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
Gordon Dickson
Telephone
+44 1313145522
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.1) Name and addresses
Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service
Belfast
BT9 7TS
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKN06 - Belfast
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=
one.1) Name and addresses
Welsh Blood Service
Pontyclun
CF72 9WB
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKL - Wales
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.welsh-blood.org.uk/#
Buyer's address
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=
one.2) Information about joint procurement
The contract involves joint procurement
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
Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) Managed Service
Reference number
NSS003724
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 50421000 - Repair and maintenance services of medical equipment
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service, Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service and Welsh Blood Service all require a fully integrated microbiology managed service system for NAT (Nucleic Acid Testing). This includes equipment, maintenance, consumables, spare parts, upgrades, training, clinical education material, remote diagnostics, reporting and supports all to deliver a final result to the Authority’s information management system. Mandatory assays include the ability to detect HCV RNA, HBV DNA, HIV RNA, HEV RNA, B19V DNA and HAV RNA in plasma/serum samples from blood donors and HCV RNA, HIV RNA, HBV DNA, HEV RNA, B19V DNA and HAV RNA in plasma/ serum samples from tissue and stem cell donors.
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: £7,300,000
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 50421000 - Repair and maintenance services of medical equipment
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM - Scotland
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service, Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service and the Welsh Blood Service each require a fully integrated microbiology managed service system for NAT (Nucleic Acid Testing). This includes equipment, maintenance, consumables, spare parts, upgrades, training, clinical education material, remote diagnostics, reporting and supports all to deliver a final result to the Authority’s information management system. Mandatory assays include the ability to detect HCV RNA, HBV DNA, HIV RNA, HEV RNA, B19V DNA and HAV RNA in plasma/serum samples from blood donors and HCV RNA, HIV RNA, HBV DNA, HEV RNA, B19V DNA and HAV RNA in plasma/ serum samples from tissue and stem cell donors.
The Authorities currently have the ability to detect Hepatitis C (HCV) ribonucleic acid (RNA), Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) RNA and Hepatitis B (HBV) deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in donations from blood, tissue and stem cell donors.
Tissue and stem cell donations may only be tested as individual donations for HCV RNA, HBV DNA, HIV RNA. SNBTS test various tissue and stem cell blood samples as singletons but do not carry out any testing on non-heart beating donations. An approximate indication of volumes for this testing is 1500 samples per annum.
The Authorities currently have the ability to detect Hepatitis E (HEV)) in donations from blood, tissue and stem cell donors. The successful Bidders system must be capable of detecting HEV RNA. (95% of donations will be tested in pools, 5% as ID NAT).
SNBTS currently have the ability to detect B19 DNA and HAV RNA in donations from blood, tissue and stem cell donors. If screening is performed in minipools, B19 testing must ensure that B19 DNA can be detected at a level that will ensure less than 104 IU/mL of B19V DNA in homogenous plasma pools.
WNV Testing is currently performed as a discretionary test by SNBTS and WBS and will possibly be introduced during the lifespan of the contract by NIBTS.
The routine screening period for WNV RNA commences each year on 1st May and ends 31st December however there is still a requirement to undertake a limited amount of screening in the intervening period. The requirements for WNV RNA testing are reviewed annually.
The Authorities uses a combination of Serum, EDTA plasma and EDTA gel collection tubes for all microbiological screening and the successful Bidders system must therefore be validated for both sample types.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Technical / Weighting: 20
Price - Weighting: 80
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
The Authority shall be entitled, at its option, to continue this Agreement beyond the Initial Term for three (3) twelve (12) Contract Month periods subject to giving not less than nine (9) Contract Months’ notice to the Contractor.
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
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 000-034339
Section five. Award of contract
Contract No
NSS03724
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
17 October 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 2
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 2
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 2
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Roche Diagnostics Ltd
Charles Avenue
Burgess Hill
RH15 9RY
Telephone
+44 1444256000
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £7,300,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
(SC Ref:808450)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Court of Session
Parliament House, Parliament Square
Edinburgh
EH1 1RQ
Country
United Kingdom