Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Colney Lane
Norwich
NR4 7UY
Contact
Nathan Griffen
Telephone
+44 1603288274
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKH15 - Norwich and East Norfolk
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
Digital Histopathology Outsourced Reporting
Reference number
C348881
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85111800 - Pathology services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
There is a nationally identified shortage of consultant histopathologists, many NHS trusts have difficulty recruiting staff and the existing workforce is ageing. Currently at the Trust there is approximately 30 vacant consultant PAs, with 43% of our consultants over 55. This level of staffing puts a strain on all diagnostic specialities with the department struggling to meet agreed 2ww reporting targets.
In addition, the Authority will expand its case load by approximately 20% in 2024. Given the situation described above, the Trust intends to outsource approximately 20k cases for digital reporting from November 2024 utilising the digital technology currently in deployment in the Lab, namely the existing LIMS (TCL), a range of whole slide digitisers and a shared instance of a cloud hosted Sectra PACS IDS7 system.
The supplier will provide Services as follows:
a) The provision of circa 30k digital histopathology diagnostic case reports per annum
b) The provision of digitally enabled MDT support for approximately 20 % of these cases, plus holiday cover. The provision of a fully digital service that requires minimal manual intervention over and above the processes routinely used by the Dept to direct and allocate cases, produce digital images, and produce digital clinical information.
The service must be fully integrated, IG compliant digital outsourced reporting service, making use of, through HL7 integration, the Trusts Sectra Histology PACS IDS7 and LIMS (Intersystems TCL), tracking solution and slide scanners, sufficiently to enable seamless viewing of images and clinical information, and reporting and return of reports to the PACS.
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: £500,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH15 - Norwich and East Norfolk
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (the "Authority") is issuing an invitation to tender ("ITT") in connection with the competitive procurement of Digital Histopathology Outsourced Reporting.
The Authority intends to enter into a contract with the successful Bidder on the NHS Terms and Conditions for the Provision of Services (Contract Version). The initial contract term will be for a period of 3 years with the option to extend by up-to 24 months.
This procurement is under the Provider Selection Regime 2024 Competitive Process and is a replacement to an existing service to a new provider.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: General Requirements / Weighting: 35
Quality criterion - Name: Disaster Recovery / Business Continuity & Audit / Weighting: 10
Quality criterion - Name: Continuous Improvement / Weighting: 5
Quality criterion - Name: Social Value / Weighting: 10
Cost criterion - Name: Price / Weighting: 40
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 000-018977
Section five. Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
24 March 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 5
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 5
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Diagnexia UK Ltd
45 Gresham Street
London
EC2V 7BG
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
National registration number
13236796
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: £1,500,000
Total value of the contract/lot: £500,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award. The standstill period begins on the day after the publication of this notice. Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority by 3rd April 2025. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award a contract under the competitive process of the PSR.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
NHS England
7-8 Wellington Place
Leeds
LS1 4AP
Country
United Kingdom