Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care acting as part of the Crown through UK Health Security Agency
Nobel House, 17 Smith Square
London
SW1P 3JR
Contact
Scientific Procurement
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKI32 - Westminster
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency
Buyer's address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted to the above-mentioned address
Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at
https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority
one.5) Main activity
Health
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
UKHSA_Scientific- Provision of Medical Wire MWE liquid swabs for Kiestra automation
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 38912000 - Automated swab test kits
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is planning to award a contract via 2020/S 217-533940: UKHSA National Microbiology Framework Lot 1- Diagnostics to Medical Wire & Equipment CO. (Bath) Limited for the provision of liquid swabs for Kiestra automation for use in its Bristol Microbiology Laboratories. The consumables covered by this contract will include dry swabs, wood stick swabs, Transwab products (including swabs and mediums), VCM sigma swabs and Virocult swabs.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £400,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKK1 - Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol/Bath area
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is planning to award a contract via 2020/S 217-533940: UKHSA National Microbiology Framework Lot 1- Diagnostics to Medical Wire & Equipment CO. (Bath) Limited for the provision of liquid swabs for Kiestra automation for use in its Bristol Microbiology Laboratories. The consumables covered by this contract will include dry swabs, wood stick swabs, Transwab products (including swabs and mediums), VCM sigma swabs and Virocult swabs.
The swabs are integral for use our ‘BD Kiestra’ automation system, which is used for the processing of wound, STI and MRSA screening samples and subsequent identification of bacterial pathogens. Approximately 2000 swab samples are processed on the Kiestra system each day.
UKHSA believes that Medical Wire & Equipment CO. (Bath) Limited is the only supplier capable of providing the consumables we require for our critical screening services. Validation of the consumables took approximately 9 months to complete. During this time, extensive work was undertaken by BD engineers as part of the validation to ensure that the swabs were compatible with the complex automated parts of the Kiestra system, and MWE also modified the swab container lids to create a bespoke product that ensures perfect compatibility with the Kiestra robotics. The Kiestra system and MWE swabs are now perfectly configured to work in synergy without the risk of, for example, jamming swabs or dropping lids, which ensures an efficient and constant flow of samples through the laboratory.
If you have a solution which you believe could meet our requirements, please send a copy of your quote and information about the consumables you can provide to science.cph@ukhsa.gov.uk by no later than 12pm on 5th July 2023.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £400,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start date
1 August 2023
End date
31 July 2026
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
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.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement
Framework agreement with several operators
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
5 July 2023
Local time
12:00pm
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Tender must be valid until: 30 September 2023
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
21 June 2023
Local time
2:00pm
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
High Court
39 Victoria Street
London
SW1H 0EU
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health-and-social-care
six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
High Court
39 Victoria Street
London
SW1H 0EU
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health-and-social-care
six.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained
High Court
39 Victoria Street
London
SW1H 0EU
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health-and-social-care