Prion Proteins contamination scanning equipment

The Department of Health is looking to engage with suppliers regarding the procurement of equipment that willbe used in the health system to scan surgical instruments to identify prion proteins contamination before theyare re-used. The scanning equipment will be used by Sterile Service Departments to measure residual proteinson a range of surgical instruments after the decontamination process to ensure that no contaminated surgicalinstrument is re-used and ensure compliance to Health Technical Memorandum (HTM) 01-01: Managementand decontamination of surgical instruments (medical devices). The equipment required for this detection isalso required to be CE marked as a medical device (MHRA Class iia Accredited) as it will be checking the presence of proteins on medical instruments which directly contact patients. The equipment needs to be readyand available to purchase and meet all the requirements, including compliance during the financial year 2017 -2018.

The Authority wants to hear from:

• (a)interested suppliers that have the capabilities to meet the initial requirement in the short term (2017-2018);and
• (b)suppliers that could meet the requirement in future years.

It is the Authority's intention to contract for the purchase of between 50 and 200 units of the required equipment. It is expected that only suppliers that have expressed an interest and can demonstrate that they can meet the initial requirement in the short term (2017-2018) will be invited to tender.

If there are a number of suppliers that are unable to meet the initial requirement in the short term (2017-2018)but are able to demonstrate that they will meet the requirement in the future this may impact on the estimated total value of the initial requirement.

Additional information: Additional information can be obtained via email james.talbot@dh.gsi.gov.uk

Suppliers that have an interest in engaging with the Authority should express an interest via email as above by06/03/2017.

Expressions of interest should state whether a supplier can meet the initial requirement (2017-2018) and if not, at what future date it is expected a supplier will be able to meet the requirement.