DNA Extraction systems

Tender description

Prior to commencing a formal procurement process and to help inform our strategy, NHSBT is seeking to engage with suppliers of commercially available DNA extraction systems. Our current contract ends in September 2021 and NHSBT would like to improve our knowledge of all current and future systems available in the marketplace. This will aid identification of opportunities and gauge market interest in this field. Please see section II.2.4 for details. Lot 1: NHS Blood & Transplant (NHSBT) Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (H&I) laboratories and the International Blood Group Reference Laboratory (IBGRL) carry out a range of molecular based diagnostic and screening tests. In support of providing these services, we need the ability to extract genomic and cell-free DNA from human blood and other sources including but not limited to saliva, buccal swabs, plasma, serum and selected cell populations. H&I services are supplied through a national network of six laboratories across England and IBGRL offers a national screening service from a single site in Bristol. Building on our strengths as a national provider, NHSBT’s strategic aim is for its specialist services to become the preferred provider and supplier of choice for these services in the NHS in England. We would like to work with future suppliers to realise this ambition and to perform DNA extraction in an efficient, timely and cost-effective manner to meet the demands and expectations of our customers and the patients we serve. Prior to commencing a formal procurement process and to help inform our strategy, NHSBT is seeking to engage with suppliers of commercially available DNA extraction systems. Our current contract ends in September 2021 and NHSBT would like to improve our knowledge of all current and future systems available in the marketplace. This will aid identification of opportunities and gauge market interest in this field. We require DNA extraction systems to cover the following: • Automated routine DNA extraction (approximate batch sizes between 1 – 20) • Automated high throughput gDNA extraction (approximate batch sizes 96 or greater) • Automated high throughput cell-free DNA extraction (approximate batch sizes 48 or greater) • Provision of maintenance, kits, reagents and consumables for our existing systems (QIA Symphony - Qiagen & MagNA Pure Compact – Roche Diagnostics used in service pre-March 2021). NB: Procurement of the above systems may be managed by individual tenders. It is NHSBT's intention to hold pre-procurement engagement meetings the week of 26th to 30th April 2021, these will be held remotely, the date to be confirmed. To enable NHSBT to finalise arrangements (e.g. send meeting details and agree time slots) for the supplier engagement meetings, interested organisations are required to send an expression of interest via email to marta.drozdzowska@nhsbt.nhs.uk by no later than 17:00 hrs (GMT) on 23rd April 2021. This should include a list of your potential attendees and a brief overview (or a website link) of the Goods / Services which might be offered. Please include options, if available, to offer a managed service contract. No business whatsoever is guaranteed under any resulting framework agreement or contract, indeed there is no guarantee that any framework agreement or contract will be put in place in relation to this notice. No compensation etc. will be paid if a tender or resulting framework agreement is withdrawn for any reason. Bidders should take part in this process only on the basis that they fully understand and accept this position. It should be noted that this procurement exercise may allow other Health authorities to utilise any contracts/ framework agreements awarded.