Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership-Procurement Services (hosted by Velindre University NHS Trust)
4-5 Charnwood Court,, Heol Billingsley, Parc Nantgarw
Cardiff
CF15 7QZ
Contact
Richard Clayfield
richard.clayfield@wales.nhs.uk
Telephone
+44 1639684431
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
Blood Glucose Meters & Associated Consumables
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 33696200 - Blood-testing reagents
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
Supply of Blood testing equipment (Glucose Meters) & associated consumables (Test-strips), together with EQA & IQA
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: £468,765
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 33696200 - Blood-testing reagents
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKL18 - Swansea
Main site or place of performance
Swansea Bay University Health Board Hospital sites and Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend.
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Blood glucose monitoring refers to testing the concentration of glucose in the blood to aid the management of Diabetes types 1 & 2. Similarly, monitoring the presence of ketones in the blood is also important as high levels can result in complications such as Ketoacidosis.
This procurement will involve the supply of Blood glucose monitoring equipment (meters) and associated consumables (Test-strips) for the Point of Care Testing (POCT) Service at Swansea Bay University Health Board & Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend. This will be to renew the existing arrangement with Abbott Laboratories for a further two years.
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
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:
The current contract with Abbott Laboratories ended on the 30th September 2021. The Health Board's intention was to enter into a 2 year contract with Abbott Laboratories through a direct award, under the terms of a Public Sector Framework. this would enable sufficient time for NWSSP Shared Services Procurement to undertake a formal market-test exercise, to award a new All Wales Framework in Autumn of 2023. Currently, the Health Board's POCT Service are not able to contemplate an alternative supplier for the reasons outlined below:
Within SBU there are 3,279 active operators and the POCT Team also support another 937 on the Princess of Wales site, under the terms of an SLA.
The migration of operators to a completely new device would need to be completed on a rolling basis, with full training to every member of staff. The POCT Team are not in a position to support this due to the extra training demands in relation to Covid-19 and clinical areas are finding it difficult to release staff to attend training due to staffing pressures.
The current management of testing allows for staff to move flexibly from one area or site to another. During the process of migration, this flexibility will be lost to some degree with some areas using the new meter and other areas using the existing. This could expose the Health Board to risk, given current staffing pressures.
Abbott Laboratories have now advised that they are withdrawing from all national framework agreements, for commercial reasons, with immediate effect. Consequently, the opportunity to direct award under the auspices of a Public Sector Framework to Abbott Laboratories is no longer feasible. Therefore, for the reasons outlined above and to ensure continuity of service for patient care, the Health Board has no option but to extend for two years without any formal underpinning Framework. In the interim, the Health Board is committed to the All Wales market test which will come to fruition in Autumn 2023 for a new formal contract for Point of Care Blood Glucose & Ketone Testing.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
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
5 October 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
Abbott Laboratories Ltd
Abbott House, Vanwall Business Park
Maidenhead
SL64XE
Telephone
+44 1628644
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £468,765
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Sell2Wales Web Site at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=114702.
(WA Ref:114702)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
High Court
Royal Courts of Justice, The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
Telephone
+44 2079477501
Country
United Kingdom