Public procurement notice: Prior Information Notice Without Call For Competition
Published: 2020-11-20
Buyer: Department of Health and Social Care
Country: UK
Contract type: Services
CPV classification: 33100000 | 33140000: Medical consumables | 33696500 | 72300000 | 73000000
Estimated value: 2500000 GBP

Technical requirements: Testing for Coronavirus is a crucial part of the government’s response to the pandemic. The national Covid-19 testing strategy has pivoted toward mass population testing. To achieve this ambition a concerted effort to mobilise a range of viable testing solutions is needed. Following a feasibility study (‘P1’), the initiation of targeted pilot studies are proposed as the next step in mobilising mass spectrometry for Covid-19 testing. This PIN is for a market engagement event to understand the capacity and capability of the market for goods and services that DHSC envisions may be required under the next phases of the pilot (P2 and P3).
• assessing and verifying that the published methods of mass spectrometry can provide a confirmatory diagnosis of patients’ infection status;
• validating that mass spectrometry can act as a diagnostic screen for patient samples from NHS test centres and validation of workflow to certain specifications (i.e. turnaround time);
• scaling methodology for mass testing with industry to support the development of end-to-end efficiencies (i.e. sample preparation through to data aggregation);
• rolling out mass spectrometry as a diagnostic tool for Covid-19 nationally across multiple regional centres. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) intends to divide the procurement activity for this opportunity into contracting for the following phases:
• P3(c): industrial scale up, duration to be confirmed The estimated value for P2 is GBP 2.5 million. DHSC intends to divide the procurement into lots based on the nature of goods or services to be provided. The scope of these individual lots is yet to be determined, but is intended to cover the following areas:
The Department wishes to engage with the market in order to share information about potential upcoming opportunities and understand the capacity and capability of the market. Interested parties are invited to join a virtual market engagement event on 26 November 2020 where more details will be provided. When responding to this notice, please provide contact information for the representatives that you are nominating to attend the event, (maximum three per organisation). We request that organisations determine who would be best placed to attend. Responses should be sent to Hannah.Sherington@dhsc.gov.uk by 12 p.m. UK time, 25 November 2020. Please email using the subject line ‘Response to PIN — Market Engagement Event’.
Next steps and key dates: (25 November 2020): deadline to register for the market engagement event. The agenda and protocols will be provided to all participants prior to the event. The event will be recorded for transparency and audit purposes. (26 November 20): market engagement event held. For further information or any enquiries on the above please contact Hannah.Sherington@dhsc.gov.uk
This notice is for information only, and the Department reserves the right to supplement and vary the conduct of the prior engagement process. Where this occurs, the Department will act transparently and treat all interested parties who have expressed an interest equally. The Department reserves the right to discontinue the proposed tendering process and not award any contracts pursuant to this notice. The information contained in this notice, including information relating to the nature and scope of the Department's requirements, the service classification of this requirement or the list of CPV codes, is only indicative of the Department's current thinking and is neither exhaustive nor binding. The Department reserves the right at its absolute discretion to amend it at the time of issue of any further notices or at any other time. The publication of this notice in no way obliges the Department to commence with any competitive tender process. The Department is not and shall not be liable for any costs incurred by those expressing any interest in participating in the market engagement exercise advertised in this notice.


Award value: 2500000