Contract

Award Notice - Genomics Testing - NHS Genomic Medicine Service (GMS) External Quality Assessment (EQA) service for the tests listed in the Genomic Test Directory

  • NHS England

F03: Contract award notice

Notice identifier: 2023/S 000-019455

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-038513

Published 7 July 2023, 12:09pm



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

NHS England

Wellington House, 133-155 Waterloo Road

London

SE1 8UG

Contact

Josselin Canévet

Email

josselin.canevet@nhs.net

Telephone

+44 1234567890

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UK - United Kingdom

National registration number

na

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.ardengemcsu.nhs.uk/

Buyer's address

https://uk.eu-supply.com/ctm/Company/CompanyInformation/Index/68205

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

Award Notice - Genomics Testing - NHS Genomic Medicine Service (GMS) External Quality Assessment (EQA) service for the tests listed in the Genomic Test Directory

Reference number

62185

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 85100000 - Health services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

NHS Arden and Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support Unit (AGCSU), on behalf of NHS England (referred to as the Commissioner), is undertaking a market engagement exercise to understand the current and future capacity and capability of the providers and potential providers within this specialised area. Interested parties are encouraged to register their interest and participate in the market questionnaire which will provide feedback to commissioners.

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: £1,500,000

two.2) Description

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UK - United Kingdom

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

England (referred to as the Commissioner), is undertaking a market engagement exercise to understand the current and future capacity and capability of the providers and potential providers within this specialised area. Interested parties are encouraged to register their interest and participate in the market questionnaire which will provide feedback to commissioners. Please note that this is not a call for competition although the commissioner would encourage all potential providers to respond to this market engagement exercise. The outcome of this market engagement will help inform commissioners of the current and future capacity and capability of the market and will be considered to inform the commissioning approach.

Interested parties are encouraged to register their interest only if they are able to deliver the full list of the requirements. Participation to this market engagement will close at 12 noon of Monday 12th December 2022.

The NHS Genomic Laboratory Hub (GLH) Service Specification requires each NHS GLH to:

• Deliver the genomic tests which are prescribed in the NHS National Genomic Testing Directory (the Directory);

• Participate and achieve satisfactory performance in UKAS-accredited (or newly developed pilots offered in compliance with ISO 17043) external quality assurance schemes to assure the tests prescribed in the Directory, including Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS), in eight main quality assurance areas (shown in the requirements).

The anticipated contract duration for this service is 2 years, with an option to extend the contract by a further 12 month period at the Commissioner’s discretion.

It is possible that as a result of this exercise, a formal tender process will not be required but instead a simpler provider selection process will be undertaken. Where it is noted that competition is absent, direct awards may be considered. All providers will be notified of next steps following the conclusion of this market engagement exercise.

NHS England (National) Specialised Commissioning is the contracting and commissioning authority for this service. To register your interest and access the questionnaire, please follow this link: https://uk.eu-supply.com/login.asp?B=agcsu

The project reference is 62185 and the closing date for submission of the completed questionnaire is: 12 noon Monday 12th December 2022.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 100

Price - Weighting: 0

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: 2022/S 000-032566


Section five. Award of contract

Contract No

1

Title

NHS Genomic Medicine Service (GMS) External Quality Assessment (EQA) service for the tests listed in the Genomic Test Directory

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

1 April 2023

five.2.2) Information about tenders

Number of tenders received: 2

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: 0

Number of tenders received by electronic means: 2

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

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor

UK NEQAS

Central Office Northern General Hospital, Herries Road

Sheffield

S5 7AU

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: £1,500,000


Section six. Complementary information

six.3) Additional information

To realise the potential of genomics in healthcare, in 2018 NHS England established the NHS GMS, which created a step change in the use of genomics in clinical practice in the NHS. The NHS GMS built upon the existing NHS infrastructure and used learnings from the 100,000 Genomes Project. Importantly, it signalled a clear direction for the way in which cancer genomic testing would be funded and provided.

The NHS GMS provides consistent and equitable genomically-informed care and treatment for England’s 55 million population with a:

• consolidated national genomic laboratory network made up of seven NHS Genomic Laboratory Hubs (GLHs) working together with standardisation and quality at the core and driving rapid adoption of technology and covering all types of testing inclusive of cancer genomics;

• seven NHS GMS Alliances working together to support the clinical leadership and embedding of genomic medicine in end-to-end pathways more broadly and the working with other key clinical specialties and structures for example cancer alliances;

• single mandated National Genomic Test Directory covering use of all technologies from single gene to whole genome sequencing inclusive of cancer and of genomic targets that enable enrolment into clinical trials;

• clinical genomic services that diagnose and manage complex rare and inherited disease and the impact on both individuals and family members and provide genomic counselling and specialist advice for other specialities;

• national genomic knowledge base to inform academic and industry research and discovery including design and development of clinical trials;

• a partnership with Genomics England in support of delivery of the whole genome sequencing service and ongoing key research initiatives; and

• national Genomics Unit in NHS England that provides strategic oversight, direction, commissioning and funding as well as performance monitoring.

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

Arden & GEM Commissioning Support Unit

2nd Floor Cardinal Square, 10 Nottingham Road

Derby

Country

United Kingdom

six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures

Arden & GEM Commissioning Support Unit

2nd Floor Cardinal Square, 10 Nottingham Road

Derby

Country

United Kingdom

six.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained

Arden & GEM Commissioning Support Unit

2nd Floor Cardinal Square, 10 Nottingham Road

Derby

Country

United Kingdom