Analysers

Tender description

Please note this is not the start of a procurement process. A separate contract notice will be published to cover this requirement. NHSBT is seeking to engage with suppliers on the market who can provide current CAT equipment including trials on site. Information gained from this exercise will be used to inform production of a detailed specification and subsequent advertisement through the OJEU route. Please see II.2.4 for details. Please note this is not the start of a procurement process. A separate contract notice will be published to cover this requirement. Prior to commencing the formal procurement process, and to help inform our strategy, NHSBT would like to consult the market to improve our knowledge of all current offers available in the market place, identify further opportunities and potential issues, as well as gauge market interest in the proposed service. Red Cell Immunohaematology (RCI) is a specialist function within the Diagnostics and Therapeutic Services Directorate of NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT). The RCI Reference Laboratories provide antibody resolution and red cell phenotyping on samples referred from Hospital Transfusion Laboratories and other Laboratories within NHSBT. Reference services are provided from Birmingham, Colindale, Filton (Bristol), Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle, Sheffield and Tooting. NHSBT is seeking to engage with suppliers on the market who can provide current CAT equipment including trials on site. The testing system is required to identify, sample, dispense and test blood samples and all items required to analyse, interpret, transmit and store results on those tests. There are two elements to this system: — Automated testing which will be used for the majority of routine tests — Manual testing which will be used mainly for non-routine and more complex investigations. RCI are looking for a complete column agglutination based system to undertake ABO/D types, Rh and other red cell phenotypes, antibody screens and antibody identification on referred samples. Manual testing of problem samples using the same technology as the selected platform is essential for problem samples and as a contingency. RCI require both automated and manual testing to use the same technology. Information gained from this exercise will be used to inform production of a detailed specification and subsequent advertisement through the OJEU route. Interested organisations are requested to send an expression of interest via email to Marta.Drozdzowska@nhsbt.nhs.uk by no later than 17:00 hrs (GMT) on 12.11.2018.