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
Contact
Shaun Kean
Telephone
+44 1698794400
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
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
Health
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (AST) system
Reference number
NP
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 33100000 - Medical equipments
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
NHS Scotland requires a standard Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (AST) system to be used across all 15 NHS Health Boards which provide a Clinical Microbiology service: from multi-disciplinary laboratories in remote / rural Boards to large laboratories providing specialist services in tertiary referral Boards.
The AST solution must be (semi-) automated and up-scalable so that it is practical for both small and large laboratories and it must have a proven real-world performance record.
Please note interest by 31st October 2023
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM - Scotland
Main site or place of performance
Health Boards across Scotland
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
NHS Scotland requires a standard Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (AST) system to be used across all 15 NHS Health Boards which provide a Clinical Microbiology service: from multi-disciplinary laboratories in remote / rural Boards to large laboratories providing specialist services in tertiary referral Boards.
The AST solution must be (semi-) automated and up-scalable so that it is practical for both small and large laboratories and it must have a proven real-world performance record.
The national AST system must deliver panel testing for both bacteria and fungi. Suppliers are requested to provide details of the antibiotics, organisms and “drug-bug” combinations which may be tested on their system as well as those which cannot be tested on their system.
It is essential that NHS Scotland-bespoke testing panels are available and that the system is fully EUCAST compliant, in line with Scottish AMR surveillance requirements. Annual EUCAST updates must be available on the system within six months of publication, including breakpoints and interpretive criteria. In the absence of specific EUCAST “drug-bug” testing and interpretive criteria, alternatives stipulated by the SMVN (e.g. CLSI) must be incorporated into the testing system.
If the supplier’s system is capable of delivering “rapid AST (RAST)”, details should be provided.
A bi-directional interface between the AST system and each Board’s Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) is essential and implementation should be led by the AST system supplier.
The national AST solution must routinely report minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) data as well interpreted MICs via system software to routinely report antibiograms and ensure unusual phenotypes are highlighted. The ability to search and produce management reports on AST data would be advantageous and details should be provided.
AST equipment is expected to have a lifespan of a minimum of 7 to 10 years.
Suppliers are asked to submit details of [a] their standard (semi-) automated AST equipment currently available for all 15 NHS Scotland Boards that deliver an AST service, [b] details of standard testing panels currently available, [c] interpretive criteria, [d] reportable patient results and [e] epidemiological packages, if available. Prerequisites and dependence on any additional or ancillary equipment / systems should be highlighted.
Suppliers are asked to describe the system(s) available to fulfil this national requirement and also provide a (maximum) 2 page summary detailing the service that would be provided.
Indicative numbers of ASTs carried out per year in NHS Scotland laboratories (based on data from 2018 – 2022) are:
AST tests per year
<500 4 Boards
500 to 1,000 2 boards
1,000 to 2,000 3 boards
2,000 to 3,000 2 boards
3,000 to 4,000 2 boards
4,000 to 5,000 1 board
>7,000 1 board
two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice
12 February 2024
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
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
Suppliers who believe they have a solution to the requirement outlined in this notice, should submit a brief summary of their proposed equipment solution along with technical manuals describing the equipment and software to be utilised.
Information on where these soultions are currently deployed should also be provided if available
NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Public Contracts Scotland Web Site at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=743858.
(SC Ref:743858)