Request for information for the supply of PCR testing of blood samples for Bluetongue to detect infection of ruminant species with Bluetongue disease

Tender description

Ireland is currently free of Bluetongue virus (BTV). BTV serotype 3 was first detected in the Netherlands in September 2023. Since then, it has spread widely across mainland Europe and Great Britain. Therefore, the risk of an outbreak in Ireland has increased. In the event of a confirmed outbreak of BTV, the disease control measures taken by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) will depend on factors such as time of year, outbreak location, average temperatures, the epidemiological situation, availability of vaccinations, amongst others. It is likely that enhanced active surveillance testing of susceptible animals will be carried out Detection of BTV infected ruminants (primarily cattle, sheep, goats) by carrying out a PCR test on blood samples to detect Bluetongue virus will likely be an important part of DAFM’s response to an outbreak of BTV. This testing is currently carried out by the Irish National Reference Laboratory (NRL) for Bluetongue. In the event of an outbreak, demand for Bluetongue testing may exceed existing laboratory capacity. Therefore, DAFM is now seeking to conduct a market sounding consultation process to determine the level of interest there might be in tendering for the provision of additional Bluetongue testing services. These additional services would relate mainly (but not exclusively) to samples from susceptible ruminant species, primarily cattle, sheep and goats, from herds and flocks in Ireland. Ireland is currently free of Bluetongue virus (BTV). BTV serotype 3 was first detected in the Netherlands in September 2023. Since then, it has spread widely across mainland Europe and Great Britain. Therefore, the risk of an outbreak in Ireland has increased. In the event of a confirmed outbreak of BTV, the disease control measures taken by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) will depend on factors such as time of year, outbreak location, average temperatures, the epidemiological situation, availability of vaccinations, amongst others. It is likely that enhanced active surveillance testing of susceptible animals will be carried out Detection of BTV infected ruminants (primarily cattle, sheep, goats) by carrying out a PCR test on blood samples to detect Bluetongue virus will likely be an important part of DAFM’s response to an outbreak of BTV. This testing is currently carried out by the Irish National Reference Laboratory (NRL) for Bluetongue. In the event of an outbreak, demand for Bluetongue testing may exceed existing laboratory capacity. Therefore, DAFM is now seeking to conduct a market sounding consultation process to determine the level of interest there might be in tendering for the provision of additional Bluetongue testing services. These additional services would relate mainly (but not exclusively) to samples from susceptible ruminant species, primarily cattle, sheep and goats, from herds and flocks in Ireland.