Scanning Surveillance Post Mortem Examinations

Concepts

• veterinary services
• animal and plant health agency
• surveillance post mortem examinations
• provision of veterinary diagnostic and surveillance services, namely post mortem examination
• post mortem examination
• surveillance services
• namely post mortem examination
• purpose of accumulation of surveillance intelligence
• examination of animal carcases
• government surveillance

Location

England and Wales

Description

Provision of veterinary diagnostic and surveillance services, namely Post Mortem Examination (PME) (supported by laboratory testing), as part of an integrated network alongside the Animal and Plant Health Agency's (APHA's) own PME sites (the Veterinary Investigation Centres (VICs)), for farm animals in England and Wales.

Total Quantity or Scope

Defra has awarded eight (8) contracts, on behalf of the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), for the provision of veterinary diagnostic and surveillance services, namely Post Mortem Examination (PME) (supported by laboratory testing), as part of an integrated network alongside APHA's own PME sites (the Veterinary Investigation Centres), for farm animals in England and Wales. The services required under these contracts include: • alerting APHA to suspicions of notifiable disease, new or re-emerging disease threats (NRT) and animal welfare issues, • participation as part of an extended network of veterinary staff with experience in farm animal disease investigation, diagnosis and pathology, actively engaging in Government surveillance for potential NRT in farm animals, • day-to-day discussion with Private Veterinary Surgeons (PVS) about disease incidents where specialist advice is needed, • examination of animal carcases with the objective of diagnosing disease, • collection and reporting of data from PME and disease investigations of animals for the purpose of accumulation of surveillance intelligence. (Note that the total value on this notice covers the full 5-year period for all eight contracts. The values shown against individual organisations contracts are only estimates and are subject to change).

Award Detail

Award Criteria

CPV Codes

• 85200000 - Veterinary services

Indicators

• Award on basis of price and quality.

Legal Justification

It is APHA’s understanding that no reasonable or alternative substitute exists that could provide suitable service provision to meet the requirements of these contracts. Therefore, the justification is made under regulation 32.2 (b) (ii). 1) Expertise and Resource: 1.1 Providers' staff must be registered with RCVS and meet the following competencies: (a) Competence and experience in large animal veterinary practice; specifically differential diagnosis for common disease presentations, disease investigation and diagnosis, including the ability to use multiple sources of information as part of these investigations; (b) Competence and experience or qualification in gross pathology of Farm Animals; (c) Knowledge of the most common diseases in Farm Animals, an awareness of the clinical signs and pathology of notifiable diseases and an ability to recognise new or re-emerging disease threats (NRT); (d) Good knowledge of the farming industry in Great Britain; 1.2 Qualified veterinary surgeons are required to be available at all times of the working day so that Post Mortem Examinations (PME) are conducted for Private Veterinary Surgeons (PVS) within the required timescales. It is essential that sufficient qualified staff are available to cover other work priorities of the Provider's organisation. 1.3 Providers are expected to demonstrate capability of managing the risks associated with carrying out the services, including notifiable disease and NRT. 1.4 Providers are expected to conduct internal peer review audits of reports that ensure quality of service. 2) Facilities: 2.1 Providers' PME facilities are required to be either purpose-built or converted to function as a PME facility. The environment is required to support uncontaminated samples for bacteriology that will contribute to the surveillance for bacterial diseases and Antimicrobial Resistance, evidenced by successful isolation of bacteria from diagnostic samples taken at PME. 2.2 The facilities are required to be able to handle Carcases from multiple species, up to and including large adult bovines, and will be available to examine any Carcase material safely, particularly with regard to zoonotic infection. 2.3 The providers' facilities are required to have an onsite bio secure cold store or access to a bio secure cold store with sufficient capacity to facilitate storage of animals of at least 250kgs. Storage will have surfaces that are sealed and can be cleaned and disinfected. The store will be able to be locked if outside a secure area. 3) Standards and Regulations: 3.1 Significant assurance that key standards and regulations will be met and complied with are required for these services. These include: (a) Biosecurity measures (equivalent of Defra and Welsh Government standards); (b) Compliance with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002; (c) Removal, transport and disposal of carcases in accordance with Regulation (EC) 1069/2009 and The Animal By-Product (Enforcement) Regulation; (d) Access to UKAS accredited testing for the purpose of achieving a Veterinary Investigation Diagnosis Analysis (VIDA) diagnosis; (e) Percentage of carcase PMEs with a valid diagnostic VIDA code shall be 80 % (as a minimum); (f) Evidence of facilities and working practices that are aligned to ABP biosecurity regulations.