Pathology services

Tender description

Coventry and Warwickshire Pathology Services (‘CWPS’) is seeking a partner to implement a Managed Laboratory Service Contract for Microbiology that will include the provision of automation, maintenance, associated connectivity, the supply of consumables, associated items, chemicals and reagents. Additional developments of the service will be required such as the support in up-skilling of staff, and access to global research to assist the future strategy of the network. CWPS is a managed network of laboratories hosted by University Hospitals of Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust (UHCW). Laboratory services are provided by laboratories at University Hospital, Coventry, South Warwickshire Hospital, Warwick and George Eliot Hospital, Nuneaton. CWPS have been commissioned to provide pathology services at Burton Hospital until 2022. It is anticipated that the scope of the procurement will include the following: — Automation of agar plate inoculation and reading (Plate labelling, inoculation, streaking, incubation, digital imaging/reading all via a track). — Automated Blood Culture instrument suitable to operate on 4 sites and be linked to a central laboratory. — Media (all agar plates and liquid culture media not directly supplied with instruments). — Enteric Molecular solution. — Automated sensitivity testing (to include antibiotic discs if automation of a disc diffusion method). — CSF Molecular solution. As part of this Managed Service, the contractor will also be asked to take on the responsibility of managing existing agreements and their replacements throughout the contract term. This will be discussed in more detail throughout the dialogue phase. Please see section VI.3) for further information regarding supplier engagement and expression of interest.