DHSC Assisted Testing Framework

The Department of Health and Social Care has tendered for a 4-year UK-wide Framework to cover Assisted Testing requirements for the Authority (DHSC and other Contracting Authorities). This Framework is for the provision of Assisted Testing Services to support the Authority with outbreaks of viruses or diseases that require a testing programme. As part of this Framework the Government's Test and Trace Programme aims to deliver a comprehensive Assisted Testing Services across all four nations. The fully managed Assisted Testing Services are for any type of test site or location across the UK allowing for any test devices or technologies. The Services incl. but are not limited to the provision of Assisted Testing Services, training of own workforce or third parties, support of pilots and service evaluation of test devices, SOP development and deployment of the different roles individually.

The Framework Value for the 4-year term of £386.6m has been estimated according to a series of Forecast Scenarios for both DHSC and other participating bodies, these are based upon actual requirements or historical requests. DHSC has estimated a deliberately high value on the basis of a declining demand approach plus contingency, allowing for the possibility of one or more additional pandemic waves and/or the increased prevalence of a vaccine-resistant variants or other viruses/diseases that may potentially require a planned health response.

The estimated values per Lot are indicative only as the Authority cannot predict with any certainty which Lots may be used for requirements. The Authority therefore reserves the right to go beyond the estimated value of a Lot where there is underspend on another Lot(s) and provided always that the Authority remains within the overall Framework value.