Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Hills Rd
Cambridge
CB2 0QQ
Contact
Eos Wong
Telephone
+44 7719412765
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKH12 - Cambridgeshire CC
Internet address(es)
Main address
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, Delivery, Installation, Commissioning and Post-Warranty Maintenance of Automated Block Trimmer and Laser Slice Printers
Reference number
ADD/PU/EW/24/40
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 38000000 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
Supply, Delivery, Installation, Commissioning and Post-Warranty Maintenance of Automated Block Trimmer and Laser Slice Printers
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: £640,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH12 - Cambridgeshire CC
Main site or place of performance
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Histopathology team at CUH is part of the Pathology Directorate and forms part of Division B comprising a number of other services including Genomics and Cancer Services. The department currently processes approximately 80,000 cases per year generating approximately 240.000 wax blocks and 500,000 slides.
CUH is currently in the process of tendering for the provision of a solution to complement the automation of existing workflow from microtomy to block check of blocks and stained slides. The solution must include on-demand printing of slides, and a fully automated walk-away system for block trimming of paraffin embedded blocks that can be sectioned either manually or automated using the AS-410M auto sectioner. The laboratory currently makes use of batch slide printing for manual microtomy, and manually trims paraffin embedded blocks to be sectioned through automated sectioning and slide mounting. The solution must allow the laboratory to implement a continuous workflow that eliminates batching requirements, and checking of block against slide at the quality check step. The slide printing component of the solution must be able to interface to EPIC Beaker. The devices must fulfill the following essential requirements:
• Solution must be compatible with existing equipment, consumables and workflow for maintaining operational efficiency
• Solution must be within current budget
• Solution must be able to trim in blocks full face as a walk-away system
• Solution and associated consumables must be compatible to automated sectioner AS-410 and manual microtomy
• Evidence of implementation and validation of equipment must be provided
• Solution must be able to automatically change blades as required
• Solution must be able to automatically orientate block surface without human intervention
• Solution must allow continuous loading of blocks
• Solution must have integrated imaging system to capture image of blocks trimmed for reference purposes and quality check
• Solution must have built in wax waste collection
• Solution must have a notification system for status update
• Solution must be able to trim paraffin blocks at a minimum rate of 1 to 2 minutes per block
• Solution must have a capacity of being able to hold up to 192 blocks for continuous trimming
• Solution must have functionality to be able to trim various tissue types. Please confirm tissue types that have been validated to be trimmed on equipment.
• Slide printing must use non-contact UV laser marking technology
• Slide printing component must be able to print at a rate of up to 5 seconds per slide
• Slides used on the slide printers must be agnostic and validated to downstream histopathology equipment including but not limited to VIP6 Tissue processors, Automated microtomy AS-140s, immunohistochemistry platform including BOND-III, BOND PRIME, Ventana platforms, any microtomes and archiving systems.
• Slide printing solution must have minimum of 1 to 2 slide hoppers, which can be removable and allow swapping between slide hoppers
• There must be a i interface between the Supplier’s slide printing and EPIC Beaker
• Slide printing must have standalone functionality in case of LIMS connection failure to equipment
The department is planning to relocate to its new base in 1000 Discovery Drive over a 3 week period from 25th July 2025. Tenderers should be aware that they may be required to install their solution in the current premises before relocating to the 1000 Discovery Drive site.
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:
The Trust believes that only the AT-192M FFPE Tissue Block Automatic Facing Device, SurePrint S200 and SurePrint S10 slide printers from Axlab Ltd contains and complies with all of the essential requirements and functionalities described at II.2.4 above. Axlab is the sole provider of both type of equipment to provide a solution compatible to existing workflows. This includes an automated and true walkaway of block trimming and slide printing using non-contact UV laser printing technology, while complementing existing workflow and LIMS integration, and agnostic to existing consumables such as slides used. There are no known automated and walk-away block trimming solution that compares to the AT-192. The S10 and S200 slide printing solutions also provides an enhanced printing resolution, greater compatibility with LIMS reducing needs for software modifications. There are lower maintenance requirements, thus reduced downtime and training requirements for a high volume and high throughput laboratory.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
Section five. Award of contract/concession
Contract No
ADD/PU/EW/24/40
Title
Supply, Delivery, Installation, Commissioning and Post-Warranty Maintenance of Automated Block Trimmer and Laser Slice Printers
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
13 February 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
Axlab Ltd
112C High Street, Hadleigh
Ipswich
IP7 5EL
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKH14 - Suffolk
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: £640,000
five.2.5) Information about subcontracting
The contract/lot/concession is likely to be subcontracted
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Hills Road
Cambrdige
CB2 0QQ
Country
United Kingdom