PROVISION OF ORAL-FLUID DRUG TESTING PRODUCTS AND LABORATORY ANALYSIS

Tender description

Nottinghamshire County Council (?the Council?) is seeking competitive quotes for the provision of oral-fluid drug testing products and laboratory analysis for use across Nottinghamshire?s Children?s Social Case Service Nottinghamshire County Council?s Children?s Social Care Service is involved with an increasing number of parents and carers where there are concerns around substance misuse. This is impacting on a considerable number of children and young people, of whom a significant proportion are subject to Child Protection Plans. A need has therefore been identified for point-of-care oral-fluid testing of parents / carers of children and young people who are open to Children?s Social Care. This is for the purpose of effective safeguarding, as well as decision-making in relation to the welfare of the child or young person While the oral-fluid drug tests will be undertaken during home visits by social workers within Nottinghamshire?s District Child Protection Teams, the Authority will need to purchase oral-fluid swabs from the provider. Social workers will also need to be effectively trained to undertake oral-fluid tests, to ensure that there is no break in the chain of custody in the event that the result is required as evidence in court. In conjunction with this, the Council will require laboratory analysis of the oral-fluid tests undertaken by social workers, to test for a broad drugs library, with a timely return of results. The price submitted must be for the unit costs of oral-fluid swab purchases, the training of social workers within Nottinghamshire?s District Child Protection Teams and the laboratory analysis of a broad drugs library. Where appropriate, this may include costs for the testing of standard drug libraries, as well as additional costs for the testing of particular substances.