Contract

Faecal Immunochemical Testing (FIT) to provide support for patients identified with symptoms associated with bowel cancer.

  • NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership-Procurement Services (hosted by Velindre University NHS Trust)

F03: Contract award notice

Notice identifier: 2023/S 000-012895

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-02a993

Published 5 May 2023, 10:29am



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership-Procurement Services (hosted by Velindre University NHS Trust)

4-5 Charnwood Court,, Heol Billingsley, Parc Nantgarw

Cardiff

CF15 7QZ

Email

shannon.mason@wales.nhs.uk

Telephone

+44 1443848585

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

Faecal Immunochemical Testing (FIT) to provide support for patients identified with symptoms associated with bowel cancer.

Reference number

PHW-STA-555

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 33696500 - Laboratory reagents

two.1.3) Type of contract

Supplies

two.1.4) Short description

The provision of goods and services to support faecal immunochemical testing (FIT) from Alpha Laboratories to support All Wales testing for patients identified in primary and secondary care as having symptoms associated with bowel cancer.

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: £298,880

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 33696500 - Laboratory reagents

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKL - Wales
Main site or place of performance

Public Health Wales, NHS Trust.

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

The provision of goods and services to support faecal immunochemical testing (FIT) from Alpha Laboratories to support All Wales testing for patients identified in primary and secondary care as having symptoms associated with bowel cancer.

NHS Wales Shared Service Partnership on behalf of Public Health Wales NHS Trust wish to inform the market that due to consequences of the global pandemic, Covid-19, they are awarding a contract for the provision of goods and services to support Faecal Immunochemical Testing (FIT) from Alpha Laboratories to support All Wales testing for patients identified in primary and secondary care as having symptoms associated with bowel cancer.

The existing Bowel Screen Wales contract with Alpha Laboratories for Provision of Faecal Immunochemical Testing Analysers and Consumables was due to end in November 2021, and it was intended to go to market for the supply of Symptomatic and Screening Fit as one tender.

However, due to the outbreak of Covid-19 in 2020 and the subsequent suspension of routine hospital services and Screening across Wales; The Screening Division was approached to provide testing for patients presenting in Primary/Secondary care with symptoms of bowel cancer. Prior to Covid-19 these patients would be referred to Endoscopy. To ensure that urgent suspected cancers were identified during the pandemic, the decision was made to utilise Screenings existing FIT testing capability and service model.

To establish this service at short notice, the Screening Laboratory have entered contract with Alpha, the primary supplier of FIT to the Bowel Screening Wales Programme.

Appointing Alpha Laboratories as the single supplier was the most considered and beneficial approach to deliver the service and support the wider NHS needs in Wales. Due to the existing MSC arrangements in place with Alpha Laboratories for FIT Screening, the choice of this supplier would ensure: - Continuity of supply. - Compatibility with existing equipment and testing methodologies. - Reduced need for training - Existing patient material can be used to ensure patients complete their test correctly.

The Public Health Wales Screening Division do not have the resources to undertake a competitive procurement process through an open OJEU procedure currently due to supporting various screening and Covid activity.

In order to enable the provision of the Faecal Immunochemical Testing (FIT), to support all Wales testing for patients identified as having symptoms associated with bowel cancel, Public Health Wales would like to inform the market that under Regulation 32 (2) (C)of the Public Contracts Regulation 2015(PCR’s) as detailed in UK Government guidance PPN01/20 they are awarding the contract to Alpha Laboratories. The trust has met the criteria for awarding a contract under this regulation due to the disruption to patient care and services that COVID-19 poses to the population of Wales.

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

two.2.14) Additional information

Aligning the FIT symptomatic workload with the contract already in place for the FIT screening is the only practical option to provide continued patient care. Going forward, both elements will be combined in the procurement of the existing contract for renewal.


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:

In order to enable the provision of the Faecal Immunochemical Testing (FIT), to support all Wales testing for patients identified as having symptoms associated with bowel cancel, Public Health Wales would like to inform the market that under Regulation 32 (2) (C)of the Public Contracts Regulation 2015(PCR’s) as detailed in UK Government guidance PPN01/20 they are awarding the contract to Alpha Laboratories. The trust has met the criteria for awarding a contract under this regulation due to the disruption to patient care and services that COVID-19 poses to the population of Wales.

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 000-008738


Section five. Award of contract

Contract No

PHW-STA-555

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

1 April 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: 1

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

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor

Alpha Laboratories Ltd

40 Parham Drive, Eastleigh

Hampshire

SO504NU

Telephone

+44 02380487239

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKJ3 - Hampshire and Isle of Wight
The contractor is an SME

No

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

Total value of the contract/lot: £298,880


Section six. Complementary information

six.3) Additional information

(WA Ref:131351)

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

NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership on behalf of Public Health Wales Trust will allow a minimum 10 calendar day standstill period between notifying the award decision and awarding the contract.