Future Procurement Opportunity (FPO) – Supply of Personal Protection Equipment

Details

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, supply of personal protection equipment (PPE) has been centrally managed at a national level.

From 1 October 2023, while it has been decided that PPE will continue to be centrally managed, the Manatū Hauora – Ministry of Health funded element will be discontinued, and new arrangements will need to be entered in to.

Te Pātaka Whaioranga – Pharmac, in conjunction with Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand, is planning on issuing a two staged competitive process for establishing a panel of suppliers for the supply of PPE to Te Whatu Ora hospitals.

The first stage will be a Registration of Interest (ROI) where suppliers will need to demonstrate they have the ability to:
• Support PPE products in the New Zealand market
• Detail how they support Broader Outcomes, and environmental sustainability
• Demonstrate a high level of labour and human rights standards and due diligence.

Suppliers that demonstrate they meet the highest levels of requirements (as set out in the ROI) will be invited to submit a response to the closed Request for Proposal (RFP) processes. Suppliers must submit a response to the ROI to be eligible to be invited to submit a response to an RFP.

PPE includes a range of medical devices. Following the ROI, multiple RFPs covering different ranges of medical devices would be released to the successful ROI suppliers. Indicative sequencing of RFPs is as follows:
• Non-sterile gloves
• Gowns and aprons
• Disinfectant wipes
• Masks
• Eyewear
• Headwear
• Remaining PPE sub-categories.

Expenditure for PPE has been highly variable due to the COVID-19 pandemic but based on usage from the previous 12 months the approximate annual expenditure for PPE products is $20 million.

For further information on Pharmac’s approach to medical devices please see the Pharmac website: https://www.pharmac.govt.nz/hospital-devices/