccination programme at the time, such as the current variant(s) of concern as well as the size and scope of eligible vaccination cohorts. We are also keen to ensure that we maintain access to any new and emerging vaccine technologies and developments in order to deliver the best outcomes from our immunisation programmes.<br/><br/>As such, we are looking to establish a flexible procurement model that provides an efficient route to market and can adapt according to need.<br/><br/>The purpose of this market engagement activity is to; <br/>• Understand both supplier appetite for participating in future COVID-19 vaccine procurements as well as current or planned supplier capability to supply COVID-19 vaccines. <br/>• Share our initial thoughts as to what the procurement approach may look like and test our assumptions and proposals. <br/>• Explore any potential barriers or concerns that there may be with the proposed approach to the market.<br/><br/>The market engagement will take the form of a questionnaire available via our e-procurement system, which you will be asked to complete and return. Once completed you will also have an opportunity to request a 1:1 meeting with the project team to discuss your answers and the project in more detail. It is anticipated that these meetings will take place during December 2023 and January 2024.<br/><br/>Who would we like to hear from?<br/> We are keen to engage with those suppliers who may already have a COVID-19 vaccine approved or who have a vaccine in development that may be available within the timeframe of a future procurement.<br/><br/>How to participate? <br/>The opportunity will be available on the Atamis eTendering system, access here: https://atamis-1928.my.site.com/s/Welcome . If you do not already have an account you can easily register for one via the same link. You will then be able to search for this opportunity and access the questionnaire and any other related documents. Please note that all correspondence must be conducted through the Atamis system. The response window will close at 5pm on Friday 5 January 2024.<br/><br/>Next steps: Following this market engagement activity the team will review the feedback and use this to update and finalise the procurement strategy. We expect to advertise the procurement opportunity in Q2 2024, although all timings are subject to change. Additional information: This PIN is being published for information purposes only to notify suppliers of a market engagement opportunity which relates to a potential procurement that will be set out in a future notice.<br/><br/>UKHSA is still in the planning phase of this procurement. All information set out in this PIN, including the nature and extent of the products to be provided as well as the timing of the procurement could be subject to change. UKHSA is not liable for any costs incurred by potential suppliers in responding to this market engagement and reserves the right to cancel or terminate the engagement activity at any time. This PIN does not constitute any commitment by UKHSA to purchase COVID-19 vaccines or other products in the future. <br/><br/>Access to the opportunity and all responses must be managed via the Atamis eprocurement system. 1:1 meetings will only be considered from those who have completed and returned the market engagement questionnaire. Depending on the level of response to the PIN, UKHSA may not be able to accommodate all meeting requests.<br/><br/>If you need further assistance using the Atamis system please consult the online help or contact the help desk.