Supply and Maintenance of New Whole Blood Containers

Tender description

Please see II.2.4.1 for full description Lot 1: 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.NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) require a container to transport and maintain temperature of donated whole blood, plasma and platelet concentrates. The proposed solution must be robust, hygienic, cost effective, space saving, simple and safe to operate. Manufacturers will be required to provide validation data showing details of container temperature performance.The container must maintain component surface temperature of whole blood and donated plasma at +20°C or above, and platelets at 20-24°C, at external ambient temperatures down to –5°C and up to +35°C.Containers must be capable of maintaining the surface temperature of packed whole blood and plasma donations at ≥+20°C for the duration of a collection session (8 hours, ambient temperature +16°C) plus the maximum possible period of time to transport them between the session venue and a blood centre (no less than three hours transit time at ambient temperature -5°C and +35°C).Containers must be capable of maintaining the surface temperature of packed platelet donations at +20-+24°C when removed from a storage incubator at session at +22 +/-2°C, plus the maximum possible period of time to transport them between any NHSBT donor centre and a blood centre (no less than three hours transit time at ambient temperature -5°C and +35°C). Ideally the container will not require external phase change material to be added to maintain temperature control. If this is not possible, phase change materials should be integral to the container with minimal equilibration time. 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 September/October 2021.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> by no later than 17.00 (GMT) on 05.08.2020, 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 October 2022.Please note that all details are subject to change.