Test and evaluation

Tender description

This Prior Information Notice (PIN) is separate to any tender opportunity. Its purpose is to consult the market to improve NHSBT’s knowledge on the status of suppliers of commercially available automated, high throughput blood group testing equipment and gauge market interest. It is the intention of NHSBT to further consult those organisations who express an interest to identify preparatory work which may need to take place ahead of any future tendering opportunities. High throughput blood donation screening for primary blood grouping testing system(s), for ABO and Rh D typing (as a minimum DIV, DV and DVI), antibody screening and red cell phenotyping including Rh for donor blood samples. This includes test kits available for Syphilis antibody screening, preferably as part of the blood group testing equipment. A complete solution which must include all necessary maintenance, consumables, software and overall support required to carry out testing and comply with required MHRA and IVDR regulations by having a ‘CE’ mark. The system must be capable of producing results in a format that can be utilised by NHSBT’s host system (PULSE). It is desirable that the test systems are compatible with NHSBT supplied reagents where possible and with those from other external suppliers if the requirements below are not met. As a minimum, the test system supplied must be capable of undertaking the testing of blood donor samples and providing accurate results for the following: • ABO group, • Full Rh phenotype, • Kell typing, • Atypical antibody screen, • High titre anti-A and anti-B screening, • M, S, s, Cw, Jka, Jkb and other red cell phenotypes, • Serological Syphilis antibody testing. All test protocols must be in accordance with the guidelines for the blood transfusion service in the United Kingdom and rules and guidance for pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors. The annual value of the NHSBT primary automated blood sample testing equipment agreement is circa GBP 650 000 (Ex VAT) and approximately 1 600 000 donations are tested per annum across two testing sites. Expressions of interest should be e-mailed to Jess.Allen@nhsbt.nhs.uk by no later than 12.00 hours on 31 December 2020. It is important that interested parties respond to this PIN as it is the intention of NHSBT to further consult those organisations who express an interest to identify preparatory work which may need to take place ahead of any future tendering opportunities. To aid NHSBT’s planning, in your expression of interest response please confirm whether your organisation is able to provide a device, on loan, to NHSBT (under the Master Indemnity Agreement https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/master-indemnity-agreement-mia) for proposed preparatory work prior to any tendering opportunity. Please also provide an indicative lead-time for the device. A further PIN and subsequent contract notice relating to any future tender will be submitted for publication. All interested parties should also respond to the future notices.