Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership-Procurement Services (hosted by Velindre University NHS Trust)
2nd Floor Woodland House
Cardiff
CF14 4TT
Telephone
+44 292036446
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
http://nwssp.nhs.wales/ourservices/procurement-services/
Buyer's address
https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA0221
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
Purchase of High Throughput Sonication Systems including Associated Consumables and Maintenance
Reference number
CAV-DCO (20-21) 182
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 33100000 - Medical equipments
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
The All Wales Genomics Service at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board are required to purchase a high throughput sonication system capable of processing samples in plate formats suitable for downstream NGS library preparation workflows, and, as such will be required to process runs of various sizes of up to 96/384 samples/ well plates.
The equipment is required to support the expansion of services for the Test Directory and implementation of the strategy for somatic cancers testing in Wales. The Covaris LE220RSc and its patented technology is the only technology capable of effectively and efficiently meeting the demands of the laboratory and it is recommended that a contract is awarded for period of three years, (including warranty year) with the option to extend for a further two years in annual intervals for the equipment, installation and training, consumables and maintenance due to the unique nature of the laboratory requirements.
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.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 33696500 - Laboratory reagents
- 33100000 - Medical equipments
- 50421000 - Repair and maintenance services of medical equipment
- 51410000 - Installation services of medical equipment
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKL22 - Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan
Main site or place of performance
All Wales Medical Genomics Service, Institute of Medical Genetics, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XW
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
All Wales Genomics Laboratory (AWMGL) currently owns a Covaris ME220 instrument, which was purchased in July 2018. The ME220 instrument is a low throughput instrument that can process 1 to 8 samples at a time and was purchased for a CRUK SMP2 project. Since then, it has also been implemented in the NGS familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) service and as a consequence the ME220 Instrument is currently at processing capacity and utilising it in any further work or new service is not achievable.
In line with the expansion of services for the Test Directory and implementation of the strategy for somatic cancers testing in Wales, the Laboratory requires to purchase a high throughput model of the instrument with its patented technology to be able to meet the timely and efficient testing for predicted 13,000 solid tumour samples a year. The laboratory proposes to purchase the new instrument with a trade-in option of the ME220 model, to offset part of the cost.
The Covaris LE220RSc model is deemed the only model capable of meeting the laboratory requirements:
1. Supporting a reduction in the time required for processing of 50 samples per single run from about 3.5 hours (on the ME220 instrument), down to about 30 mins. The reduced time of the setup is a necessary requirement for the clinically urgent service for somatic cancer testing.
2. Covaris, Inc is the sole manufacturer of Series of Ultrasonicators and their associated tubes, racks and other consumables.
3. The Covaris technological foundation is based on its proprietary and patented AFA™ technology. The AFA technology is performed under isothermal conditions and does not require rest periods to cool the sample down. This, together with advanced electronics, provide unprecedented control over your sample processing, resulting in an absolute uniform & highly reproducible treatment of your sample. On average, the focused acoustics of Covaris uses 150 times less energy to shear your samples than a probe or water bath sonicator. This translates to a gentler shearing, which is more efficient, consistent, and controllable.
4. The unique and innovative AFA technology is an essential part of many NGS protocols as a gold standard method of DNA and RNA shearing. The Laboratory plans to also utilise the instrument for Total Nucleic Acid extraction, to improve the yield of Nucleic Acid to maximise chances of successful testing where limited amount of cancer tissue is available.
NWSSP Procurement Services intends to award a contract on behalf of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, AWMGL, for the supply of a Covaris LE220RSc for the unique reasons outlined above. The contract is to include the installation, training consumables and associated maintenance for a period of three years (inclusive of warranty year) with the option to extend for a further two years at annual intervals.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: System Performance / Weighting: 50
Price - Weighting: 50
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 services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason:
- absence of competition for technical reasons
Explanation:
The Covaris LE220RSc model is deemed the only model capable of meeting the laboratory requirements:
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: 2021/S 000-003545
Section five. Award of contract
Contract No
CAV-DCO (20-21) 182
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
10 March 2021
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 1
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 0
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Covaris
3 Hunns Mere Way
Brighton
BN26AH
Telephone
+44 7525415032
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £500,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
(WA Ref:111118)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
High Court
Royal Courts of Justice, The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
Telephone
+44 2079477501
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
The Authority will allow a minimum 10 calendar day standstill period between notifying the award decision and awarding the contract. Should additional information be required from the addressee in section 1.1 Rhian Lye (rhian.lye@wales.nhs.uk).
The Contracting Authority will enter into this Contract following a minimum 10 day calendar day standstill period starting on the day after this notice is published in the Official Journal of the European Union. If legal proceedings are commenced in relation to the contract award,it will be necessary to suspend the award of the contract pending further order of the Court, or the authority may voluntarily decide (at its discretion) to suspend the award of contract whilst any outstanding queries are dealt with. We will not be liable for any costs or losses incurred by you as a result of any suspension of the contract award or as a result of any other action made necessary by any challenge.