Notice Information
Notice Title
Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (AST) system
Notice Description
NHS Scotland requires a standard Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (AST) system to be used across all 15 NHS Health Boards which provide a Clinical Microbiology service: from multi-disciplinary laboratories in remote / rural Boards to large laboratories providing specialist services in tertiary referral Boards. The AST solution must be (semi-) automated and up-scalable so that it is practical for both small and large laboratories and it must have a proven real-world performance record. Please note interest by 22nd July 2025
Lot Information
Lot 1
NHS Scotland requires a standard Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (AST) system to be used across all 15 NHS Health Boards which provide a Clinical Microbiology service: from multi-disciplinary laboratories in remote / rural Boards to large laboratories providing specialist services in tertiary referral Boards. The AST solution must be (semi-) automated and up-scalable so that it is practical for both small and large laboratories and it must have a proven real-world performance record. The national AST system must deliver panel testing for both bacteria and fungi. Suppliers are requested to provide details of the antibiotics, organisms and "drug-bug" combinations which may be tested on their system as well as those which cannot be tested on their system. It is essential that NHS Scotland-bespoke testing panels are available and that the system is fully EUCAST compliant, in line with Scottish AMR surveillance requirements. Annual EUCAST updates must be available on the system within six months of publication, including breakpoints and interpretive criteria. In the absence of specific EUCAST "drug-bug" testing and interpretive criteria, alternatives stipulated by the SMVN (e.g. CLSI) must be incorporated into the testing system. If the supplier's system is capable of delivering "rapid AST (RAST)", details should be provided. A bi-directional interface between the AST system and each Board's Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) is essential and implementation should be led by the AST system supplier. The national AST solution must routinely report minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) data as well interpreted MICs via system software to routinely report antibiograms and ensure unusual phenotypes are highlighted. The ability to search and produce management reports on AST data would be advantageous and details should be provided. AST equipment is expected to have a lifespan of a minimum of 7 to 10 years. Suppliers are asked to submit details of [a] their standard (semi-) automated AST equipment currently available for all 15 NHS Scotland Boards that deliver an AST service, [b] details of standard testing panels currently available, [c] interpretive criteria, [d] reportable patient results and [e] epidemiological packages, if available. Prerequisites and dependence on any additional or ancillary equipment / systems should be highlighted. Suppliers are asked to describe the system(s) available to fulfil this national requirement and also provide a (maximum) 2 page summary detailing the service that would be provided. Indicative numbers of ASTs carried out per year in NHS Scotland laboratories are (average 2018 - 2024): Average AST tests per year: <5,000 - 3 Health Boards 5,000 to 20,000 - 3 Health Boards 20,000 to 50,000 - 4 Health Boards 50,000 to 100,000 - 4 Health Boards >100,000 - 1 Health Board
Notice Details
Publication & Lifecycle
- Open Contracting ID
- ocds-h6vhtk-055b36
- Publication Source
- Find A Tender Service
- Latest Notice
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/038272-2025
- Current Stage
- Planning
- All Stages
- Planning
Procurement Classification
- Notice Type
- Planning Notice
- Procurement Type
- Standard
- Procurement Category
- Goods
- Procurement Method
- Not Specified
- Procurement Method Details
- Not specified
- Tender Suitability
- Not specified
- Awardee Scale
- Not specified
Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)
- CPV Divisions
33 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products
-
- CPV Codes
33100000 - Medical equipments
Notice Value(s)
- Tender Value
- Not specified
- Lots Value
- Not specified
- Awards Value
- Not specified
- Contracts Value
- Not specified
Notice Dates
- Publication Date
- 8 Jul 20257 months ago
- Submission Deadline
- Not specified
- Future Notice Date
- 29 Sep 2025Expired
- Award Date
- Not specified
- Contract Period
- Not specified - Not specified
- Recurrence
- Not specified
Notice Status
- Tender Status
- Planned
- Lots Status
- Planned
- Awards Status
- Not Specified
- Contracts Status
- Not Specified
Buyer & Supplier
Contracting Authority (Buyer)
- Main Buyer
- THE COMMON SERVICES AGENCY (MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS NHS NATIONAL SERVICES SCOTLAND) (NSS)
- Contact Name
- Samantha Hawkes
- Contact Email
- samantha.hawkes@nhs.scot
- Contact Phone
- +44 1312756000
Buyer Location
- Locality
- EDINBURGH
- Postcode
- EH12 9EB
- Post Town
- Edinburgh
- Country
- Scotland
-
- Major Region (ITL 1)
- TLM Scotland
- Basic Region (ITL 2)
- TLM1 East Central Scotland
- Small Region (ITL 3)
- TLM13 City of Edinburgh
- Delivery Location
- TLM Scotland
-
- Local Authority
- City of Edinburgh
- Electoral Ward
- Drum Brae/Gyle
- Westminster Constituency
- Edinburgh South West
Further Information
Notice URLs
Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)
View full OCDS Record for this contracting process
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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