--- title: "Storage and distribution of LFD test kits to schools in the UK" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-02ab45" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-02ab45" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02ab45.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02ab45.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Award" buyer: "DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE" published: "2021-04-28" --- # Storage and distribution of LFD test kits to schools in the UK Buyer: DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE Current stage: Award OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-02ab45 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-02ab45) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02ab45.json) ## Summary The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has completed a procurement process for the storage and distribution of LFD test kits to schools in the UK. This initiative falls within the health services industry and took effect in early 2021, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The procurement method used was a limited direct award, citing extreme urgency due to the rapid emergence of a new SARS-CoV-2 strain. The awarded contract, valued at £2,622,796, was signed on 22nd January 2021, and involved the distribution of critical test kits to various delivery addresses across the UK. This tender presents substantial growth opportunities for businesses operating in logistics, storage, and distribution services, particularly those familiar with handling public health supplies. Companies with expertise in fast-paced delivery and supply chain management would be well-suited to participate in future tenders of this nature, as demand for efficient health service solutions is likely to continue, especially in response to ongoing public health requirements. ## Notice Storage and distribution of LFD test kits to schools in the UK ### Lot Information Lot 1 Storage and distribution of LFD test kits to schools in the UK ### Procurement Information Direct Award under Regulation 32(2)(c)1. Despite the passage of time since the onset of the pandemic, the urgency of the current situation is extreme. A new strain of SARS-CoV2 (VUI202012/01) has emerged and, whilst it is understood to have been known of since September 2020, its rapid transmissibility has only very recently become properly understood. This - coupled with recent knowledge of higher-than-expected case numbers (particularly in the South East of England) and the fact that it is known that asymptomatic transfer poses a particular risk where school-age individuals are the vectors - means that extremely urgent action was taken to target mass-testing at this particular cohort. As such, there was and is now an extremely urgent need for this proposed direct award2. The COVID-19 outbreak is a Public Health Emergency of International Concern as declared by the World Health Organisation on 30 January 2020. The WHO Director General characterised COVID-19 as a pandemic on 11 March 2020.3. A key element of ensuring an effective response to the pandemic is ensuring that there is adequate testing. Subsequently securing sufficient test capacity for schools in order to test school pupils and staffA. There are genuine reasons for extreme urgency: It is responding to COVID-19 immediately because of public health risks presenting a genuine emergency.B. The events that have led to the need for extreme urgency were unforeseeable: The Commission itself confirmed: "The current coronavirus crisis presents an extreme and unforeseeable urgency - precisely for such a situation our European rules enable public buyers to buy within a matter of days, even hours, if necessary." (Commissioner Breton, Internal Market, 01.04.2020).C. It is impossible to comply with the usual timescales in the PCR: It is not possible to comply with the timescales of another procedure due to the urgent requirement to ensure the amount of tests processed increases with the necessary demand. D. The situation is not attributable to the contracting authority - DHSC has not done anything to cause or contribute to the need for extreme urgency. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/009172-2021 | | Notice type | Award Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Limited | | Procurement method details | Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Large | | All stages | Award | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 28 Apr 2021 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | 22 Jan 2021 | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | £2,622,796 | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Complete | | Lots status | Cancelled | | Awards status | Active | | Contracts status | Active | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE | | Locality | LONDON | | Post town | South West London | | Postcode | SW1H 0EU | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLI London | | ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West | | ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London | | Local authority | Westminster | | Electoral ward | St James's | | Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## Supplier | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Number of suppliers | 1 | | Supplier names | BRAKE BROS | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 64 - Postal and telecommunications services ### Codes - 64100000 - Post and courier services ## Release History - 28 Apr 2021 at 15:16 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/009172-2021 ## Notice URLs - https://www.gov.uk/courts-tribunals - https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health-and-social-care ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-02ab45. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02ab45.json.