Packaging Standardisation for NHS Test & Trace

NHS Test and Trace is the national organisation under the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) responsible for conducting Covid-19 testing in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The ambition of NHS Test and Trace is to ensure that everyone who needs a test in the UK has access to one

DHSC are looking to standardise the packaging requirements for the test kits to move to a more effective and economic packaging solution that can protect test kits in transport to homes as well as meeting the legal requirements to safely transport samples returned to test laboratories. This packaging also needs to be handled efficiently at laboratories to maximise testing throughput.

DHSC are now advising the market of our intention to procure these goods.

This procurement will be broken down into 5 Lots:

LOT 1 individual sample return box, LOT 2 a grip seal bag, LOT 3 an absorbent sheet (to protect against leaks), LOT 4 a tamper evident seal and LOT 5 a mailing bag.

Suppliers can bid for 1 or multiple Lots.

Suppliers instructions: the opportunity will be available on the DHSC Atamis eTendering System. Select this link to access and register your organisation to the Atamis system https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome if you have not already done so. Select 'Find Opportunities' and then select the 'Packaging Standardisation for Test & Trace (ITT stage)' opportunity. Once you have selected the Opportunity, press the 'Register Interest' button to register your interest. Once the tender pack is published you can review documents, send clarification messages, submit the response, or decline to respond, if you decide not to participate in the opportunity.

We are planning to issue the tender pack on Wednesday 25th August, an automatic message will be sent notifying you as long as you have expressed your interest against this opportunity.

For further assistance please consult the online help, or the eTendering help desk.

DHSC expressly reserves the rights:

• (i)to use a reverse auction;

• (ii)to cancel this procurement at any stage;

• (iii)to not award any contract as a result of the procurement

Please note that all future correspondence for the event will be our e-Procurement System.