Core Molecular Testing

Location

Edinburgh

Description

Provision of the Managed Laboratory Service for NHS Lothian for its core molecular testing requirement.

Total Quantity or Scope

Lothian Health Board (more commonly known as NHS Lothian) requires a managed service solution for its core molecular testing capacity for a contract period of 3 years. The Supplier will assume responsibility for the guaranteed availability of the managed service solution through the provision and management including maintenance.

Award Detail

CPV Codes

• 71900000 - Laboratory services

Indicators

Legal Justification

This contract is being awarded under the Direct Award procedure under Lot 1 – Clinical Managed Services of the SBS Framework for Clinical Managed Services including Managed Maintenance Services SBS10251. National Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) replacement program is currently being rolled out across the Boards in Scotland and NHS Lothian have been recently given a go live date which coincides with the expiry of the current Managed Service Contract (MSC) for molecular testing. LIMS implementation delay would have a knock-on effect on other Boards hence it is imperative NHS Lothian maintains the timeline. A potential change of supplier due to competition would introduce significant clinical risk at the operational and programme level in terms of potential dual interface builds/manual transcription, increased potential for misidentification or data integrity errors as well as diversion of essential specialist resource away from the LIMS programme at a time when stability is critical. Most importantly, a change of supplier would put a disproportionate risk to patient care. To reduce clinical risk during unavoidable LIMS implementation a direct award of core molecular testing MSC is recommended under Procurement Act 2023 Schedule 5 Paragraph 7: “(b) the difference or incompatibility would result in disproportionate technical difficulties in operation or maintenance.”

Other Information

(SC Ref:826921)