Planning

Fortress Testing

NHS BLOOD AND TRANSPLANT, BRISTOL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

20 Mar 2025 at 14:25

Summary of the contracting process

NHS Blood and Transplant, based in Bristol, is planning a procurement process for the supply of antibody assays used in the detection of HEV IgG, HEV IgM, and Treponemal pallidum haemagglutination and rapid plasma reagin (RPR) for Syphilis. This procurement, titled "Fortress Testing," falls under the medical consumables industry category. The pre-procurement market engagement meetings are scheduled remotely between 1st April 2025 and 15th April 2025, with interested suppliers required to submit expressions of interest by 31st March 2025. The procurement phase is currently at the planning stage with a final due date for engagement set for 20th April 2025.

This tender creates significant opportunities for businesses that supply medical laboratory goods, particularly those capable of meeting NHSBT's stringent criteria, including supply chain reliability and compliance with ISO standards. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) with the ability to provide validated assays and maintain required temperature controls and turnaround times would be well-suited to participate. Engaging in this tender not only opens potential supply contracts but also extends prospects for managed service solutions and future collaborative frameworks with the NHS and other health authorities.

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Notice Title

Fortress Testing

Notice Description

Supply of specified antibody assays for the detection of HEV IgG, HEV IgM and Treponemal pallidum haemagglutination and rapid plasma reagin (RPR) for Syphilis.

Planning Information

Supply of specified antibody assays for the detection of HEV IgG, HEV IgM and Treponemal pallidum haemagglutination and rapid plasma reagin (RPR) for Syphilis. NHSBT Microbiology Services Laboratory Virology (MSLV) is responsible for the confirmation of reactivity in samples from blood and non-blood donors referred to the laboratory following screening for mandatory and discretionary markers of transmissible infection through transfusion or transplantation. The assays required have been validated by MSLV for the above purposes and must be from the following manufacturer – Fortress Diagnostics. NHSBT now wishes to commence a formal procurement process and is seeking to engage with suppliers and understand the market. Business Requirements • The Supplier MUST be able to provide the required assays as detailed by MSLV • The Supplier MUST be able to ensure the supply of assays when ordered • The Supplier MUST be able to ensure there is a supply chain in place to include ordering processes and delivery of orders with appropriate temperature controls and turnaround times. • The Supplier MUST comply with NHSBT Supplier management requests • The Supplier MUST be certified to the relevant ISO standard and provide evidence • Detailed specification will be shared while scheduling the premarket engagement call. It is NHSBT's intention to hold pre-procurement supplier engagement meetings the week of 1st April 2025 to 15th April 2025. The meetings will be held remotely, the dates are to be confirmed. To enable NHSBT to finalise arrangements (e.g., send meeting details and agree time slots) for the meeting’s, interested organisations are required to send an expression of interest via email to Sahithi Bandi sahithi.bandi@nhsbt.nhs.uk by no later than 17:00 hrs (GMT) on 31st March 2025. This should include a list of your potential attendees and a brief overview (or a website link) of the Goods / Services which might be offered. Please include options, if available, for a managed service contract. No business whatsoever is guaranteed under any resulting framework agreement or contract, and there is no guarantee that any framework agreement or contract will be put in place in relation to this notice. No compensation etc. will be paid if a tender or resulting framework agreement is withdrawn for any reason. Bidders should take part in this process only on the basis that they fully understand and accept this position. It should be noted that this procurement exercise may allow other Health authorities to use any agreements awarded.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04efbd
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/010420-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Dynamic
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

33 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products


CPV Codes

33140000 - Medical consumables

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£120,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
20 Mar 202511 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
30 Apr 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
19 Jun 2025 - 30 Jun 2028 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NHS BLOOD AND TRANSPLANT, BRISTOL
Contact Name
Sahithi Bandi
Contact Email
sahithi.bandi@nhsbt.nhs.uk
Contact Phone
07385149017

Buyer Location

Locality
BRISTOL
Postcode
BS16 7FG
Post Town
Bristol
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK5 West of England
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK52 Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
South Gloucestershire
Electoral Ward
Emersons Green
Westminster Constituency
Filton and Bradley Stoke

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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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