Contract

QUB/2503/24 Contract for Supply, Delivery, Installation, Commissioning and Maintenance of a TMA Arrayer

  • Queen' University Belfast

F03: Contract award notice

Notice identifier: 2024/S 000-005641

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-042c57

Published 21 February 2024, 10:56am



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Queen' University Belfast

University Road, Belfast, BT7 1NN

Belfast

Email

Shauna.Ryan@qub.ac.uk

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKN06 - Belfast

Internet address(es)

Main address

www.qub.ac.uk

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Body governed by public law

one.5) Main activity

Education


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

QUB/2503/24 Contract for Supply, Delivery, Installation, Commissioning and Maintenance of a TMA Arrayer

Reference number

QUB/2503/24

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 33100000 - Medical equipments

two.1.3) Type of contract

Supplies

two.1.4) Short description

The Queen's University Genomics Core Technology Unit (GCTU) processes tissue samples for spatial transcriptomic analysis. This is a cutting-edge technique whereby researchers can determine the precise location of gene expression within the tissue context. To allow us to process archival tissue samples e.g. biobanked samples, or precious samples in a cost-effective way, we require instrumentation that will allow us to create tumour microarrays (TMAs). A TMA contains many small representative tissue samples from tens to hundreds of different patient/animal samples assembled on a single histological slide, and therefore allows high throughput analysis of multiple specimens at the same time. This also enables cost-effective analysis as multiple samples can be processed on a single slide, which is important for us to offer as a core service. By purchasing such instrumentation, this would enable the GCTU to support large scale studies, increase our throughput and decrease costs for users.

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: £219,737

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 33100000 - Medical equipments

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKN06 - Belfast

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

The GCTU processes tissue samples for spatial transcriptomic analysis. This is a cutting-edge technique whereby researchers can determine the precise location of gene expression within the tissue context. To allow us to process archival tissue samples e.g. biobanked samples, or precious samples in a cost-effective way, we require instrumentation that will allow us to create tumour microarrays (TMAs). A TMA contains many small representative tissue samples from tens to hundreds of different patient/animal samples assembled on a single histological slide, and therefore allows high throughput analysis of multiple specimens at the same time. This also enables cost-effective analysis as multiple samples can be processed on a single slide, which is important for us to offer as a core service. By purchasing such instrumentation, this would enable the GCTU to support large scale studies, increase our throughput and decrease costs for service users.To do this we require an instrument that:1) Has changeable drills/tools that will allow us to work with both Human and Animal tissues in line with HTA requirements.2) Being able to process a large number of blocks (>70) per run to ensure maximal number of sample cores can be included per TMA and offer access to our service for high throughput projects such as those involving biobanked samples.3) Minimal consumable requirements to keep costs low for operation.4) Minimal service requirements to reduce system down time.5) Ability to capture cores in PCR tubes, rather than recipient block, for additional downstream usage flexibility such as next-generation sequencing and/or qPCR studies.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: Technical Requirements / Weighting: 80%

Price - Weighting: 20%

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

Open procedure

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.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure

Notice number: 2024/S 000-000954

four.2.9) Information about termination of call for competition in the form of a prior information notice

The contracting authority will not award any further contracts based on the above prior information notice


Section five. Award of contract

Contract No

QUB/2503/24

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

19 February 2024

five.2.2) Information about tenders

Number of tenders received: 1

Number of tenders received from SMEs: 1

Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0

Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 0

Number of tenders received by electronic means: 1

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

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor

Shandon Diagnostics Ltd t/a Epredia

Runcorn

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKD63 - Cheshire West and Chester
The contractor is an SME

Yes

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

Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £219,737

Total value of the contract/lot: £219,737


Section six. Complementary information

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

Queen's University Belfast

Belfast

Country

United Kingdom