Blood bags

Tender description

For details please check II.2.4). Please note this is not the start of a procurement process. A separate contract notice will be published to cover this requirement. The primary purpose of this PIN is to inform the market of prospective requirements, as far as the details are known at this time. NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is a special health authority in the NHS and is responsible for the provision of blood components and a range of associated laboratory and patient therapeutic services to hospitals in England and North Wales. NHSBT’s Cellular and Molecular Therapies (CMT) function consists of 7 cell therapy laboratories located across England, from Liverpool to Leeds, Sheffield, Birmingham, Bristol, Oxford and Southampton. Each laboratory is responsible for the processing, cryopreservation and storage of haematopoietic stem cells for transplantation. CMT laboratories are required to store haematopoietic stem cells for extended periods of time in the vapour phase of liquid nitrogen. This procurement is for the supply of sterile cryogenic storage bags, which must be made of clear plastic that does not compromise the viability of the stem cells. Bags must be available in a number of sizes to enable the cryopreservation of different volumes and must be capable of being overwrapped and withstanding temperatures below -150 °C. Bags must also incorporate a label pouch, integral access ports and tubing harness compatible with heat sealers and sterile connecting devices. Prior to commencing a formal procurement process and to help inform our strategy/requirements, NHSBT would like to consult the market to establish the likely level of interest and identify further opportunities and potential issues. It is our intention to invite those organisations who express an interest in this PIN to a supplier engagement meeting to be held in January/February 2020. To enable NHSBT to finalise arrangements (e.g. send meeting location details and agree time slots) for the supplier engagement meetings, interested organisations are required to send an email (expressing their interest) to Michael O'Neill ‘Michael.O'Neill@nhsbt.nhs.uk’ no later than 17.00 (GMT) on 17.1.2020, including a list of your potential attendees and a brief of overview (or a website link) of the goods/services which might be offered. Further information (e.g. the Draft technical specifications, award criteria, intended timescales, etc.) may be released — for consultation purposes only — to those organisations who express an interest. It is the intention of NHSBT to award a framework agreement or contract for this requirement by September 2020. Please note that all details are subject to change.