Blood bags

Tender description

This tender is for the supply of cord blood collection systems. Please see II.2.4) for a more detailed 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 NHS Cord Blood Bank collects cord blood at five NHS hospitals and is responsible for the processing, cryopreservation, storage and issue of haematopoietic stem cells for transplantation. It is one of the largest internationally accredited cord blood banks in the world, with a high percentage of rare tissue types. 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 cryopreservation. The current framework agreement expires on 5 February 2021. Any proposed solution for this agreement must be cost effective, simple, safe and conducive to the current operational requirements. The award of this contract will be to the most economically advantageous tender on the basis of the criteria set out in the Invitation to tender guidance document available on Bravo (ref. NHSBT1342). No business whatsoever is guaranteed under any resulting contract and there is no guarantee that a contract will be put in place in relation to this notice. No compensation etc will be paid if a tender or resulting contract is withdrawn for any reason. Bidders should take part in this process only on the basis that they fully understand and accept this position.