Public procurement notice: Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency Notice
Published: 2016-03-17
Buyer: The University of Birmingham
Country: UK
Region: Birmingham
Contract type: Supplies
Procedure: Contract award without prior publication
CPV classification: 33000000 | 38000000
Estimated value: 250000 GBP
Award criteria: Compliance with the specification

Technical requirements: Compliance with the specification
This is a voluntary ex ante transparency notice of the University of Birmingham's intention to award a contract.
The University of Birmingham is to work with an international institution, the University of Calgary. The 2 institutions will be working collaboratively with ongoing research using a Pentax 0E i-SCAN 7010 EpKi technology. The research is based on studies on mucosal inflammation and neoplastic lesions which depends entirely on this technology which involves:
— Development of a new international consensus (London) of inflammatory grades in Inflammatory Bowel Disease by identifying previously unidentified subtle mucosal and vascular abnormalities. This consensus is predicated on existing data obtained at Calgary.
— Development of high definition electronic chromoendoscopy for cancer surveillance in IBD based on previous data published by Iacucci at Calgary.
— European multi-centre RCT which has this technology embedded to validate biomarkers of colorectal cancer in IBD.
— Development of an International Consensus (Boston) on colonic polyp characterisation. This will also be tested in a multi-centre international trial.
A key decision in requiring this system is that it is required to have capability beyond clinical practice and needs to have fundamental and necessary technological support to drive key strategic research priorities. This system is distinctive due to a number of unique technological key requirements which after reviewing the market are not seen within a single system. We require equipment that incorporates optical image enhancement and flexible switchable electronic chromoendoscopy. These multiple switchable modes can characterize better surface, contrast, tone enhancement of gastrointestinal mucosa and predict histology. Our specific requirements are:
— The system must offer multi-modal electronic chromoendoscopy with iSCAN and NBI capabilities and optical enhancement.
— Endoscopy imaging with high definition resolution and image enhancement which must be a minimum of 136x optical magnification. Additionally the optical zoom must magnify the filter based image enhancement system by a minimum of 136x and be able to magnify the real time digital image enhancement to enable virtual chromoendoscopy.
— The colonoscope must be an HD scope with minimum 3,8mm working channel, capability of remaining in focus when within 2mm of the mucosa and have a dedicated forward water jet. In addition, the scopes must offer optical zoom, which has the highest level of clarity, and the scopes must have a 136x magnification level.
— The HD gastroscope must have a minimum of a 3,2mm working channel, the capability of remaining in focus within 2mm of the mucosa and have a dedicated forward water jet channel. Must possess capabilities of High definition images combined with switchable filter technologies to enhance surface and vascular characteristics of the imaged mucosa.
— The processor must be able to accommodate all the endoscopes specified. The processor must be a combined processor and light source with HD-SDi and DVI outputs linked to a wireless HD image transfer system between the processor and monitor workstations. Needs to have real time digital image enhancement to enable virtual chromoendoscopy and a filter based image enhancement system to further assist in the early detection, characterisation and demarcation by enhancing the vascular and mucosal patterns from either the scope buttons or a foot switch.
— The system is required to be compatible with existing equipment currently at another international institution.
Should the funding body withdraw their support from the Project the University of Birmingham reserves the right to withdraw its requirement off the market.