Public procurement notice: Contract Award Notice
Published: 2019-11-18
Buyer: University of Birmingham
Country: UK
Contract type: Services
Procedure: Open procedure
CPV classification: 85100000: Health services
Estimated value: 851520 GBP
Award criteria: The most economic tender

Technical requirements: The University of Birmingham has decided to review its present arrangements for the provision of Health Clearance (Lot 1) and Occupational Health Services (Lot 2) for clinical programme students. Providers are invited to tender for both LoTS or for either Lot 1 or Lot 2.
The colleges of medical and dental sciences and life and environmental sciences at the University of Birmingham incorporate the subject areas of medicine, biomedical sciences, dentistry, nursing and physiotherapy.
Each year almost 1 000 students joining programmes run by the colleges require health clearance. They are mostly undergraduate students for whom health clearance is a condition of acceptance to their programme of study.
The occupational health service provider for this lot of work must be able to offer it locally to the University of Birmingham so that students are able to access it without difficulty.
All students entering clinical programmes are required to have received 2 doses of MMR vaccine or a blood test result for rubella and measles screen. It is expected that the majority of prospective students will make their own arrangements, usually via their GP or a travel clinic, for MMR screening and vaccinations. For those students unable to make their own arrangements the service provider will administer the screening and where necessary the vaccinations.
All students entering clinical programmes are also required to provide a blood test result for varicella screen if they are non-UK students or do not have a history of chicken pox infection and are UK born or raised.
Screen for hepatitis B infection (hepatitis B surface antigen). Currently, most prospective healthcare students will begin blood borne virus screening and hepatitis B vaccinations in the March or April before commencing their course. Dental, physician associates, nursing and medical students are requested to complete all components of this lot of work before they are admitted, however, many students will not have achieved this. This screening should take place prior to immunisation against hepatitis B and is required for Students on healthcare programmes screen for hepatitis C antibody. This is required for dental students only. It is highly likely to be required for medical students from the 2020 intake.
Screen for HIV antigen and antibody. This is required for dental students only. It is highly likely to be required for medical students from the 2020 intake.
Screening for hepatitis B, C and HIV must be carried out on an identified validated sample. The identities of prospective students must be confirmed by means of a photograph.
Administer a course of hepatitis B vaccinations and confirm immunity to infection. Test for immunity to hepatitis B after a course of vaccinations has been completed.
Screen for TB immunity by proof of BCG vaccination or evidence of positive tuberculin skin test within the last 5 years. This is required for all categories of healthcare student administer BCG vaccinations.
Inform the college should any student fail to attend a vaccination or screening appointment without reasonable prior notice.
The results of screening and confirmation that vaccinations have been administered must be conveyed to the colleges of medical and dental sciences and life and environmental sciences within five working days of completing the work for each student.
On completion of all vaccinations and screening, students will receive a personal vaccination record detailing their immune status (which they can use to provide to any placement provider).
Provide counselling, support, advice and treatment for those students who test positive to Blood Borne Viruses (BBVs), and to non-responders, and provide risk assessments for students on EPP courses


Winner: University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
Award value: 851520
Number of bids: 4