Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership on behalf of Cardiff and Vale University Local Health Board
Procurement Department, Cardiff and Vale University Local Health Board, Woodlands House, Maes-Y-Coed Road,
Cardiff
CF14 4HH
Contact
Emma Lane
Telephone
+44 02921836450
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
Weqas Protective Packaging Solutions for EQA Material
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 42671100 - Laboratory tool carriers
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
The NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership, hosted by Velindre NHS Trust are acting on behalf of Cardiff and Vale University Local Health Board who are seeking to appoint a suitably qualified supplier to supply a range of protective packaging solutions for EQA material for the Welsh External Quality Assurance Service (Weqas).
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: £350,000
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 42671100 - Laboratory tool carriers
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKL - Wales
Main site or place of performance
Cardiff and Vale UHB
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Weqas is one of the largest External Quality Assessment providers in the UK, with over 50 years of experience in delivering global Quality Assurance Programmes in Laboratory Medicine. Weqas operates as an independent organisation, hosted by Cardiff and Vale University Local Health Board, based at Unit 6, Parc Ty Glas, Cardiff.
Supplying to more than 35,000 sites per month, Weqas provides over 40 EQA Programmes, including external audit, performance analysis and an educational advisory service. The majority of Weqas' EQA material is manufactured in-house, and Weqas wish to award a two year with an option to extend for up to a further two years for the supply of protective packaging.
The requirement is for a complete packaging solution to ship EQA material across the UK and overseas (including transporters, cold packs, outer envelopes). All products will be recyclable or made from sustainable material where possible. The specimen transporters must meet international transport regulations as a leak-proof secondary packaging for Exempt and Category B Biological Specimens.
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
The Health Board is including up to two years extension option in this contract.
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:
MedDX Solutions are the only company that are able to supply specimen transporters that are specifically designed to hold the required combination of Weqas unique vial sizes for distribution of their EQA material.
The packaging solutions are required to be rigid and offer a high level of protection to the primaries. Each primary must be in contact with sufficient absorbent material to absorb the entire contents of the container. The absorbent material needs to be laminated / secured to the rigid material. Primary containers must be held securely in place so that they do not move during transport, to reduce potential for breakages. When closed the secondary packaging must be leak-proof. Both leak-proof and drop test certification is required to support the performance features of the component. The packing of the primaries into the secondary packaging must be quick and easy. This should be reflected when unpacking and primary containers must be visible through the packaging.
MedDX offer a patented leak-proof clamshell with internally laminated Super Absorbent. The transporter packaging is efficiently moulded to separate and hold bespoke primary containers. They are simple and intuitive to pack/close and un-pack. In addition, they deliver an efficient packaging experience in terms of time to pack; no extra absorbent material needs to be added. The transporters offer excellent protection to the Weqas vials. They meet international transport regulations as a leak-proof secondary packaging for Exempt and Category B Biological Specimens.
All PE envelopes supplied are fully recyclable and the transporters and envelopes are printed with the Weqas logo as part of the requirement.
On the basis of the above, the Health Board are issuing this notice to the market and applying a 10 day standstill period prior to awarding the two year contract which will include an option to extend for up to two further years.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
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
3 August 2021
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
MedDX Solutions Ltd
Unit 3, Skylon Place, Hursey Road
Hereford
HR26NX
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKG11 - Herefordshire, County of
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £350,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
(WA Ref:112934)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
High Court
Royal Courts of Justice, The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership on behalf of Cardiff and Vale University Local Health Board will allow a minimum 10 calendar day standstill period between notifying the award decision and awarding the contract.