Planning

Supply of HLA Sequencing Systems

  • NHS Blood and Transplant

F01: Prior information notice (prior information only)

Notice identifier: 2023/S 000-000065

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-0394d5

Published 3 January 2023, 2:19pm



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

NHS Blood and Transplant

500 North Bristol Park

Bristol

BS34 7QH

Contact

Ogheneochuko Otiotio

Email

ogheneochuko.otiotio@nhsbt.nhs.uk

Telephone

+44 7385435288

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKK11 - Bristol, City of

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/

Buyer's address

https://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/

one.3) Communication

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at

https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Body governed by public law

one.5) Main activity

Health


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Supply of HLA Sequencing Systems

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 33141625 - Diagnostic kits

two.1.3) Type of contract

Supplies

two.1.4) Short description

The Supply of HLA Sequencing Systems (Lot 1 Equipment & Equipment consumables and Lot 2 will be HLA typing kits, consumables, and analysis software)

two.1.5) Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: £5,000,000

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: Yes

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Lot 2 - Commercial Requirements Section

Lot No

4.01

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 33141625 - Diagnostic kits

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UK - United Kingdom

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

NHS Blood & Transplant (NHSBT) Histocompatibility & Immunogenetics function intends to undertake a procurement tender exercise for the supply of HLA sequencing systems.

Histocompatibility & Immunogenetics (H&I) is a strategic business function of NHSBT, providing testing and support in transplantation, specialised transfusion including the supply of selected blood products, immunogenetics, platelet and granulocyte immunology.
Services are supplied through a national network of six laboratories across England. Building on our strengths as a national provider, NHSBT’s strategic aim is for its diagnostic services to become the preferred provider and supplier of choice for these services in the NHS in England. We would like to work with potential suppliers to realise this ambition and to perform HLA typing in an efficient, timely and cost-effective manner to meet the demands and expectations of our customers and the patients we serve.

Prior to commencing a formal procurement process and to help inform our strategy, NHSBT is seeking to engage with suppliers of commercially available HLA sequencing systems. The current contract ends in July 2024 and NHSBT would like to improve our knowledge of all current and future systems available in the marketplace. This will aid identification of opportunities and gauge market interest in this field.

It is envisioned we will run this tender as 2 Lots, Lot 1 will be equipment & equipment consumables and Lot 2 will be HLA typing kits, consumables, and analysis software.

We require HLA typing systems to cover the following:

• Allelic Test Kits SHOULD detect and uniquely identify all alleles of the HLA-A, B, C, DRB1, DRB3/4/5, DQA1, DQB1, DPA1 and DPB1 loci at the level of resolution that additionally defines the third field according to WHO nomenclature by at least resolving all ambiguities resulting from: (1) polymorphisms located within the exons coding for HLA class I and class II proteins and (2) that encompass a null allele wherever the polymorphism is located.
• The optimal solution SHOULD define fourth field level resolution
• The HLA typing result SHOULD be completed not more than 72 hours from the start of the process.


It is NHSBT's intention to hold pre-procurement supplier engagement meetings the week of 30th January to 3rd February 2023. 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 meetings, interested organisations are required to send an expression of interest via email to coco.otiotio@nhsbt.nhs.uk by no later than 17:00 hrs (GMT) on 18/01/2023. 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 utilise any agreements awarded.

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Lot 2 - Technical Requirements Section

Lot No

4.02

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 33141625 - Diagnostic kits

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UK - United Kingdom

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

NHS Blood & Transplant (NHSBT) Histocompatibility & Immunogenetics function intends to undertake a procurement tender exercise for the supply of HLA sequencing systems.

Histocompatibility & Immunogenetics (H&I) is a strategic business function of NHSBT, providing testing and support in transplantation, specialised transfusion including the supply of selected blood products, immunogenetics, platelet and granulocyte immunology.
Services are supplied through a national network of six laboratories across England. Building on our strengths as a national provider, NHSBT’s strategic aim is for its diagnostic services to become the preferred provider and supplier of choice for these services in the NHS in England. We would like to work with potential suppliers to realise this ambition and to perform HLA typing in an efficient, timely and cost-effective manner to meet the demands and expectations of our customers and the patients we serve.

Prior to commencing a formal procurement process and to help inform our strategy, NHSBT is seeking to engage with suppliers of commercially available HLA sequencing systems. The current contract ends in July 2024 and NHSBT would like to improve our knowledge of all current and future systems available in the marketplace. This will aid identification of opportunities and gauge market interest in this field.

It is envisioned we will run this tender as 2 Lots, Lot 1 will be equipment & equipment consumables and Lot 2 will be HLA typing kits, consumables, and analysis software.

We require HLA typing systems to cover the following:

• Allelic Test Kits SHOULD detect and uniquely identify all alleles of the HLA-A, B, C, DRB1, DRB3/4/5, DQA1, DQB1, DPA1 and DPB1 loci at the level of resolution that additionally defines the third field according to WHO nomenclature by at least resolving all ambiguities resulting from: (1) polymorphisms located within the exons coding for HLA class I and class II proteins and (2) that encompass a null allele wherever the polymorphism is located.
• The optimal solution SHOULD define fourth field level resolution
• The HLA typing result SHOULD be completed not more than 72 hours from the start of the process.


It is NHSBT's intention to hold pre-procurement supplier engagement meetings the week of 30th January to 3rd February 2023. 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 meetings, interested organisations are required to send an expression of interest via email to coco.otiotio@nhsbt.nhs.uk by no later than 17:00 hrs (GMT) on 18/01/2023. 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 utilise any agreements awarded.

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Overview, Instructions to Tenderers & Additional Questions Section

Lot No

1.01

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 33141625 - Diagnostic kits

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UK - United Kingdom

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

NHS Blood & Transplant (NHSBT) Histocompatibility & Immunogenetics function intends to undertake a procurement tender exercise for the supply of HLA sequencing systems.

Histocompatibility & Immunogenetics (H&I) is a strategic business function of NHSBT, providing testing and support in transplantation, specialised transfusion including the supply of selected blood products, immunogenetics, platelet and granulocyte immunology.
Services are supplied through a national network of six laboratories across England. Building on our strengths as a national provider, NHSBT’s strategic aim is for its diagnostic services to become the preferred provider and supplier of choice for these services in the NHS in England. We would like to work with potential suppliers to realise this ambition and to perform HLA typing in an efficient, timely and cost-effective manner to meet the demands and expectations of our customers and the patients we serve.

Prior to commencing a formal procurement process and to help inform our strategy, NHSBT is seeking to engage with suppliers of commercially available HLA sequencing systems. The current contract ends in July 2024 and NHSBT would like to improve our knowledge of all current and future systems available in the marketplace. This will aid identification of opportunities and gauge market interest in this field.

It is envisioned we will run this tender as 2 Lots, Lot 1 will be equipment & equipment consumables and Lot 2 will be HLA typing kits, consumables, and analysis software.

We require HLA typing systems to cover the following:

• Allelic Test Kits SHOULD detect and uniquely identify all alleles of the HLA-A, B, C, DRB1, DRB3/4/5, DQA1, DQB1, DPA1 and DPB1 loci at the level of resolution that additionally defines the third field according to WHO nomenclature by at least resolving all ambiguities resulting from: (1) polymorphisms located within the exons coding for HLA class I and class II proteins and (2) that encompass a null allele wherever the polymorphism is located.
• The optimal solution SHOULD define fourth field level resolution
• The HLA typing result SHOULD be completed not more than 72 hours from the start of the process.


It is NHSBT's intention to hold pre-procurement supplier engagement meetings the week of 30th January to 3rd February 2023. 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 meetings, interested organisations are required to send an expression of interest via email to coco.otiotio@nhsbt.nhs.uk by no later than 17:00 hrs (GMT) on 18/01/2023. 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 utilise any agreements awarded.

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Lot 1 - Commercial Requirements Section

Lot No

3.01

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 33141625 - Diagnostic kits

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UK - United Kingdom

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

NHS Blood & Transplant (NHSBT) Histocompatibility & Immunogenetics function intends to undertake a procurement tender exercise for the supply of HLA sequencing systems.

Histocompatibility & Immunogenetics (H&I) is a strategic business function of NHSBT, providing testing and support in transplantation, specialised transfusion including the supply of selected blood products, immunogenetics, platelet and granulocyte immunology.
Services are supplied through a national network of six laboratories across England. Building on our strengths as a national provider, NHSBT’s strategic aim is for its diagnostic services to become the preferred provider and supplier of choice for these services in the NHS in England. We would like to work with potential suppliers to realise this ambition and to perform HLA typing in an efficient, timely and cost-effective manner to meet the demands and expectations of our customers and the patients we serve.

Prior to commencing a formal procurement process and to help inform our strategy, NHSBT is seeking to engage with suppliers of commercially available HLA sequencing systems. The current contract ends in July 2024 and NHSBT would like to improve our knowledge of all current and future systems available in the marketplace. This will aid identification of opportunities and gauge market interest in this field.

It is envisioned we will run this tender as 2 Lots, Lot 1 will be equipment & equipment consumables and Lot 2 will be HLA typing kits, consumables, and analysis software.

We require HLA typing systems to cover the following:

• Allelic Test Kits SHOULD detect and uniquely identify all alleles of the HLA-A, B, C, DRB1, DRB3/4/5, DQA1, DQB1, DPA1 and DPB1 loci at the level of resolution that additionally defines the third field according to WHO nomenclature by at least resolving all ambiguities resulting from: (1) polymorphisms located within the exons coding for HLA class I and class II proteins and (2) that encompass a null allele wherever the polymorphism is located.
• The optimal solution SHOULD define fourth field level resolution
• The HLA typing result SHOULD be completed not more than 72 hours from the start of the process.


It is NHSBT's intention to hold pre-procurement supplier engagement meetings the week of 30th January to 3rd February 2023. 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 meetings, interested organisations are required to send an expression of interest via email to coco.otiotio@nhsbt.nhs.uk by no later than 17:00 hrs (GMT) on 18/01/2023. 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 utilise any agreements awarded.

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Lot 1 - Technical Requirements Section

Lot No

3.02

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 33141625 - Diagnostic kits

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UK - United Kingdom

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

NHS Blood & Transplant (NHSBT) Histocompatibility & Immunogenetics function intends to undertake a procurement tender exercise for the supply of HLA sequencing systems.

Histocompatibility & Immunogenetics (H&I) is a strategic business function of NHSBT, providing testing and support in transplantation, specialised transfusion including the supply of selected blood products, immunogenetics, platelet and granulocyte immunology.
Services are supplied through a national network of six laboratories across England. Building on our strengths as a national provider, NHSBT’s strategic aim is for its diagnostic services to become the preferred provider and supplier of choice for these services in the NHS in England. We would like to work with potential suppliers to realise this ambition and to perform HLA typing in an efficient, timely and cost-effective manner to meet the demands and expectations of our customers and the patients we serve.

Prior to commencing a formal procurement process and to help inform our strategy, NHSBT is seeking to engage with suppliers of commercially available HLA sequencing systems. The current contract ends in July 2024 and NHSBT would like to improve our knowledge of all current and future systems available in the marketplace. This will aid identification of opportunities and gauge market interest in this field.

It is envisioned we will run this tender as 2 Lots, Lot 1 will be equipment & equipment consumables and Lot 2 will be HLA typing kits, consumables, and analysis software.

We require HLA typing systems to cover the following:

• Allelic Test Kits SHOULD detect and uniquely identify all alleles of the HLA-A, B, C, DRB1, DRB3/4/5, DQA1, DQB1, DPA1 and DPB1 loci at the level of resolution that additionally defines the third field according to WHO nomenclature by at least resolving all ambiguities resulting from: (1) polymorphisms located within the exons coding for HLA class I and class II proteins and (2) that encompass a null allele wherever the polymorphism is located.
• The optimal solution SHOULD define fourth field level resolution
• The HLA typing result SHOULD be completed not more than 72 hours from the start of the process.


It is NHSBT's intention to hold pre-procurement supplier engagement meetings the week of 30th January to 3rd February 2023. 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 meetings, interested organisations are required to send an expression of interest via email to coco.otiotio@nhsbt.nhs.uk by no later than 17:00 hrs (GMT) on 18/01/2023. 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 utilise any agreements awarded.

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Selection Questionnaire Section

Lot No

2.01

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 33141625 - Diagnostic kits

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UK - United Kingdom

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

NHS Blood & Transplant (NHSBT) Histocompatibility & Immunogenetics function intends to undertake a procurement tender exercise for the supply of HLA sequencing systems.

Histocompatibility & Immunogenetics (H&I) is a strategic business function of NHSBT, providing testing and support in transplantation, specialised transfusion including the supply of selected blood products, immunogenetics, platelet and granulocyte immunology.
Services are supplied through a national network of six laboratories across England. Building on our strengths as a national provider, NHSBT’s strategic aim is for its diagnostic services to become the preferred provider and supplier of choice for these services in the NHS in England. We would like to work with potential suppliers to realise this ambition and to perform HLA typing in an efficient, timely and cost-effective manner to meet the demands and expectations of our customers and the patients we serve.

Prior to commencing a formal procurement process and to help inform our strategy, NHSBT is seeking to engage with suppliers of commercially available HLA sequencing systems. The current contract ends in July 2024 and NHSBT would like to improve our knowledge of all current and future systems available in the marketplace. This will aid identification of opportunities and gauge market interest in this field.

It is envisioned we will run this tender as 2 Lots, Lot 1 will be equipment & equipment consumables and Lot 2 will be HLA typing kits, consumables, and analysis software.

We require HLA typing systems to cover the following:

• Allelic Test Kits SHOULD detect and uniquely identify all alleles of the HLA-A, B, C, DRB1, DRB3/4/5, DQA1, DQB1, DPA1 and DPB1 loci at the level of resolution that additionally defines the third field according to WHO nomenclature by at least resolving all ambiguities resulting from: (1) polymorphisms located within the exons coding for HLA class I and class II proteins and (2) that encompass a null allele wherever the polymorphism is located.
• The optimal solution SHOULD define fourth field level resolution
• The HLA typing result SHOULD be completed not more than 72 hours from the start of the process.


It is NHSBT's intention to hold pre-procurement supplier engagement meetings the week of 30th January to 3rd February 2023. 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 meetings, interested organisations are required to send an expression of interest via email to coco.otiotio@nhsbt.nhs.uk by no later than 17:00 hrs (GMT) on 18/01/2023. 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 utilise any agreements awarded.

two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice

23 December 2022


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes