Award

Developing Granularity in Liver Disease Epidemiological Surveys

  • NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership-Procurement Services (hosted by Velindre University NHS Trust)

F15: Voluntary ex ante transparency notice

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-000977

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-04cf6b

Published 13 January 2025, 9:55am



Section one: Contracting authority/entity

one.1) Name and addresses

NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership-Procurement Services (hosted by Velindre University NHS Trust)

Woodland House

Cardiff

CF14 4HH

Contact

NHS Cardiff and Vale University Health Board

Email

evangeline.thorpe@wales.nhs.uk

Telephone

+44 2921501500

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UK - United Kingdom

Internet address(es)

Main address

http://nwssp.nhs.wales/ourservices/procurement-services/

Buyer's address

https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA0221

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

Developing Granularity in Liver Disease Epidemiological Surveys

Reference number

PHW-DCO(24-25)84

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 72314000 - Data collection and collation services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

The Liver disease implementation group has funded a research officer/ data scientist post within Swansea University to develop an analytic pipeline of routine coded primary, secondary and death certification diagnoses of liver disease in combination with risk factor diagnoses and routine blood test results. This data set has developed significant insight into the epidemiology of liver disease in Wales which has supported successful regional and local business case applications.

The funding will enable the LDIN to retain a dedicated Research Officer in Secured Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL). Continuation of funding is critical to maintaining this momentum and ensuring the success of these initiatives.

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)

Value excluding VAT: £90,000

two.2) Description

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKL - Wales

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

The NHS Executive SLT is required to support an ongoing collaboration between hepatologists in Wales, Primary care physician researchers and epidemiologists data scientists to develop better understand the evolving epidemiology of liver disease in Wales and the impact on liver services.

The Liver Disease Implementation Group has funded a research officer/ data scientist post within Swansea University to develop an analytic pipeline of routine coded primary, secondary and death certification diagnoses of liver disease in combination with risk factor diagnoses and routine blood test results. This data set has developed significant insight into the epidemiology of liver disease in Wales which has supported successful regional and local business case applications.

To maintain momentum of the research and ensure the success of initiatives, the Liver Disease Implementation Group requires further funding for this essential data research to improve the efficiency of the diagnosis and treatment of liver disease patients.

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: No

two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.1) Type of procedure

Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below

  • The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations

Explanation:

This is a complex niche provision specifically building upon the ongoing research by the work of the dedicated highly skilled research officer who specialises in Secured Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) Database.

SAIL is an essential tool for the collation and analysis of the data set. In the past year SAIL has identified over 100,000 people in Wales with a liver disease diagnosis. This has resulted in a more accurate understand of the evolving epidemiology in Wales, in particular a recent increase in primary care diagnoses reflecting the need for improved health pathways and outpatient services.

Previous research has continued to show the value of the data as it has identified a more complete point of reference for early diagnoses and outpatient management of people living with liver disease.

A further extension of funding will go onto explore those with the earliest signs of being at risk of liver disease with abnormal liver function blood tests and assessing their progress to advance liver disease and liver related death.

This detailed investigation of blood tests and primary care diagnoses is not currently available to LDIN through existing collaborations. It is essential that the project continues with the dedicated researcher as using a different supplier would be detrimental to the momentum of the research and would cause a 6-month gap in output whist a replacement researcher is trained in the SAIL database. Key individuals are already in post allowing for an immediate uptake in the research.

The awarded supplier retains the necessary accreditations and awarding this contract will ensure continuity of the research for SAIL database, NHS Executive SLT are seeking to award the contract to Swansea University, based on the reasoning detailed above.

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

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes


Section five. Award of contract/concession

Contract No

PHW-DCO (24-25) 84

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract/concession

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

13 January 2025

five.2.2) Information about tenders

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire

Swansea University Dept of Research and Innovation

Room 107, Digital Technium, Singleton Park

Swansea

SA28PP

Email

a.akbari@swansea.ac.uk

Telephone

+44 1792205678

Fax

+44 1792205678

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKL - Wales
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME

No

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)

Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £87,505


Section six. Complementary information

six.3) Additional information

NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Sell2Wales Web Site at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=147138.

(WA Ref:147138)

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

High Court

Royal Courts of Justice, The Strand

London

WC2A 2LL

Telephone

+44 2079477501

Country

United Kingdom