Infant Feeding and Accessories

This framework starts on 29 February 2024, runs for 24 months and ends on 28 February 2026. There is an option to extend for an additional 24 months.

Our framework supports the UNICEF Baby Feeding Initiative, which seeks to promote patient choice and reduce the risk of parents feeling pressure to buy a particular brand when a similar product does the same job at less cost.

Information on the different types and brands of infant milks in the UK market is available on the First Steps Nutrition Trust website, enabling you to make an informed choice about the products that are available on our framework.

See our Useful Links section for further details.

Resilience

New suppliers have been added to the framework to support the resilience of baby milk and food products. This includes 15 new product lines for infant meals.

Sucrose solution has also been introduced to the framework.

Since April 2022 all our frameworks have adopted the Procurement Policy Notice 06/20.

• 42 products have been delisted.

There are 18 suppliers on this framework. They are:

• Alcado Limited
• Ardo medical Limited
• Babease Limited
• Central Medical Supplies Limited
• Danone Nutricia Early Life Nutrition
• GBUK Enteral Limited
• HiPP UK Ltd
• J Heinz Foods UK Limited – New
• Inspiration Healthcare – New
• Kendal Nutricare Ltd
• Laborie Medical Technologies Ltd – New
• MAM UK Ltd – New
• Medela UK
• Medicare Colgate Limited
• Nestle Nutrition
• Newell Brands
• Sharon Services (UK) Ltd – New
• Sinapi Biomedical – New

There are two Lots on this new framework. They are:

• Lot 1 – Infant Food and Formula
• Lot 2 – Infant Feeding Equipment and Post Pregnancy Accessories

The framework has 318 products

130 new products have been added (from new and incumbent suppliers).

Choice

• Leading suppliers on contract – providing enhanced range and value from a single source.

More savings

• Pay less – with NHS Supply Chain you have a wider range of product options so you can select the ones that are fit for purpose and value for money.
• Leave your tendering to us – spend less time and money on tendering and let our procurement specialists undertake it on your behalf.
• Back office savings – the efficiency of our service, ranging from e-ordering to consolidated deliveries, enables significant back office savings.

More value

• An integrated approach – the financial benefits of NHS Supply Chain go beyond just product prices. Our approach is an integrated one that reduces cost throughout the supply chain, from raw materials to global logistics, resulting in a much lower total cost.
• Purchasing through our route – when there are changes in the market, we can help minimise the impact of price rises and give support with cost saving initiatives.

Our knowledge and expertise

• Dedicated Hospital Care and Out of Hospital Care Teams – your day to day contact for all queries. They will help you identify savings opportunities, solve any issues on your behalf and ensure high service levels are always met.
• NHS Supply Chain Buyers – procurement specialists in their product fields who can give expert advice on new and alternative products.
• Implementation Team – experts in helping you set up the new processes and training required when introducing new products.
• Customer Services Team – with the daily support provided by our dedicated and knowledgeable advisors and service managers you know you are in safe hands.
• Customer Assurance – providing customers with the confidence and assurance of products using a process of clinical evaluation and engagement with clinical users. This ensures all products are clinically assured by the CaPA process, supported by engagement with customers.

Peace of mind

• Dependable deliveries – having access to the know-how and resources of one of the world’s largest logistics companies means we can offer unrivalled dependability and responsiveness when it comes to our delivery services.
• Framework agreement – awarded in accordance with UK procurement legislation.
• Sustainability – Sustainable procurement is embedded into our category management processes to ensure that our suppliers meet requirements for carbon reduction plans, evergreen assessment, modern slavery, social value and NHS England net zero supplier roadmap. Additionally, our logistics partner is certified ISO14001.