Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Velindre University NHS Trust
Unit 2 Charnwood Court, Heol Billingsley, Parc Nantgarw
Cardiff
CF15 7QZ
Telephone
+44 2921501377
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.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://etenderwales.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.shtml
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
https://etenderwales.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.shtml
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
Provision of a Blood Establishment Computer System (BECS) on behalf of the Welsh Blood Service
Reference number
VEL-FTS-57060
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 48000000 - Software package and information systems
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership are seeking to appoint a strategic partner on behalf of Velindre University NHS Trust to deliver and maintain a Blood Establishment Computer System (BECS) for use by the Welsh Blood Service (WBS). The contract will be awarded for a period of up to 20 years.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 72212100 - Industry specific software development services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKL - Wales
Main site or place of performance
Welsh Blood Service, Llantrisant, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership are seeking to appoint a strategic partner on behalf of Velindre University NHS Trust, to deliver and maintain a Blood Establishment Computer System (BECS) for use by the Welsh Blood Service (WBS), replacing their current BECS.
WBS is responsible for the collection of blood in Wales, and for the distribution of blood products to hospitals, as well as other related functions. In common with the other UK Blood Services and other NHS diagnostic laboratories, the WBS faces significant challenges for the future, such as changing donor behaviours and demand for blood products, challenges in respect of the recruitment and retention of new donors, the need to develop a more individualised donor care package, as well as wider population and system challenges, including the need to deliver services in a challenging economic climate. A failure to recognise, understand and analyse these challenges, and to identify options for the future, could jeopardise the security of the blood supply and specialist services in Wales.
WBS aims to collect in excess of 100000 donations each year, necessitating around 300 blood donations every day to meet patient need. Future demand for blood will be influenced by advances in cancer care, the changing population demographic with an ageing population and a more diverse case mix of patients. The UK ambition to increase self-sufficiency in plasma-derived medicines will further increase demand for donations.
WBS currently work with 4000 community influencers to help promote the importance of donating and utilise over 200 locations across Wales by providing a community-facing blood collection service.
As well as whole blood products the WBS also supply platelets, enabling patients to help fight chronic diseases, cancers and to aid recovery from traumatic injuries. WBS aims to collect around 11000 platelet donations each year for transfusion into NHS Wales patients, of which around 40% come from apheresis donation. In the future, WBS plans to introduce additional apheresis services to collect approximately 30,000 donations of plasma per year for the manufacture of medicines, in partnership with the pharmaceutical industry (fractionation partner).
WBS also supports transplantation services in Wales, via the Welsh Bone Marrow Donor Registry (WBMDR) and the Welsh Histocompatibility & Immunogenetics (WHAIS) Services. The WBMDR and WHAIS enable solid organ, bone marrow and peripheral stem cell transplantation by supporting the matching of potential donors to transplant recipients, as well as providing testing services to confirm a donor/patient matching. These services interact with the wider WBS blood supply chain via its BECS platform.
BECS is a business-critical system and is the enabler for the delivery of key service and business objectives identified within the Welsh Blood Service 5-year ‘Blood and Transplant Services for the Future’ strategy. A central pillar of that strategy is an ambition to “deliver a more person-centred service and experience for our donors”, to provide individualised and tailored services to our users. The expectation is that the BECS will provide the Welsh Blood Service with a future-proof system, which allows for progressive and iterative change, in accordance with regulatory and statutory guidelines and the ever-evolving opportunities provided through the adoption of new and innovative digital technologies.
WBS has identified 3 options for the delivery of its BECS:
- Option 1 – Blood Management System (minimum viable product). This option would ensure the delivery of BECS solution equivalent to the solution currently in use within the WBS.
- Option 2 – Blood Management System (minimum viable product) plus Patient Management (platelets) and Hospital Rrdering
- Option 3 – Blood Management System (minimum viable product) plus Patient Management (platelets) and Hospital Ordering, plus Appointments Management & Customer (Donor) Relationship Management (CRM)
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 55
Quality criterion - Name: Social Value / Weighting: 10
Price - Weighting: 35
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start date
1 April 2025
End date
30 November 2037
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
Contract implementation from 1st April 2025 to 30th November 2027, Contract Start from 1st December 2027 to 30th November 2037 with the option to extend in two 5 year tranches to 30th November 2047.
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
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
three.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
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: 2024/S 000-017019
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
11 November 2024
Local time
12:00pm
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English, Welsh
four.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Tender must be valid until: 30 June 2025
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
11 November 2024
Local time
12:00pm
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: Yes
Estimated timing for further notices to be published: Timing will depend on whether the extension options are utilised.
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
Bidders should note that they will be required to enter into terms and conditions of contract as set out in the tender documents and that save for matters of clarification or consistency, the contracting authority will not negotiate the terms. The Contracting Authority is proposing to use the Open Procedure to conduct this procurement.
Velindre University NHS Trust will award the contract as hosts of NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership - Procurement Services. For the avoidance of doubt, the Welsh Blood Service will be entering into the contract with the appointed provider.
All tender costs and liabilities incurred by bidders shall be the sole responsibility of the bidders. The contracting authority reserves the right to award the Contract in whole or in part. The contracting authority reserves the right to pause, halt and/or annul the tendering process and not to award the Contract.
The Contract to which this procurement relates are funded via Welsh Government funding. Please refer to the invitation to tender for rights reserved to the contracting authority should the said funding cease or reduce.
Delivery of the requirement under the proposed Contract is on or around 1st April 2025.
To complete your formal proposal, please access the ITT via the Bravo eTender Wales portal where you will find a full suite of tender
documentation.
1. Register your company on the eSourcing portal (this is only required once)
- Browse the eSourcing portal: https://etenderwales.bravosolution.co.uk/ and click the link to register
- Accept the Ts and Cs and click 'continue'
- Enter your correct business/user details
2. Express and interest in the tender
- Log into the portal with the username/password
- Click the 'ITT Open to all suppliers' link
- Click on itt_112541
- Click the 'express interest' button at the top of the page
- This will move the ITT into your 'my ITT's page (this is a secure area reserved for your projects only)
- You can now access any attachments by clicking 'buyer attachments' in the 'ITT details' box
3. Responding to the tender
- Click 'my response' under 'ITT details' and you can choose to 'create response' or to 'decline to respond' (please give a reason if declining)
- You can now use the 'messages' function to communicate with the buyer and seek any clarification
- Note the deadline for completion and then follow the on screen instructions to complete the tender response.
Under the terms of this contract the successful supplier(s) will be required to deliver Community Benefits in support of the authority’s economic and social objectives. Accordingly, contract performance conditions may relate in particular to social and environmental considerations. The Community Benefits included in this contract are:
detailed within the tender documentation.
(WA Ref:143871)
The buyer considers that this contract is suitable for consortia.
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