Health Corporation Limited (HCL) is a government owned limited liability company established by the Ministry of Health with responsibility for the procurement, warehousing and distribution of medical supplies for the public sector. The company is situated at 78 Marcus Garvey Drive, Kingston 13, Jamaica, West Indies

The basis of the company's purchasing policy is an eighteen (18) month tender. The starting date for the current contract period was October 1, 2006 and will end on March 31, 2008. Bids are invited approximately eight (8) months before the start of a contract period. The company also procures by way of international limited shopping.

Tendering System

Health Corporation has adopted a very sophisticated tendering system which allows it to purchase pharmaceuticals not only from well established brand-name companies, but also from proven and reliable generic companies around the world.

Criteria for Selection

Health Corporation aims to obtain the best quality medical supplies at the best prices. The company does not bind itself to accept the lowest or any bid and is influenced by other factors including registration of pharmaceutical products, lead time, payment terms and past performance of suppliers.

The company has implemented a Supplier Performance Rating System (SPRS) which will provide monitoring of each supplier's performance in relation to the terms contained in the tender documents.

Standards

Health Corporation insists that all its pharmaceutical imports conform with the international standards set out by

(i) the United States Pharmacopoeia and/or

(ii) the British Pharmacopoeia both of which are internationally recognized as indicators of the standard and efficacy of all ethical pharmaceuticals. Additionally, all pharmaceutical products must be registered with the Ministry of Health in keeping with the requirements of the Food and Drug Act of Jamaica.

Bidders participating in the tender for medical sundries are requested to submit samples of each item for which a bid is submitted, to facilitate evaluation.

Registration

Only those bids for pharmaceuticals registered in accordance with the Food and Drug Act 1964 of the laws of Jamaica are considered. The registration of pharmaceuticals takes approximately four months. A sample of the registration form can be seen on pages four (iv), five (v) and six (vi).

Potential Bidders with pharmaceutical products not registered with the Ministry of Health in Jamaica are advised to start registration procedures for these items to ensure eligibility for future tenders.

Patent

Where a patent exists, bidders are required to prove that such patent is lodged in Jamaica and is currently in effect.

Advertising Invitations to Bid

To ensure wide participation the Invitation To Bid is advertised in local newspapers and is sent to locally represented embassies and to those suppliers on HCL's mailing list. Companies wishing to be included on HCL's mailing list may contact,