Planning

Framework Agreement for the Provision of Frozen Plasma Logistics

  • NHS Blood and Transplant

F01: Prior information notice (prior information only)

Notice identifier: 2024/S 000-000318

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-042ae5

Published 5 January 2024, 11:13am



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

NHS Blood and Transplant

500 North Bristol Park

Bristol

BS34 7QH

Contact

Jo Murphy

Email

jo.murphy@nhsbt.nhs.uk

Telephone

+44 1179212718

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

Framework Agreement for the Provision of Frozen Plasma Logistics

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 63120000 - Storage and warehousing services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is a Special Health Authority in England, with responsibilities across the United Kingdom for organ donation and transplantation. Our core purpose is to ‘save and improve lives’ through the provision of a safe and reliable supply of blood components, solid organs, stem cells, tissues and related services to the NHS, and to the other UK Health Services where directed. 

NHSBT is looking to award a Framework Agreement for the Provision of Frozen Plasma Logistics Services.

Frozen plasma will be packaged into carboard boxes and built onto Euro pallets secured with stretch wrap at the manufacturing sites of each blood service in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. The pallets will be a maximum height of 1800mm and a maximum weight of 500Kg. They must be transported and stored at below -20°C.

The vehicles and storage facility must be temperature mapped and an audit trail must be retained for the cold chain.

The pallets require collection from each manufacturing site, at a frequency determined by the production capacity at each site, and delivery to a single storage location ready for loading onto the collection vehicle of a 3rd party known as a fractionator. 

The exact capacity of storage required will be confirmed in the specification. Indicatively, it is expected to be in the range of 500-1000 pallets. 

The following contracting authorities will be able to purchase against the resulting Framework Agreement: Welsh Blood Service, Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service and Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service.

two.1.5) Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: £3,600,000

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 60000000 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UK - United Kingdom

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

The Blood Services of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales are in varying stages of setting up the capability to collect and ship Plasma for Medicines to a fractionator. The blood services collect donations, transport them to manufacturing sites and process them. This results in palletised loads of frozen plasma that need to be collected from those various manufacturing sites and shipped to a single frozen storage facility where it is held until they are collected by a haulier appointed by the fractionator.

This requirement relates to the collection of those palletised loads of frozen plasma and their storage in a single location until collected.

Manufacturing sites requiring a collection likely to be once or twice weekly of between 1 and 4 pallets.
- NHSBT Colindale: (NW9 5BG)
- NHSBT Filton: (BS34 7QH)
- NHSBT Manchester: (M13 9LL)
- Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service: (BT8 7TS) – monthly collection only
- Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (EH14 4BE):
- Welsh Blood Service (CF72 9WB)

- Estimated storage capacity of  500-1000 pallets.
- Track & Trace functionality required at pallet level based on an attached barcode.
- Segregated / secure storage area required which is GMP compliant, with hygiene maintained 
- Pallets must be transported and maintained at below -20°C in accordance with the relevant regulatory requirements (i.e. EU Pharmacopoeia 0853).
- Vehicles and storage facility must be temperature mapped prior to use, and annually thereafter.
- Storage facility must have an electronic temperature monitoring system capable of continuous capturing and recording of data from all probes.
- Supplier must be able to provide a Business Continuity plan for storage and transport and be able to demonstrate the plan is regularly tested.
- Supplier must provide a solution to provide visibility of stock at pallet level such as interface, report, portal access.

It is NHSBTs’ intention to engage with the market to gather detailed information about the market capabilities. The format for this will be communicated to those that respond to this PIN. Expressions of interest should be e-mailed to jo.murphy@nhsbt.nhs.uk by no later than 12:00 hours on 25th January 2024.

two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice

1 June 2024


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