Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Marlborough Road
Swindon
SN3 6BB
Contact
Sid Dring
Telephone
+44 1722336262
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKK14 - Swindon
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's 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 of Pre-Prepared Radiopharmaceutical Kits
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 33600000 - Pharmaceutical products
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
Supply of Pre-Prepared Radiopharmaceutical Kits to Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
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: £60,640
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 33600000 - Pharmaceutical products
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKK14 - Swindon
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The supply of Pre-Prepared Radiopharmaceutical Kits is geographically locked, as all kits must be produced and delivered within a strict timescale, to ensure the level of radioactive decay is of an acceptable amount. In order to ensure that a fair market assessment was conducted, a Prior Information Notice ("PIN") was released on 28th November 2023, on behalf of both SFT and GWH. Three suppliers provided a response, with only the two current incumbent providers (UHS & UHBW) opting to respond stating that they would like to be considered. For this reason, the participating authorities (SFT & GWH) were not able to run a competitive exercise, and therefore a direct award to University Hospitals Bristol & Weston NHS Foundation Trust for the Supply of Pre-Prepared Radiopharmaceutical Kits, for the purposes of Nuclear Medicine Diagnostics, was chosen as the only available route for GWH.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price
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:
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust ("GWH") awarded a contract under Regulation 32(2)(b)(ii), to University Hospitals Bristol & Weston NHS Foundation Trust (hereafter referred to as "UHBW") in respect of the Supply of Pre-Prepared Radiopharmaceutical Kits, for a period of one (1) year, with no option to extend. This is to maintain continuation of the Nuclear Medicine service delivery for patients both currently receiving and due to receive treatment and/or diagnostics at GWH. This will also align this contract with a similar contract at Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust for the Supply of Pre-Prepared Radiopharmaceutical Kits, provided by University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust. UHBW is the incumbent supplier for Pre-Prepared Radiopharmaceutical Kits at GWH and the new contract will ensure that the current service is maintained until the time a re-tender is required, without risk to patient care or the accumulation of cost and resource pressures. To award another supplier a temporary arrangement of this nature may result in the following:
Trust Turnaround Times and Patient Care: Variations in turnaround time for the delivery of these kits, while new systems for ordering, receipting and payment are set up. Currently UHBW routes for the supply of Pre-Prepared Radiopharmaceutical Kits are established and consistent, with adequate governance surrounding Data Protection in place. Risking this could lead to increased turnaround times for the delivery of these kits, and kits being unnecessarily disposed of if an unsuitable level of radioactive decay has occurred. Furthermore, if a contract is not awarded to the contracting authorities' incumbent supplier, no other provider is currently able or willing to provide this service (as described within II.2.4).
Packaging and Transport: New routes of transport for Pharmaceuticals would have to be set up. This would create uncertainties for both the Trust and the patients that existing processes could be upheld, including delivery times, delivery windows, care for packaging and prevention of breakages. Packaging requirements may also vary, leading to additional costs of purchase, and increased time to carry out alternative packaging requirements.
Accreditation: A supplier of Radiopharmaceuticals would need to possess an appropriate license granted by the MHRA to enable them to supply radioisotopes, either in the form of a Manufacturers/importers License (MIA license) or a Manufacturer ‘specials’ licence (MS License). The time required to adequately review an alternative provider would further delay this process leading to a drop in patient care whilst Radiopharmaceutical Kits could not be obtained.:
GWH has reviewed the factors described and considers that for the technical reasons listed, awarding to UHBW is the only reasonable solution as it mitigates the risk of a detrimental effect on the service and the accumulation of preventable cost and resource pressures until a re-tender can be undertaken.
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
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
20 March 2024
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
UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS BRISTOL AND WESTON NHS FOUNDATION TRUST
Trust Headquarters, Marlborough Street
Bristol
BS1 3NU
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
Internet address
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: £60,640
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust
Odstock Road
Salisbury
SP2 8BJ
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
six.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Marlborough Road
Swindon
SN3 6BB
Country
United Kingdom