Microbiology Serology Testing · UK public procurement notice

NHSBT currently has a formal contractual arrangement in place for the microbiology serological screening/testing of blood and non-blood donations. The contract includes the supply of the mandatory and selective serology assays, consumables, instrumentation, uninterruptable power supply’s and software required for result management and interface(s) with host systems; including servers to support the IT infrastructure.

Mandatory testing is undertaken on all blood donations. The assays required include Hepatitis B (HBsAg), Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV 1&2 Ab/Ag), Hepatitis C (anti-HCV) and syphilis antibodies and these tests are undertaken on high throughput automated equipment. Additional testing is also undertaken on select donations. These include testing for human T- lymphotropic virus (anti-HTLV), cytomegalovirus (anti-CMV), malarial antibody (anti-malaria), Hepatitis B antibodies (anti-HBc & anti-HBs) and Trypanosome cruzi (anti-T. cruzi). NHSBT also undertakes some alternative testing for blood donors when required. Additional assays for the following markers; HBsAg, anti-HIV1&2 Ag/Ab, anti-HCV, anti-syphilis and anti-HTLV would be required for approximately 3000 alternative tests per year, which are made up of a combination of these markers. Please note: Assays/test systems KEG approval of assays/systems must be obtained prior to tender. See OJEU notice: 2020/S 198-481270 for more information.

There is a requirement for automated instrumentation to enable high throughput testing of mandatory and discretionary testing for blood and non-blood donors, archiving and long-term storage of plasma samples as part of this contract. Instrumentation for sample sorting is also for consideration.

The NHSBT Microbiology Serology Testing contract has an annual value of circa £6.5m (Ex VAT) and approximately 1.6m donations are tested per annum across two Testing sites.

It is NHSBT's intention to engage with the market to gather detailed information about the market's capabilities. The format for this will be communicated to those that respond to this PIN. Virtual Supplier engagement days are due two-fold with a Webinar Monday 22nd February 2021 for NHSBT to present the project (a copy of the presentation will be sent ahead of the Webinar) and individual supplier presentation days to be held on the 24th and 25th of February 2021. If you are interested in this requirement, please email jess.allen@nhsbt.nhs.uk by no later than 1200 hours on Monday 8th February 2021. If you do not respond by this date your organisation will not be excluded from taking part in the forthcoming tender.

A subsequent Contract Notice relating to the future tender will be submitted for publication at the same time as the Invitation To Tender (ITT) is issued.