Blood bags

Tender description

Cord blood (i.e. blood that remains in the placenta and umbilical cord following birth of a baby) is rich in stem cells and can be used to treat patients who are suffering from life threatening diseases, including Malignancies, Bone marrow failure, Haemoglobinopathies, Immunodeficiencies and Metabolic disorders. The basic requirement is for collection systems to enable a collection volume of up to 200 ml ± 10 % and maintain the quality of the cord blood and viability/ functionality of the stem/ progenitor cells until processing commences. The NHS Cord Blood Bank collects cord blood at 6 NHS hospitals; and is the fourth largest internationally accredited cord blood bank in the world, with the second highest percentage of rare tissue types. Once a successful collection is completed the cord blood unit is stored in a temperature controlled environment until it is transported to the Authority's evaluation facility in Colindale and then the Authority's processing facility at Filton. Contract will be awarded for an initial period of 24 months commencing from 22.2.2017, with the option to extend by intervals of no less than 6 months for up to a total period of 24 months. In accordance with latest Stem Cell Donation and Transplantation strategy the target collection is 6 000 cord blood units per annum, however not all units are processed due to discards following examination; as such the contract will not guarantee a minimum volume.