Award

Regular Asymptomatic Testing in NI Special Educational Needs Schools

EDUCATION AUTHORITY NI

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

29 Jan 2021 at 16:08

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Education Authority NI is seeking a contractor for the tender titled "Regular Asymptomatic Testing in NI Special Educational Needs Schools," classified under health services. The procurement, classified as a limited negotiation process due to extreme urgency, is aimed at providing a weekly asymptomatic testing service for 10,000 staff and students in special schools across Northern Ireland. This contract will run from February 2021 to the end of June 2021. The total contract value is £1,430,000, and the awarding decision was signed on 28 January 2021. The initiative is particularly crucial in the current context of the Covid-19 pandemic, where special educational needs schools remain operational amid health restrictions.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialised in health services, particularly those with experience in Covid-19 testing and related technologies. Companies offering testing kits, laboratory services, and logistical support for health initiatives would be well-suited to compete. The urgency of the situation and the focus on minimising disruption in special educational needs schools create a conducive environment for innovative solutions that can enhance the safety and health of vulnerable students and staff during this unprecedented crisis.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Regular Asymptomatic Testing in NI Special Educational Needs Schools

Notice Description

Regular Asymptomatic Testing in NI Special Educational Needs Schools

Lot Information

Lot 1

Regular Asymptomatic Testing in NI Special Educational Needs Schools

Procurement Information

The weekly asymptomatic testing service of 10,000 special school staff (teaching, non-teaching and ancillary) and students with special educational needs is urgently required due to the emergency situation regarding Covid-19 within Special Educational Needs schools in Northern Ireland and will ensure that these schools can remain open during the current period of restrictions. The service will run in all 39 Special Educational Needs schools within Northern Ireland from February 2021 to the end of June 2021. The samples will be tested using the direct LAMP (loop-mediated isothermal amplification) method as this is a viable and readily available deliverable method and is less invasive for children in Special Educational Needs schools and therefore uptake is likely to be maximised and testing objectives met. Queen's University Belfast is part of the UK national plan for testing and is the only laboratory that is accredited within Northern Ireland to provide all elements of the testing service including the requirement for the testing to be turned around with results within several hours. The aim of this service is to find asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic cases so they can be isolated along with their contacts, therefore reducing the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in the school settings, and consequently the wider community. Special Educational Needs schools are remaining open during the current period of restrictions, and while children, even those with significant underlying medical conditions, do not generally become very unwell if they contract COVID-19, some children in Special Educational Needs schools have extremely complex medical needs and all possible steps must be taken to protect them from COVID-19. Any infection can be serious for them as their baseline condition is so fragile. The provision of this service will also contribute to reducing the rate of infections in Special Educational Needs Schools as regular testing will identify cases either before they are symptomatic, or asymptomatic cases, allowing immediate self-isolation, thereby reducing the potential for wider transmission, both within the school and in the contact groups of pupils and staff.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-028ea5
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/001871-2021
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Negotiated without publication of a contract notice
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85100000 - Health services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£1,430,000 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
29 Jan 20215 years ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
28 Jan 20215 years ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
EDUCATION AUTHORITY NI
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
educationresource.procure@eani.org.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
BELFAST
Postcode
BT1 2NQ
Post Town
Northern Ireland
Country
Northern Ireland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLN Northern Ireland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLN0 Northern Ireland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLN06 Belfast
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Belfast
Electoral Ward
Duncairn
Westminster Constituency
Belfast North

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

QUEENS UNIVERSITY BELFAST

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts. 

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