Printing and Small-scale mailing services

Tender description

UK Biobank is a large-scale biomedical database and research resource containing genetic, lifestyle and health information from half a million UK participants. UK Biobank’s database, which includes blood samples, heart and brain scans and genetic data of the 500,000 volunteer participants, is globally accessible to approved researchers who are undertaking health-related research that’s in the public interest. UK Biobank recruited 500,000 people aged between 40-69 years in 2006-2010 from across the UK. With their consent, they provided detailed information about their lifestyle, physical measures and had blood, urine and saliva sample collected and stored for future analysis. UK Biobank’s research resource is a major contributor in the advancement of modern medicine and treatment, enabling better understanding of the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of serious and life-threatening illnesses – including cancer, heart diseases and stroke. UK Biobank requires the provision of printing and small-scale mailing services to support its activities. Further detail in relation to the services are set out in the specification issued as part of the procurement documents accessible via the link in section I.3. Lot 1: UK Biobank issues its annual participant newsletter (“Newsletter”) by email to over 300,000 participants, and a further 130,000 participants are posted this newsletter each year. An example of a previous postal Newsletter is included in the tender pack. UK Biobank requires the successful supplier to print and send a colour copy of its Newsletter by post to approximately 130,000 of its participants in the UK in each year of the contract, the postal distribution to commence on or around the same time as UK Biobank commences its email distribution of the Newsletter unless UK Biobank specifies otherwise (which is typically in January of each year, but this may vary). The Newsletters can be posted via any carrier arranged by the supplier, provided that the carrier meets the requirements set out in this tender and are a minimum of Royal Mail 2nd Class or equivalent (i.e. delivery within 3 working days). In 2014, the UK Biobank imaging study began with the aim of re-inviting 100,000 participants to undergo brain, cardiac and abdominal magnetic resonance imaging, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and carotid ultrasound. This imaging is completed during a four to five hour appointment, which the participant attends in one of UK Biobank’s four imaging centres; Stockport, Newcastle, Reading and Bristol. To date, approximately 50,000 participants have been imaged as part of this study. UK Biobank needs to communicate with each participant that agrees to participate in the study and provide them with a pack, which contains a letter confirming their appointment date and time, and other supporting information. UK Biobank will require the selected supplier to produce and send this confirmation mailing pack on its behalf.