Contract Overview

HealthTrust Europe’s framework agreement for Pre-Poured and Bottled Culture Media offers a full provision of pre-poured culture media, bottled culture media, chromogenic media and antibiotic susceptibility testing products, as well as any associated consumables. The framework consists of four lots, three of which include growth media and the associated consumables required, and one that provides an opportunity to leverage spend from a number of Participating Authorities via a mini competition. The framework agreement is accessible via direct award, and has the provision for GPO committed spend.

  • Free to  
  • OJEU Compliance  
  • Market-Leading Suppliers  
  • Spend Reduction Opportunities  
  • Immediate Access  

There is no Mini Competition required. One Agreement Comprehensive scope of the framework agreement enables access to a full provision of culture media product range, including associated consumables for all product areas via one agreement 

Lot 1: Chromogenic Media and Consumables  

  • High-quality, branded products 
  • Various pathogenic and non-pathogenic organisms including Salmonella, UTI pathogens and MRSA 
  • Associated consumables available 

Lot 2: Pre-Poured and Bottled Culture Media and Consumables 

  • Prepared culture media
  • Saves time and labour 
  • Wide product range of plates and bottled media
  • Associated consumables available

 Lot 3: Associated Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing (AST) Products and Consumables 

  • Automated and manual testing plates 
  • Various plates available 
  • Associated consumables available

 Lot 4: GPO Committed Spend Lot  

  • Aggregation of spend 
  • Contractually commit to a specified volume
  • One or more product groups to aggregate 
  • Leveraged spend 
  • Sole award potential

Direct Award and Call-Off Contracts  

The framework can be accessed via direct award. The customer must contact their Account Manager or our Customer Care Centre to log their interest and then the Category Lead will make contact to discuss the requirement.  

The call-off process is formalised by issuing an order to the supplier identified as offering best value in line with the direct award criteria specified in the framework agreement. In all instances, HTE should be informed once an authority has entered into a contract with a supplier under this framework agreement. 

 To ensure compliance to the framework agreement and customer requirements, a call-off contract is exchanged and completed between the authority and the selected supplier(s).  

Committed GPO Model  

HTE is a ‘Group Purchasing Organisation’ (GPO) that has been established in order to provide GPO members with the highest quality products and services at the best price. We are a healthcare partner concerned with our members who are delivering care within the local communities; as such we leverage the purchasing power of our GPO members in order to increase ‘value’ (Quality, Safety, Service & Price) through our contracting processes. 

 HealthTrust Europe’s committed GPO model aligns clinical and commercial requirements to drive contracting decisions. We build advisory board’s representative of doctors, nurses, technicians and pharmacists to drive the development of clinical specifications and determine ‘like’ products that are clinically acceptable. 

We take clinical and commercial requirements to market on behalf of our members and undertake procurement activities aimed at obtaining the highest quality products and services at the best price for healthcare providers. Our model is built on partnership relationships that deliver benefits to both our customers and the supplier community. Whilst not limited to, the following points are essential to our GPO process:  

  • Pre market engagement which provides meaningful insight from suppliers and customers regarding our proposed sourcing strategies 
  • Analytics: a review of scientific evidence and data 
  • Development of clinical and business specifications through our advisory boards 
  • Clinical evaluation 
  • Market share commitments 
  • Contract compliance 
  • Contract management