Provision of the Manufacture and Supply of Avian and Bovine Tuberculin

Tender description

APHA wish to extend the existing contract with Prionics until 31 December 2019 and purchase increased volumes of Tuberculin for the period of the extension. The volumes would increase to a minimum of 140 litres of avian and bovine tuberculin PPD per month and up to a maximum of 190 litres per month. Diagnostic skin testing with tuberculin PPD is a critical part of Defra's TB surveillance and monitoring programme. Skin testing plays a crucial role in identifying TB infected herds and individual cattle, and thus helping to control and reduce further spread of the disease. The product supports Defra's 'Strategy for achieving Officially Bovine Tuberculosis Free status for England'. Defra, on behalf of the UK government and it's devolved administrations, needs to maintain a supply of Bovine and Avian tuberculin's purified protein derivative (tuberculin PPD bovine and avian) and has contracted the management, storage and distribution of the product to APHA - project ref. SB4011. Tuberculin is probably the single most important reagent used in APHA/DEFRA research. Due to the complexities and time required for its manufacture, and the quantities required, there is a risk of continuity of supply with a potential change of supplier. Extending the existing contract, would allow us to stock pile sufficient Tuberculin to mitigate any risk to future supply.