Scope
Reference
C29998
Description
The SampleManager is the software for the Laboratory Information Management Service system is used extensively for recording animal submissions, samples and testing, facilitates reporting of disease test results and underpins statutory disease testing for notifiable diseases, reportable diseases and other zoonotic diseases (human impacting diseases with primary biological reservoir in animals). This system is critical to APHA's management of animal disease outbreaks and assuring and facilitating international trade by demonstrating sufficient surveillance for disease-free status. The purpose of this Transparency Notice is to announce APHA's intention to enter into a contract to upgrade the SampleManager current version (12.1) which is now out of support to 21.3 version for a year with 12 months extend options.
Contract 1. Laboratory Information Management System SampleManager Upgrade
Suppliers
Supplier not yet selected
Contract value
- £462,143.40 excluding VAT
- £554,572.08 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Earliest date the contract will be signed
2 September 2025
Contract dates (estimated)
- 3 September 2025 to 2 September 2026
- Possible extension to 2 September 2027
- 2 years
Description of possible extension:
12 months extension
Main procurement category
Services
Options
The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.
12 months extension
CPV classifications
- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
Participation
Particular suitability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Other information
Description of risks to contract performance
The software upgrade is required to reduce the risk of: Security vulnerabilities - Once software reaches end of support, it no longer receives security updates, leaving it exposed to cyber security threats. Operational disruptions - The probability of functional and non-functional issues greatly increases with out of support software, leading to service level agreement (SLA) breaches. Higher maintenance costs - With out of support/older software, typically, workarounds and expensive customisations have to be implemented and supported to achieve the required business functionality.
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Direct award
Direct award justification
Single supplier - intellectual property or exclusive rights
ThermoFisher scientific are the sole owners and licensor of SampleManager software, and there are no alternatives available to Animal and Plant Health Agency without rewriting all forecasting models. It is the view of the Animal and Plant Health Agency that this contract is justifiable under Paragraph 5 in Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023 to award the contract for the supply and support of the SampleManager software because, ThermoFisher Scientific own the intellectual property for the software, and there are no reasonable alternative, nor can another organisation supply and support the software. Additionally, it is the view of the Animal and Plant Health Agency that this contract is also justifiable under Paragraph 6 in Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023 to award the contract for the supply and support of the SampleManager software because, at this time, no alternative solution is available and any decision to deviate from this software would require a redevelopment of all Animal and Plant Health Agency models, therefore competition is absent for technical reasons.
Contracting authority
ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH AGENCY
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PBHC-6261-BLLQ
Seacole Building, 2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
United Kingdom
Region: UKI32 - Westminster
Organisation type: Public authority - central government