Research laboratory services

Tender description

Testing for Coronavirus is a crucial part of the government’s response to the pandemic. The national Covid-19 testing strategy has pivoted toward mass population testing. To achieve this ambition a concerted effort to mobilise a range of viable testing solutions is needed. Following a feasibility study (‘P1’), the initiation of targeted pilot studies are proposed as the next step in mobilising mass spectrometry for Covid-19 testing. This PIN is for a market engagement event to understand the capacity and capability of the market for goods and services that DHSC envisions may be required under the next phases of the pilot (P2 and P3). The intended objectives of the programme are to support the Covid-19 testing strategy by: • assessing and verifying that the published methods of mass spectrometry can provide a confirmatory diagnosis of patients’ infection status; • validating that mass spectrometry can act as a diagnostic screen for patient samples from NHS test centres and validation of workflow to certain specifications (i.e. turnaround time); • scaling methodology for mass testing with industry to support the development of end-to-end efficiencies (i.e. sample preparation through to data aggregation); • rolling out mass spectrometry as a diagnostic tool for Covid-19 nationally across multiple regional centres. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) intends to divide the procurement activity for this opportunity into contracting for the following phases: • P2: clinical validation, maximum duration of 4 weeks; • P3(a): scale validation, maximum duration of 12 weeks; • P3(b): NHS scale-up, maximum duration of 4 weeks; • P3(c): industrial scale up, duration to be confirmed The estimated value for P2 is GBP 2.5 million. DHSC intends to divide the procurement into lots based on the nature of goods or services to be provided. The scope of these individual lots is yet to be determined, but is intended to cover the following areas: • laboratories and associated equipment for clinical validation; • laboratories and associated equipment to build capacity; • reagents; • consumables; • data transfer services (P3 only); • eLearning for laboratory technicians. The Department wishes to engage with the market in order to share information about potential upcoming opportunities and understand the capacity and capability of the market. Interested parties are invited to join a virtual market engagement event on 26 November 2020 where more details will be provided. When responding to this notice, please provide contact information for the representatives that you are nominating to attend the event, (maximum three per organisation). We request that organisations determine who would be best placed to attend. Responses should be sent to Hannah.Sherington@dhsc.gov.uk by 12 p.m. UK time, 25 November 2020. Please email using the subject line ‘Response to PIN — Market Engagement Event’.