GHFT Pathology Managed Service

SCOPE

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (GHFT) aims to procure a managed service contract(s) to support the operations of various Pathology departments at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and Cheltenham General Hospital.

This Prior Information Notice serves to notify potential suppliers about GHFT's intention to initiate the procurement process. The specialisms within the scope of this procurement exercise are:

It has not yet been formally decided whether Point of Care testing is within the scope of this procurement.

THE MANAGED SERVICE

This procurement exercise is not intended to be an outsourcing of the services to another provider. Instead, it is the provision and management of the equipment, technology, reagents, and other consumables. GHFT will provide the facilities for the suppliers to install their equipment and deliver their consumables and services, but GHFT's pathology department will provide the staff to operate the equipment and deliver the results/outcomes daily.

Due to the complex nature of these services, there is a requirement for flexibility in the procurement of often highly specialised, limited-option equipment, IT solutions, and consumables.

Additional information:

PRE-MARKET ENGAGEMENT

The Prior Information Notice aims to notify suppliers of this forthcoming procurement and seek expressions of interest from potential suppliers to participate in pre-market engagement activities (involving 'no obligation' site visits, response to a questionnaire, and attending meetings to provide feedback on the intended approach and present potential solutions).

The Trust intends to commence this pre-market engagement by providing an opportunity for potential suppliers to visit the sites between May 28, 2024, and June 7, 2024. Further meetings will be planned for the end of June/beginning of July for suppliers to provide feedback.

To express your interest and for further information on site visits and the questionnaire, please refer to the documentation on Atamis, project ref 'C286110 GHFT Pathology Managed Service' but please try to confirm your participation in pre-market engagement activities and your preference for a site visit by May 23, 2024.

Prior to the publication of the contract notice, GHFT will endeavour to share draft specifications, over-arching terms and conditions, and other relevant tender documentation, although this cannot be guaranteed.

The Authority reserves the right to change its approach, the scope of the procurement, the procurement procedure, and timelines as a result of the pre-market engagement or any further engagement. For the avoidance of doubt, suppliers do not need to participate in the pre-market engagement activities to be eligible to submit a formal bid when the procurement formally commences.

FINANCIALS

The Total Cost of Ownership is projected to fall within the range of £143 million to £225 million, excluding VAT. This estimate is based on contract durations spanning a minimum of 10 years to a maximum of 15 years. However, costs for construction and enabling works are not included in these figures.