Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
UK Biobank Ltd
1-2 Spectrum Way, Adswood
Stockport
SK3 0SA
Telephone
+44 7824509469
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKD3 - Greater Manchester
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
https://www.mytenders.co.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA25607
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
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
Laboratory IT Systems
Reference number
UKB020
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 48100000 - Industry specific software package
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
By publishing this Contract Notice, UK Biobank (“UKB”) is inviting requests to participate in its procurement for the design and implementation of new laboratory IT systems (the “Systems”) to support the next phase of UKB’s laboratory operations.
UKB is a large-scale biomedical database and research resource containing genetic, lifestyle and health information from half a million UK participants.
UKB’s database, which includes blood samples, heart and brain scans and genetic data of the 500,000 volunteer participants, is globally accessible to approved researchers who are undertaking health-related research that is in the public interest.
Funding to support purchase of the Systems has been budgeted by UKRI, and announced by both UKRI, and HM Treasury.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £8,000,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
- 48000000 - Software package and information systems
- 72220000 - Systems and technical consultancy services
- 72230000 - Custom software development services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKD3 - Greater Manchester
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
UKB (www.ukbiobank.ac.uk) is a company limited by guarantee and a registered UK charity established by its two founding funders: the Medical Research Council and Wellcome. It is a large-scale biomedical database and research resource containing genetic, lifestyle and health information from half a million UK Participants. UKB is globally accessible to approved researchers undertaking health-related research that is in the public interest.
UKB is responsible for the safe preservation and scientific exploitation of a collection of over 17 million samples (plasma, serum, buffy coat, extracted DNA, urine and saliva) that are accessible for approved use by academic and industry researchers. About 11 million samples are stored at -80°C across an automated storage system and other manual freezers at UKB’s headquarters in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The remaining 6 million Samples are stored in vapour phase liquid nitrogen tanks at a backup site in the South of England.
UKB is inviting requests to participate in its procurement for the design and implementation of the Systems, data migration from existing legacy systems, testing, commissioning, training, hypercare support and, if required by UKB, the provision of consultancy services in relation to the Systems on an ad hoc basis. UKB envisages that its requirements can be met and the Systems can be delivered through a combination of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) software packages managed through configuration, and complemented by bespoke services. UKB requires a licence and standard support services for any COTS software. This will either be included as part of the contract with the successful tenderer or through an additional contract between UKB and the COTS vendor.
The Systems will be required to support UKB laboratory operations when they move to a new purpose-built facility in the City of Manchester in the North West of England in 2026, UKB expects to take ownership for ongoing delivery of the Systems on completion of the phased implementation and will require the Service Provider to collaborate closely with the UKB technical team to ensure a successful implementation and hand-over. The current Laboratory Information Management System data stored in the legacy systems is approximately 110GB across over 160 tables. The Systems must be capable of managing 30 million samples in the near term and have the capacity to expand to accommodate 60 million within the next 15 years.
Further detail in relation to the requirements for the Systems and support services are set out in the specification provided as part of the procurement documents.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Functional Requirements / Weighting: 35
Quality criterion - Name: Non-Functional / Technical Requirements / Weighting: 15
Quality criterion - Name: Implementation Services / Weighting: 20
Price - Weighting: 30
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £8,000,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
92
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
This period covers the implementation period, an estimated 6 month hypercare period and the right for UKB to require consultancy services on an ad hoc basis for a 5 year period from the end of the hypercare period. UKB expects to require ongoing COTS licensing and software support from the end of the initial 5 year period by further 1 year periods with the COTS vendor, up to a maximum of 15 years.
two.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
Envisaged minimum number: 3
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
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
two.2.14) Additional information
UK Biobank intends to hold a virtual information session for shortlisted tenderers. The time and final details will be confirmed to shortlisted tenderers.
Section three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information
three.1) Conditions for participation
three.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
three.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Competitive procedure with negotiation
four.1.4) Information about reduction of the number of solutions or tenders during negotiation or dialogue
Recourse to staged procedure to gradually reduce the number of solutions to be discussed or tenders to be negotiated
four.1.5) Information about negotiation
The contracting authority reserves the right to award the contract on the basis of the initial tenders without conducting negotiations
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
5 March 2025
Local time
12:00pm
four.2.3) Estimated date of dispatch of invitations to tender or to participate to selected candidates
21 March 2025
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 6 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
six.3) Additional information
UKB reserves the right to discontinue or delay the procurement process and may decide not to award a contract as a result of this call for competition. UKB shall not be liable for any costs or expenses incurred by any organisation in considering and/or responding to the procurement process. Tenders and supporting documents must be priced in pounds sterling and all payments made under the contract(s) will be in pounds sterling, unless otherwise advised.
The estimated contract value for the purchase of the Systems and the provision of services as set out in this Contract Notice and for the duration described at Section II.2.7 may be in the range of [1 - 8 million GBP]. Initial work done by UKB indicated that its requirements might potentially be delivered by a wide range of solutions with differing levels of reliance on existing COTS software packages (“Buy”) and the development of bespoke software (“Build”) which explains the very broad range in the estimated contract value. However, UKB’s expectation is that the System can be delivered through a combination of COTS software packages managed through configuration, and complemented by bespoke services (i.e. with greater emphasis on “Buy” relative to “Build”) and therefore anticipates that the estimated value will be towards the lower end of this range.
The duration set out at Section II.2.7 is the estimated duration of the contract and is subject to a number of milestones being achieved.
UKB will incorporate a standstill period at the point the decision in relation to the award of the contract(s) is notified to bidders. The standstill period, which will be a minimum of ten (10) calendar days, provides time for unsuccessful bidders to lodge an appeal in regards to the award decisions, before the contract(s) are entered into.
NOTE: In order to request to participate in this contract opportunity, interested organisations must complete and submit a response to UKB’s selection questionnaire by the deadline stated in Section IV.2.2. UKB will then undertake a shortlisting process and shortlist successful candidates, as set out in Section II.2.9, to be invited to the tender stage of the procurement process. UKB reserves the right to invite the fourth ranked candidate through to the tender stage of the procurement if its score at the selection questionnaire stage is within 5% of the third ranked candidate. It is not envisaged that there will be any down-selection of tenderers during the tender stage of the procurement although UKB reserves the right to do so. Details of the envisaged tender stage process is set out in a draft Invitation to Negotiate provided as part of the procurement documents.
To access the procurement documents, please visit the myTenders Web Site at https://www.mytenders.co.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=233323.
NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the myTenders Web Site at https://www.mytenders.co.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=233531.
The buyer has indicated that it will accept electronic responses to this notice via the Postbox facility. A user guide is available at https://www.mytenders.co.uk/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx.
Suppliers are advised to allow adequate time for uploading documents and to dispatch the electronic response well in advance of the closing time to avoid any last minute problems.
(MT Ref:233531)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
The High Court
Roya Courts of Justice, The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-procurement-review-service-scope-and-remit