How does the annual tender work?

How does the annual tender work?

The tender follows the same cycle every year:

Drafting (May – July): PHARMAC considers the types of products that could be included in the Tender and compiles a list of these products for consultation.

Consultation on draft Tender (July – August): Once the draft Tender has been put together, PHARMAC seeks feedback from suppliers, clinicians, health care professionals, the wider health sector and patients. They’ll provide feedback on whether it’s appropriate to include an item in the tender, and what things PHARMAC should consider during evaluation.

Consideration of consultation feedback (August – October): Following consultation, PHARMAC will consider the feedback, and seek additional information from the PTAC Tender Medical Evaluation Sub Committee if required before finalising the Tender.

Finalising the Tender (October): PHARMAC finalises the products to be included in the Tender for that year, after considering any consultation feedback.

Invitation to Tender (early-November): PHARMAC issues the tender and invites suppliers to provide bids on the products included in the Tender and alternative commercial proposals (ACPs).

Bids due from suppliers (mid-December): Suppliers have approximately 6 to 7 weeks to provide a bid for a product in the Tender. Suppliers can do this on their secure electronic portal. [Link: https://pharmac.govt.nz/news-and-resources/consultations-anddecisions/new-electronic-portal-for-bidding-on-pharmacs-annual-tender/ ]

Samples requested (January – February): As a part of the evaluation process, PHARMAC may request samples of products from suppliers. PHARMAC will seek advice from clinical experts, including the Tender Medical Evaluation Subcommittee (TMESC), to see if the product is clinically and practically suitable to be included. Some of the things they look at include:

• the packaging - is it easy to store, is it easy to get into • the labelling - is it easy to read and understand and follows the PHARMAC labelling guidelines • the tablets – is it easy to break along the score lines, are they easy to swallow • the taste – will the taste of the medicine stop some people taking the medicine

Awarding bids (February onwards): PHARMAC will evaluate the bids and make recommendations to the Board or delegate for listing The results of these are published in a monthly Tender notification on the PHARMAC website. The winning bidder gets to be the sole supplier of the medicine for a fixed term (usually three years)

Expert clinical and technical advice

Clinical and technical advice is an important part of the review of the tenders that are received. PHARMAC gets this advice from the Tender Medical Evaluation Subcommittee (TMESC) – made up of a range of health professionals including community and hospital pharmacists, GP, nurse, hospital doctors.

[See more about specialist advisory committees: reference 25]

Their role is to evaluate:

• the packaging - is it easy to store, is it easy to get into

• the labelling - is it easy to read and understand and follows the PHARMAC labelling guidelines

• the tablets – is it easy to break along the score lines, are they easy to swallow

• the taste – will the taste of the medicine stop some people taking the medicine

• risk – is it okay having a medicine on sole supply

• other clinical and technical details of the bids

Watch the video below for more information on the TMESC and what they do: Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Ts4Nx58Yj7Y

Receiving a funding application

Funding applications can be for a new medicine or wider access to a medicine that is already funded.

IMP: How to make an application: Reference [24] Make an application

SEE: New Zealand Government Electronic Tenders Service (GETS)portal: https://www.gets.govt.nz/ExternalIndex.htm

Source: [23] Procurement & tendering process