Clinical Testing Laboratory Logistics Including Clinical Sample Management

Concepts

• storage and warehousing
• cheshire
• lhl
• clinical testing laboratory logistics
• uk lighthouse laboratories
• clinical sample management
• number of coronavirus tests
• innovate uk
• mdc
• agency of the uk government

Location

Cheshire

Description

Medicines Discovery Catapult (MDC) is a national facility for collaborative R&D exploring and developing new approaches to the discovery and proof of well targeted medicines, diagnostics and biomarkers. Funded by Innovate UK, an agency of the UK government, MDC are an independent not-for-profit company bringing together a fragmented UK sector of industry, academia, charities, technologists, services, finance companies, SMEs and start-ups who together can turn good science into new, high value products. By sharing problems, rare expertise and assets we support the growth of this new community through a time of radical business and national change. The UK Lighthouse Laboratories (LHL) were established across the UK in a matter of weeks to dramatically increase the number of coronavirus tests that can take place each day to support the national effort against the coronavirus pandemic. The new LHL have been constructed through a partnership with the Department of Health, MDC, UK Biocentre and the University of Glasgow. Their development is closely supported by both the NHS and Public Health England. MDC is leading the LHL located in new dedicated labs at Bruntwood SciTech’s Alderley Park. More information on the UK LHL network is available here: https://www.lighthouselabs.org.uk/ MDC require a service provider to provide a 24/7 service ensuring the LHL located at Alderley Park labs are kept stocked with all consumables and clinical samples.

Total Quantity or Scope

To do this the service provider will operate a forward store that draws on the main warehouse and other stock locations to keep the lab supplied with the consumables they need to operate, this includes predication of requirements; stocking of the forward store; and distribution of the consumables to the labs as required. The service provider will also manage the reception of clinical samples from couriers, including Royal Mail, and other couriers and the subsequent storage and distribution of these samples to the unboxing team.

Award Detail

CPV Codes

• 63120000 - Storage and warehousing services

Indicators

Legal Justification

This VEAT provides notification that MDC will (after a 10 day standstill period) directly award an interim contract for clinical testing laboratory logistics including clinical sample management for a six (6) month period which will allow MDC to complete a tender process compliant to PCR 2015 in this time period. The tender will be advertised on Find a Tender Service and Contracts Finder. This interim contract is considered essential to ensure a continuity of the essential service for coronavirus tests, and to support the national effort against the coronavirus pandemic while MDC tender for this service. It is expected that the tender will be advertised on Find a Tender Service / Contracts Finder in May 2021. The Department of Heather and Social Care extended the contract with MDC for the LHL at the end of December 2020. The current contract with the provider ends February 2021. The provider is an accessible solution in the short term given the need to include TUPE information for any replacement exercise which will form part of the procurement exercise MDC is due to undertake. Therefore, the provider is the only supplier who can provide the required essential services in the limited time available for the implementation of a new contract. The award of this interim contract to the provider is considered a proportionate decision given the current circumstances and recognising the role that competition will play in the tender which is due to be issued during the interim contract period.