SCIEX MULTI INSTRUMENT MAINTENANCE & SUPPORT CONTRACT

Procurement reference

CAV-DIR (2025-2026) 259

Procurement description

The contract covers the ongoing maintenance, servicing, and software support required for two Sciex analytical instrument systems used within the clinical laboratory service. These systems include the QTRAP 6500+ and the Triple Quad 5500, along with their associated LC components such as Exion pumps, racks, and Peak gas generators. These instruments are essential for delivering time critical clinical assays, and the service relies on continuous operational reliability to ensure timely and accurate results.Sciex, as the original equipment manufacturer, is the only provider able to deliver the specialist level of technical support required for these systems. Their service model provides access to certified parts, trained engineers, remote diagnostics, software troubleshooting, and clinical applications support. This ensures rapid issue resolution, minimal downtime, and consistent performance, all of which are vital for maintaining uninterrupted clinical workflows. A lapse in maintenance or support would present a significant risk to service continuity and could negatively impact turnaround times for patient testing.

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board

AB Sciex UK Limited

Procedure type

Direct award

Description of how these justifications apply

Sciex is the only supplier capable of delivering the specialist maintenance, servicing, and software support required for the QTRAP 6500+ and Triple Quad 5500 analytical systems, along with their associated LC components, due to their position as the original equipment manufacturer. These instruments underpin time‑critical clinical assays, meaning uninterrupted performance, rapid issue resolution, and full calibration integrity are essential for maintaining safe and timely patient testing. Sciex alone has access to certified replacement parts, OEM‑trained engineers, proprietary diagnostic tools, remote monitoring, and system‑specific software and applications support, all of which are necessary to ensure validated performance and compliance with clinical standards. Their expertise and support model constitute a unique and irreplicable capability, as no third‑party provider can legally or technically deliver the same level of servicing or access to OEM‑specific tools. Using any alternative supplier would risk system malfunction, extended downtime, and compromised clinical assay integrity, directly endangering service continuity and patient turnaround times. For these reasons, the requirement can only be fulfilled by Sciex under a single‑supplier route.

Direct award justification

Single suppliers unique work, art, performance

Trade agreements

Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)