250079 - Contract for the Provision of Laboratory Animal Health Monitoring Services in Compliance with FELASA Guidelines

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            "name": "Queen's University Belfast",
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            "id": "2023/54",
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        "title": "250079 - Contract for the Provision of Laboratory Animal Health Monitoring Services in Compliance with FELASA Guidelines",
        "description": "The Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences' Biological Services Core Technology Unit (BSU), at Queen's University Belfast (Queen's) wish to procure the Provision of Laboratory Animal Health Monitoring Services in Compliance with FELASA Guidelines",
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                        "id": "85148000",
                        "description": "Medical analysis services"
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        "value": {
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            "endDate": "2025-10-28T16:00:00+00:00"
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        "awardPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2025-12-18T23:59:59+00:00"
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        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "title": "1 Lot 1: Sentinel Animal Health Monitoring (Sacrificial)",
                "description": "This Lot will cover the provision of health monitoring services for sentinel animals using traditional sacrificial sampling methods. Activities under this Lot will include: * Provision of validated sample collection kits and consumables for sentinel programmes. * Testing of sentinel animal samples (including serology, parasitology, and microbiology) in accordance with FELASA recommendations. * Reporting of results with interpretation and expert advice where required. Please note: It is the University's strategic aim to phase out the use of sacrificial sentinel animals over the life of this contract, in line with the 3Rs principle of Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement. Contractors should support this goal by advising on alternative approaches.",
                "status": "active",
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                    "amountGross": 336000,
                    "amount": 280000,
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                    "weightingDescription": "Technical 40% Mandatory Specification - Pass/Fail Qualitative 35% * Team Expertise 10% * Phasing out/reducing Sacrificial Sentinel Animals 10% * Reporting 5% * Key risks 5% * Training & Technical Support 5% Sustainable Procurement 5% Price 60%",
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                            "description": "Technical 40% Mandatory Specification - Pass/Fail Qualitative 35% * Team Expertise 10% * Phasing out/reducing Sacrificial Sentinel Animals 10% * Reporting 5% * Key risks 5% * Training & Technical Support 5% Sustainable Procurement 5% Price 60%"
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                    "startDate": "2026-01-05T00:00:00+00:00",
                    "endDate": "2029-01-04T23:59:59+00:00",
                    "maxExtentDate": "2033-01-04T23:59:59+00:00"
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                "renewal": {
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            {
                "id": "2",
                "title": "2 Lot 2: Non-Animal Health Monitoring Methods",
                "description": "This Lot will cover provision of non-animal or environmental monitoring methods to replace or reduce the need for sentinel animals. Activities under this Lot will include: * Environmental sampling programmes (e.g. exhaust air dust (EAD) testing or soiled bedding PCR sampling). * Provision of all necessary equipment, kits, and consumables for non-animal monitoring. * Testing and reporting of environmental samples to FELASA-compliant standards. * Advice on the design and implementation of sentinel-free health monitoring programmes. Please note: In conjunction with the University's aim to reduce or phase out our reliance on sentinel animal testing (lot 1), this element of the contract (lot 2) may increase over the lifetime of the contract.",
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            {
                "id": "3",
                "title": "3 Lot 3: Zebrafish Health Monitoring",
                "description": "This Lot will cover health monitoring services for zebrafish colonies which we expect to have late 2025, early 2026. Activities under this Lot will include: * Provision of appropriate sampling kits and guidance for zebrafish health monitoring (e.g. screening for Mycobacterium spp. and other relevant pathogens). * Testing of submitted samples in accordance with FELASA-AALAS health monitoring recommendations (DOI: 10.30802/AALAS-CM-22-000034). The ability to screen for Viral Haemorrhagic Septicaemia and Spring Viremia of Carp (SVC) would also be valuable and may become of relevance during the course of this contract. Detailed reporting with interpretation and recommendations for colony management.",
                "status": "active",
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                    "amount": 140000,
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                            "description": "Technical 40% Mandatory Specification - Pass/Fail Qualitative 35% * Team Expertise 10% * Phasing out/reducing Sacrificial Sentinel Animals 10% * Reporting 5% * Key risks 5% * Training & Technical Support 5% Sustainable Procurement 5% Price 60%"
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            {
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                "datePublished": "2025-09-24T14:02:57+01:00",
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        "hasRecurrence": true,
        "recurrence": {
            "dates": [
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                    "startDate": "2033-01-04T23:59:59Z"
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        "contractTerms": {
            "financialTerms": "30 days from receipt of a valid and undisputed invoice"
        },
        "riskDetails": "1. Failure to Deliver Timely Results o Delays in processing or reporting test results could compromise animal health, welfare, and research timelines. 2. Loss or Damage of Samples o Improper handling during transport or processing may lead to invalid results and the need for re-sampling. Resampling, in particular with sacrificial methods, would be contrary to the 3Rs and would only be undertaken as a last resort. 3. Non-Compliance with FELASA Guidelines o Failure to adhere to FELASA standards could result in inaccurate health status declarations, regulatory non-compliance, or reputational damage to the University. This could impact on Biosecurity and the health status of our Laboratory animal colonies and negatively impact upon research programs. 4. Quality Assurance Failures o Lack of appropriate accreditation or failures in contractor quality management systems could undermine confidence in results. 5. Data Security and Confidentiality Breach o Inadequate data protection could compromise sensitive health monitoring information. 6. Disruption of Service o Operational issues such as staff shortages, supply chain disruptions, or laboratory closures (e.g. due to emergencies or pandemics) could interrupt service delivery, create unacceptable gaps in our health monitoring program and impact upon unit biosecurity. 7. Failure to Support 3Rs Progression o Contractors unwilling or unable to advise on replacement of sentinel animals with non-animal monitoring methods could impede the University's ethical commitments and strategy. 8. Misinterpretation of Results o Poorly communicated or unclear reporting and subsequent guidance could lead to inappropriate colony management decisions. 9. Health and Safety Risks o Inadequate sample kit design or guidance could expose BSU staff to biohazards during collection and handling. 10. Cost Overruns o Unanticipated price increases or unclear charging structures could lead to budgetary pressures."
    },
    "language": "en"
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