Future opportunity

Blood Sample Analysis - Soft Market Testing 2023

  • University of Essex

F01: Prior information notice (prior information only)

Notice reference: 2023/S 000-022941

Published 7 August 2023, 2:42pm



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

University of Essex

Wivenhoe Park

Colchester

CO4 3SQ

Contact

Aston Baker

Email

ab17001@essex.ac.uk

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKH3 - Essex

Internet address(es)

Main address

www.essex.ac.uk

one.3) Communication

The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at

https://supplierlive.proactisp2p.com/Account/Login

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Body governed by public law

one.5) Main activity

Education


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Blood Sample Analysis - Soft Market Testing 2023

Reference number

DN1535

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 85111810 - Blood analysis services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

**PLEASE NOTE THIS IS FOR SOFT MARKET TESTING PURPOSES ONLY**

University of Essex is seeking to engage with a supplier to support our plans to analyse blood from members of a general population sample of the UK. The basic requirements are that the supplier:

1. Receives a weekly secure data-flow from Kantar Public, containing the name, address, and a unique identifier of a participant of Understanding Society, who has agreed to have this information passed on.

2. Posts out a kit to eligible participants, with a unique barcode, to enable them to take a capillary blood sample, and to return it to the laboratory through the post. The recipients will be based across the UK. The outer packaging will have a clearly identifiable UN Hazard Logo (UN3373). The kit should contain everything needed to collect the capillary blood samples. It should also include instructions, a covering letter from the study, and the necessary packaging to return the sample through the post. The number of participants will vary each week, depending on uptake rates, but we estimate around 10,000 kits will be sent out across the 30 months of the project. Interviews numbers are higher in the first year of the project with a mop up period in the 3rd year. Given this, we estimate 950 kits may be required per month at the start of the project and only 60 in the last few months.

3. Analyses the blood to provide a range of analytes. Provides to industry standards, and provides information on the quality of the samples and results.

4. Uploads to a secure portal the results of the blood analysis connected to the unique identifier of the participant. Turnaround time between receiving the sample and uploading the results should be no longer than 2 weeks.

5. Aliquots and freezes blood for transfer to long term storage.

two.1.5) Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: £900,000

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.2) Description

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKH3 - Essex

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

**PLEASE NOTE THIS IS FOR SOFT MARKET TESTING PURPOSES ONLY**

University of Essex is seeking to engage with a supplier to support our plans to analyse blood from members of a general population sample of the UK. The basic requirements are that the supplier:

1. Receives a weekly secure data-flow from Kantar Public, containing the name, address, and a unique identifier of a participant of Understanding Society, who has agreed to have this information passed on.

2. Posts out a kit to eligible participants, with a unique barcode, to enable them to take a capillary blood sample, and to return it to the laboratory through the post. The recipients will be based across the UK. The outer packaging will have a clearly identifiable UN Hazard Logo (UN3373). The kit should contain everything needed to collect the capillary blood samples. It should also include instructions, a covering letter from the study, and the necessary packaging to return the sample through the post. The number of participants will vary each week, depending on uptake rates, but we estimate around 10,000 kits will be sent out across the 30 months of the project. Interviews numbers are higher in the first year of the project with a mop up period in the 3rd year. Given this, we estimate 950 kits may be required per month at the start of the project and only 60 in the last few months.

3. Analyses the blood to provide a range of analytes. Provides to industry standards, and provides information on the quality of the samples and results.

4. Uploads to a secure portal the results of the blood analysis connected to the unique identifier of the participant. Turnaround time between receiving the sample and uploading the results should be no longer than 2 weeks.

5. Aliquots and freezes blood for transfer to long term storage.

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

Potentially a 24 month contract with the option to extend for a further year due to project potentially taking 30 months.

two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice

4 September 2023


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes