Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
The Common Services Agency (more commonly known as NHS National Services Scotland) ("NSS")
Gyle Square (NSS Head Office), 1 South Gyle Crescent
Edinburgh
EH12 9EB
Telephone
+44 7804475952
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKM - Scotland
Internet address(es)
Main address
http://www.nss.nhs.scot/browse/procurement-and-logistics
Buyer's address
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA11883
one.2) Information about joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/
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
NHS Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) Cell Therapy eSolution
Reference number
NP609823
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The Common Services Agency (more commonly known as NHS National Services Scotland or NSS) (“NSS”), acting through its directorate the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (“SNBTS”), is undertaking the procurement of two electronic eSolutions that will allow onboarding of novel cell therapy projects from research centres, facilitating project development and eventual translation into a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) environment. The two eSolution systems between them will encompass five Phases across an entire product life cycle of an Advanced Therapeutic from development through to clinical use.
System 1 will include onboarding of research documentation, development, and initial stages of technology transfer (Phase 1 and Phase 2).
System 2 will include the final stages of technology transfer into GMP validation, batch manufacture and have report producing capabilities to allow for quality approval then release/certification for patient use (Phase 3, 4 and 5).
The solutions must be provided using a Software as a Service (SaaS) model.
Further information can be found within the Invitation to Tender (ITT) and appendices located on PCS-Tender.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: Yes
Tenders may be submitted for all lots
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
System 1
Lot No
1
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM - Scotland
Main site or place of performance
Scotland
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Common Services Agency (more commonly known as NHS National Services Scotland or NSS) (“NSS”), acting through its directorate the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (“SNBTS”), is undertaking the procurement of two electronic eSolutions that will allow onboarding of novel cell therapy projects from research centres, facilitating project development and eventual translation into a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) environment. The two eSolution systems between them will encompass five Phases across an entire product life cycle of an Advanced Therapeutic from development through to clinical use.
System 1 will include onboarding of research documentation, development, and initial stages of technology transfer (Phase 1 and Phase 2).
The solution must be provided using a Software as a Service (SaaS) model.
Further information can be found within the Invitation to Tender (ITT) and appendices located on PCS-Tender.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 75
Price - Weighting: 25
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
24
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
The contract will include the option(s) to extend for a further two periods of 12 months each
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
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
System 2
Lot No
2
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM - Scotland
Main site or place of performance
Scotland
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Common Services Agency (more commonly known as NHS National Services Scotland or NSS) (“NSS”), acting through its directorate the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (“SNBTS”), is undertaking the procurement of two electronic eSolutions that will allow onboarding of novel cell therapy projects from research centres, facilitating project development and eventual translation into a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) environment. The two eSolution systems between them will encompass five Phases across an entire product life cycle of an Advanced Therapeutic from development through to clinical use.
System 2 will include the final stages of technology transfer into GMP validation, batch manufacture and have report producing capabilities to allow for quality approval then release/certification for patient use (Phase 3, 4 and 5).
The solution must be provided using a Software as a Service (SaaS) model.
Further information can be found within the Invitation to Tender (ITT) and appendices located on PCS-Tender.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 75
Price - Weighting: 25
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
24
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
The contract will include the option(s) to extend for a further two periods of 12 months each
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 three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information
three.1) Conditions for participation
three.1.2) Economic and financial standing
List and brief description of selection criteria
SPD Q.4B.1.1: Bidders are required to provide statement of accounts or extracts relating to their business for the previous 3 years. Where any are risks identified by NSS as part of the due diligence carried out on the above information NSS may require Bidders to provide additional information to demonstrate financial standing. Additional information can include but not be limited to:
- parent company accounts (if applicable)
- deeds of guarantee
- bankers statements and references
- accountants’ references
- management accounts
- financial projections, including cash flow forecasts
- details and evidence of previous contracts, including contract values
- capital availability.
Bidders who cannot provide suitable evidence of a secure financial standing may be excluded from the procurement.
Q.4B.5.1 and Q.4B.5.2: It is a requirement of this contract that bidders hold, or can commit to obtain prior to the commence of any subsequently awarded contract, the types and levels of insurance indicated below:
Employers liability insurance: 5 000 000 GBP;
Public liability insurance: 1 000 000 GBP;
Professional indemnity insurance: 1 000 000 GBP
three.1.3) Technical and professional ability
List and brief description of selection criteria
4C.1.2 Please provide details of three relevant examples of services carried out during the last three years.
4.C.2 Bidders are required to confirm compliance with standards, such as ISO or equivalent, set by technical bodies, especially those responsible for quality control. Please provide examples such as the following:
- Cyber Essentials
- ISO 9001 - Quality Management Systems
- ISO 27001 - Information Security Management
- ISO 27017 - Code of practice for information security controls
- ISO 27018 - Code of practice for protection of personally identifiable information (PII) in public clouds acting as PII processors
- UK Government 14 Cloud Security Principles
Please state the relevance of any such educational and professional qualifications.
4C.6: Bidders will be required to confirm that they and/or the service provider have relevant educational and professional qualifications such as the following: ISO27001 or equivalent ITIL qualifications [Helpdesk, etc] or equivalent other professional qualifications relevant to the Services outlined in the Contract Notice.
And:
4C.6.1: Bidders will be required to confirm that they and/or the service provider's managerial staff have relevant educational and professional qualifications such as the following: ISO27001 or equivalent ITIL qualifications [Helpdesk, etc] or equivalent other professional qualifications relevant to the Services outlined in the Contract Notice.
4C.7: Bidders will be required to confirm that they will employ environmental management measures that meet the following requirements:
Compliance with the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE).
4C.10: Bidders will be required to confirm whether they intend to subcontract and, if so, for what proportion of the contract.
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.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
29 August 2023
Local time
12:00pm
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
29 August 2023
Local time
12:00pm
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
six.3) Additional information
Cyber Security:
Bidders must complete the CSPST as detailed within the ITT. It is vital that Bidders leave sufficient time to complete the CSPST ahead of the submission deadline.
Fair Work Practices:
The Public Sector in Scotland is committed to the delivery of high quality public services and recognises that this is critically dependent on a workforce that is well-rewarded, well-motivated, well-led, has access to appropriate opportunities for training and skills development, diverse and engaged in decision making. These factors are also important for workforce recruitment and retention, and thus continuity of service. Public Bodies in Scotland are adopting fair work practices, which include:
- a fair and equal pay policy that includes a commitment to supporting the living wage, including, for example being a living wage accredited employer;
- clear managerial responsibility to nurture talent and help individuals fulfil their potential, including for example, a strong commitment to modern apprenticeships and the development of Scotland's young workforce;
- promoting equality of opportunity and developing a workforce which reflects the population of Scotland in terms of characteristics such as age, gender, religion or belief, race, sexual orientation and disability;
- support for learning and development;
- stability of employment and hours of work, and avoiding exploitative employment practices, including for example no inappropriate use of zero-hours contracts;
- flexible working (including for example practices such as flexi-time and career breaks) and support for family friendly working and wider work life balance;
- support progressive workforce engagement, for example Trade Union recognition and representation where possible, otherwise alternative arrangements to give staff an effective voice.
In order to ensure the highest standards of service quality in this Agreement we expect contractors to take a similarly positive approach to fair work practices as part of a fair and equitable employment and reward package. Bidders must describe how they will commit to fair work practices for workers (including any agency or subcontractor workers) engaged in the delivery of the Agreement.
The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this ITT exercise. The Project code is 24335. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343
Community benefits are included in this requirement. For more information see: https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/community-benefits-in-procurement/
A summary of the expected community benefits has been provided as follows:
It is a mandatory requirement that Bidders agree to support the concept, provision and ongoing development of community benefits provision in relation to this Agreement. Bidders are required to agree to this mandatory requirement. They are also requested to provide a brief summary of the community benefits that have recently been delivered within Scotland, and also what impact and outcomes these have achieved. Bidders are required to summarise any community/social benefits that will be delivered as part of this Agreement if successful, or, alternatively, Bidders confirm that they will engage with the NHS Scotland Community Benefits Gateway (CBG). This gateway, developed through requests from suppliers seeking opportunities to support the delivery of community benefits within the contracting region, provides information community benefit opportunities. The CBG is a free and easy to use online service that connects NHS Scotland suppliers with third sector community organisations within Scotland and will be used for tracking and reporting, and is an approved, compliant route to the realisation of community benefits. For further information please visit: https://www.nss.nhs.scot/procurement-and-logistics/sustainability/access-our-community-benefit-gateway/.
(SC Ref:739275)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Sheriff Court House
27 Chambers Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1LB
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
Economic operators should approach the contracting authority in the first instance. However, the only formal remedy is to apply to the courts:
An economic operator that suffers, or is at risk of suffering, loss or damage attributable to a breach of duty under the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 or the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014, may bring proceedings in the Sheriff Court or the Court of Session.