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PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITY

Plastic Straws

NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership-Procurement Services (hosted by Velindre University NHS Trust) · Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

Tender information last checkedLast checked 30 Sept 2026, 12:18.

Opportunity overview

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (CAVUHB) require the supply of drinking straws intended for use within hospital wards, clinics, and care environments to assist patients who are unable to drink independently or safely without the use of a straw. The product shall be suitable for use with both hot and cold beverages and designed for single-patient use. The straws are intended to support safe and dignified hydration for patients with limited mobility, coordination, or swallowing ability, and to facilitate assisted drinking by healthcare staff. Please see full requirement list below and provide the details to Lily.Prance@wales.nhs.uk - Please include the price and unit of measure. The product shall comply with the following, or equivalent, standards and regulations: • UK Food Contact Materials (FCM) Regulations (Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 and SI 2019 No. 704) • UK Plastic Packaging Tax (where applicable) • UK Single-Use Plastics Directive exemptions for healthcare or patient-care use • Relevant BS EN standards for plastics in contact with food (e.g., BS EN 1186 series) • Food Safety Act 1990 Material Requirements: • Material: Food-grade polypropylene (PP) or biodegradable plastic alternative (e.g., PLA) suitable for contact with liquids intended for human consumption • Must be non-toxic, BPA-free, latex-free, and phthalate-free • Shall not impart taste, odour, or discoloration to liquids • Must withstand temperatures from 0°C to 70°C without deformation or leaching • Note: Paper or fibre-based materials are not acceptable under this specification Design and Dimensions: • Type: Flexible (bendable) drinking straw • Length: 200 ± 5 mm (standard adult) • Diameter: 6 ± 0.5 mm internal bore (suitable for water, juice, and nutritional supplements) • Colour: Natural, white, or light blue (transparent or translucent preferred) • Surface: Smooth finish with rounded, non-sharp edges to prevent oral injury • Flex section shall be durable and maintain shape after repeated bends • Option for shorter length (e.g., 150 mm) to suit paediatric or specialist care areas (if applicable) Safety and Performance: • Must maintain structural integrity during normal use • Shall not collapse under typical suction pressures (<10 kPa) • No component shall detach or fragment during use • Free from defects such as cracks, splits, or irregularities • Material must comply with food-contact migration limits (overall and specific) as defined in Regulation (EU) No. 10/2011 Hygiene and Handling: Straws shall be clean and hygienically manufactured to prevent contamination during production and packing. Products shall be supplied either: • Individually wrapped, or • In hygienic bulk dispensers with protective packaging Packaging must maintain cleanliness until point of use. Product is intended for single-patient use only, not for communal catering or reuse.

Classification

  • CPV19520000 — Plastic products
  • CPV39222000 — Catering supplies

Lots

  • Lot 1Value not stated

Documents and notices

Published notice details

Additional information from the published procurement release. Fields appear only when supplied by the source; check the original notice and tender documents before acting.

Scope, procedure and submissions

Id
ocds-h6vhtk-05dc6f
Status
planning
Above Threshold
No
Main Procurement Category
goods

Legal basis

Id
2023/54
Scheme
UKPGA

Communication

Future Notice Date
8 Dec 2025, 23:59

Lots and requirements

Entry 1
Id
1
Status
planning

Suitability

Sme
Yes
Vcse
Yes

Contract period

Ends
31 Jan 2027, 23:59
Starts
1 Feb 2026, 00:00

Items and delivery

Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKL22
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Id
39222000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Catering supplies
Entry 2
Id
19520000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Plastic products

Planning and budget

Documents

Entry 1
Id
071899-2025
Format
text/html
Notice Type
UK2
Description
Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
Document Type
marketEngagementNotice
Published
7 Nov 2025, 10:11

Milestones

Entry 1
Id
engagement
Type
engagement
Status
scheduled
Due
5 Dec 2025, 23:59
Description
Please provide the range of products that meet this specification, including the price and unit of measure (box size) to Lily.Prance@wales.nhs.uk

Buyer, suppliers and contacts

Organisation 1
Id
GB-NHS-RQF
Name
NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership-Procurement Services (hosted by Velindre University NHS Trust)

Roles

buyer

Address

Region
UKL22
Country
GB
Locality
Cardiff
Postal Code
CF14 4HH
Country Name
United Kingdom
Street Address
Woodland House, Maes-y-Coed Road

Details

Classifications

Entry 1
Id
publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment
Scheme
UK_CA_TYPE
Description
Public authority - sub-central government
Entry 2
Id
GB-WLS
Scheme
UK_CA_DEVOLVED_REGULATIONS
Description
Welsh devolved regulations apply

Identifier

Id
RQF
Scheme
GB-NHS

Contact

Name
Lily Prance
Telephone
02921500642

Recorded locations

  • Buyer location · Cardiff · UKL22 · CF14 4HH · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKL22 · United Kingdom

Notice and amendment history

1 published notice version reviewed by ProcuraAxis.

1 VERSION
  1. ocds-h6vhtk-05dc6f-2025-11-07T10:11:58ZPreliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ·