Public procurement notice: Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency Notice
Published: 2017-11-25
Buyer: Ministry of Defence, C&C, Defence Medical Services (DMS)
Country: UK
Contract type: Supplies
Procedure: Negotiated without a prior call for competition
CPV classification: 33100000
Estimated value: 112000 GBP

Technical requirements: The Procurement of Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) with seamless electronic connectivity to a reporting clinician for the production of a definitive report and to a central repository for long-term archive in accordance with MOD policy.
The Authority intends to place a contract with Vertec Scientific Ltd, Reading, UK, for the provision of a Hologic Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA).
It is considered this contract can be placed using the negotiated procedure without prior publication pursuant to Article 32(2)(b)(ii) and 32(2)(b)(iii) of Directive 2014/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council (Regulations 32(2)(b)(ii) and 32(2)(b)(iii) of Public Contracts Regulations 2015) on the basis that competition is absent for technical reasons and the protection of exclusive rights.
An integral part of the ArmeD serVices trAuma rehabilitatioN outComE (ADVANCE) study being undertaken at DMRC, aims to gain knowledge of the longterm outcomes of British battlefield casualties from a 20+ year study.
The ADVANCE study DEXA results are utilised as part of the study and because of this, it is essential that the new equipment and its results are compatible with the current equipment, otherwise the data already gathered since August 2015 will be without value since it will not be compatible with new collected data.
To ensure compatibility, comparability and seamless continuation of the ADVANCE study, the new DEXA equipment must have a certified Certificate of Equivalency which confirms the new equipment is clinically compatible with the current fit in terms of results and data. Only Hologic units provide this guarantee of compatibility procured via Vertec Scientific Ltd. This equipment is not available via the NHS Supply Chain, hence the intention to procure via single source.
Exchanging data between manufacturers is not good clinical practice. This is laid down by the National Osteoporosis Society and International Society for Clinical Densitometry. Each manufacturer may use different reference ranges therefore the norm may not tally. The anatomical areas measured are not identical so to compare longitudinally over time, the same patient must be assessed on same type of DEXA, particularly military patients where force generation capability is key.
Hologic are the only manufacturer who produce a statement of equivalency to prove when a scanner is replaced at a site the comparisons to earlier scans can be ratified, and have provided Vertec Scientific Ltd with exclusivity rights for the distribution of Hologic DEXA within the United Kingdom and because of this, the Authority cannot enter contractual negotiations with another distributor of the Hologic DEXA.
Cyber Security: The MOD has a duty to protect itself from Cyber threats and now we extend this to Suppliers we engage with. As an extension of the Government's Cyber Essentials Scheme the MOD, working together with Industry and other Government Departments, have developed a more robust Cyber Security Model, under the umbrella of the Defence Cyber Protection Partnership (DCPP). All prime contractors must have the cyber security controls specified in DEF Stan 05-138 (Cyber Security for Defence Suppliers), as appropriate to the cyber risk level specified in the contract.
The Authority has determined the level of risk at Not Applicable as defined in DEF Stan 05-138. In order to do business with the MOD you must have the cyber security controls required as shown above.
The Authority reserves the right to amend any condition related to security of information to reflect any changes in national law or government policy. If any contract documents are accompanied by instructions on safeguarding classified information (e.g. a Security Aspects Letter), the Authority reserves the right to amend the terms of these instructions to reflect any changes in national law or government policy, whether in respect of the applicable protective marking scheme, specific protective markings given, the aspects to which any protective marking applies, or otherwise. The link below to the Gov.uk website provides information on the Government Security Classification.
Advertising Regime OJEU:- This contract opportunity is published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU), the MoD Defence Contracts Bulletin and www.contracts.mod.uk GO Reference: GO-20171123-DCB-11454734.


Winner: Vertec Scientific Ltd
Award value: 112000