Award

Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) Managed Service

THE COMMON SERVICES AGENCY (MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS NHS NATIONAL SERVICES SCOTLAND) ("NSS")

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

20 Oct 2025 at 00:00

Tender

23 Oct 2024 at 00:00

Summary of the contracting process

The Common Services Agency, also known as NHS National Services Scotland (NSS), is inviting tenders for a Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) Managed Service. This tender is categorized under the health industry and seeks a fully integrated microbiology managed service system for NAT, covering equipment, maintenance, consumables, spare parts, and training, among other requirements. The procurement process is in the tender stage, with submissions being accepted electronically until 29 November 2024. Key locations for service delivery include various regions in the UK, such as Edinburgh, Belfast, and Pontyclun. The procurement method being used is an open procedure.

This tender presents a significant opportunity for businesses with expertise in microbiology and nucleic acid testing systems, especially those offering comprehensive service packages. Companies specializing in laboratory equipment, diagnostics, and clinical education materials will find this tender particularly relevant. It provides avenues for growth by establishing long-term service contracts with major health services across Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales, with potential contract renewals extending up to three additional years. Businesses that can deliver high-quality and reliable NAT systems, including remote diagnostics and robust support mechanisms, will be well-suited to compete for this contract.

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Notice Title

Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) Managed Service

Notice Description

The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service, Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service and Welsh Blood Service all require a fully integrated microbiology managed service system for NAT (Nucleic Acid Testing). This includes equipment, maintenance, consumables, spare parts, upgrades, training, clinical education material, remote diagnostics, reporting and supports all to deliver a final result to the Authority's information management system. Mandatory assays include the ability to detect HCV RNA, HBV DNA, HIV RNA, HEV RNA, B19V DNA and HAV RNA in plasma/serum samples from blood donors and HCV RNA, HIV RNA, HBV DNA, HEV RNA, B19V DNA and HAV RNA in plasma/ serum samples from tissue and stem cell donors.

Lot Information

Lot 1

The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service, Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service and the Welsh Blood Service each require a fully integrated microbiology managed service system for NAT (Nucleic Acid Testing). This includes equipment, maintenance, consumables, spare parts, upgrades, training, clinical education material, remote diagnostics, reporting and supports all to deliver a final result to the Authority's information management system. Mandatory assays include the ability to detect HCV RNA, HBV DNA, HIV RNA, HEV RNA, B19V DNA and HAV RNA in plasma/serum samples from blood donors and HCV RNA, HIV RNA, HBV DNA, HEV RNA, B19V DNA and HAV RNA in plasma/ serum samples from tissue and stem cell donors. The Authorities currently have the ability to detect Hepatitis C (HCV) ribonucleic acid (RNA), Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) RNA and Hepatitis B (HBV) deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in donations from blood, tissue and stem cell donors. Tissue and stem cell donations may only be tested as individual donations for HCV RNA, HBV DNA, HIV RNA. SNBTS test various tissue and stem cell blood samples as singletons but do not carry out any testing on non-heart beating donations. An approximate indication of volumes for this testing is 1500 samples per annum. The Authorities currently have the ability to detect Hepatitis E (HEV)) in donations from blood, tissue and stem cell donors. The successful Bidders system must be capable of detecting HEV RNA. (95% of donations will be tested in pools, 5% as ID NAT). SNBTS currently have the ability to detect B19 DNA and HAV RNA in donations from blood, tissue and stem cell donors. If screening is performed in minipools, B19 testing must ensure that B19 DNA can be detected at a level that will ensure less than 104 IU/mL of B19V DNA in homogenous plasma pools. WNV Testing is currently performed as a discretionary test by SNBTS and WBS and will possibly be introduced during the lifespan of the contract by NIBTS. The routine screening period for WNV RNA commences each year on 1st May and ends 31st December however there is still a requirement to undertake a limited amount of screening in the intervening period. The requirements for WNV RNA testing are reviewed annually. The Authorities uses a combination of Serum, EDTA plasma and EDTA gel collection tubes for all microbiological screening and the successful Bidders system must therefore be validated for both sample types.

Options: The Authority shall be entitled, at its option, to continue this Agreement beyond the Initial Term for three (3) twelve (12) Contract Month periods subject to giving not less than nine (9) Contract Months' notice to the Contractor.

Renewal: The Authority shall be entitled, at its option, to continue this Agreement beyond the Initial Term for three (3) twelve (12) Contract Month periods subject to giving not less than nine (9) Contract Months' notice to the Contractor.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000780835
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT541811
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

50 - Repair and maintenance services


CPV Codes

50421000 - Repair and maintenance services of medical equipment

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£7,300,000 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
20 Oct 20254 months ago
Submission Deadline
29 Nov 2024Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
17 Oct 20254 months ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
THE COMMON SERVICES AGENCY (MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS NHS NATIONAL SERVICES SCOTLAND) ("NSS")
Additional Buyers

NORTHERN IRELAND BLOOD TRANSFUSION SERVICE

WELSH BLOOD SERVICE

Contact Name
Gordon Dickson
Contact Email
gordon.dickson@nhs.scot, rachel.evans41@wales.nhs.uk, roisin.mcdonald@hscni.net
Contact Phone
+44 1313145522

Buyer Location

Locality
EDINBURGH
Postcode
EH12 9EB
Post Town
Edinburgh
Country
Wales

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLL Wales
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLL5 South East Wales
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLL51 Central Valleys and Bridgend
Delivery Location
TLM Scotland

Local Authority
Rhondda Cynon Taf
Electoral Ward
Brynna and Llanharan
Westminster Constituency
Pontypridd

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

ROCHE DIAGNOSTICS

Further Information

Notice Documents

  • https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT516824
    Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) Managed Service - The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service, Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service and Welsh Blood Service all require a fully integrated microbiology managed service system for NAT (Nucleic Acid Testing). This includes equipment, maintenance, consumables, spare parts, upgrades, training, clinical education material, remote diagnostics, reporting and supports all to deliver a final result to the Authority's information management system. Mandatory assays include the ability to detect HCV RNA, HBV DNA, HIV RNA, HEV RNA, B19V DNA and HAV RNA in plasma/serum samples from blood donors and HCV RNA, HIV RNA, HBV DNA, HEV RNA, B19V DNA and HAV RNA in plasma/ serum samples from tissue and stem cell donors.
  • https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT541811
    Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) Managed Service - The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service, Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service and Welsh Blood Service all require a fully integrated microbiology managed service system for NAT (Nucleic Acid Testing). This includes equipment, maintenance, consumables, spare parts, upgrades, training, clinical education material, remote diagnostics, reporting and supports all to deliver a final result to the Authority's information management system. Mandatory assays include the ability to detect HCV RNA, HBV DNA, HIV RNA, HEV RNA, B19V DNA and HAV RNA in plasma/serum samples from blood donors and HCV RNA, HIV RNA, HBV DNA, HEV RNA, B19V DNA and HAV RNA in plasma/ serum samples from tissue and stem cell donors.

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