Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Marlborough Road

Swindon

SN3 6BB

UK

Telephone: +44 1793604739

E-mail: emily.ohare@nhs.net

NUTS: UKK1

Internet address(es)

Main address: https://www.gwh.nhs.uk/

II.1.1) Title

Reference number: Q3306/02/20/EOH/D&O MS133

II.1.2) Main CPV code

33600000

II.1.3) Type of contract

Supplies

II.1.4) Short description

The contracting authorities currently source their pre-prepared radiopharmaceutical kits from external providers holding ‘Special’ licenses, who supply and deliver compounded radiopharmaceutical kits within a specified time and date to enable delivery of patient care and support operational effectiveness.

The requirement covers the provision of the following radiopharmaceuticals: Tc99m (Technetium), MAA, HDP/HMDP, MAG3, DMSA, Sestamibi, Nanocolloid and Pertechnetate. These are provided in the form of multi injection vials.

This notice is for an extension to the existing agreements held at both contracting authorities, in order to allow sufficient time and resource (in light of the Covid-19 pandemic) to re engage with the market and design a procurement strategy for a renewed agreement.

It is the expectation of the contracting authorities that this will be awarded for an initial 12-month period, with an option to not exceed 18 months in total.

II.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: Yes

II.1.7) Total value of the procurement

Value excluding VAT: 463 306.00  GBP

Lot No: 1

Lot No: 2

IV.1.1) Type of procedure

Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition

Justification for selected award procedure:

The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the Directive

Explanation

The preparation of radiopharmaceutical kits is regulated under the terms of the Medicines Act 1968 and the activity must be carried out by a provider licensed by the Medicines Regulatory Agency under a ‘Specials’ license. Due to the short half-life and expiry of radiopharmaceutical kits, the providers holding ‘Specials’ licenses are limited to NHS licensed providers, which are generally acute Trusts with large Nuclear Medicine Department within a 2-hour distance from the contracting Trust.

In the last year, Great Western Hospital has explored options on whether this provision could be brought back in-house under an exemption to the Medicines Act as part of the proposed new aseptic services unit build. However, it has since been confirmed that the strategic direction is to continue with an external provider.

In addition, the resource and capacity pressures across both contracting authorities, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, has resulted in delays for approaching a subsequent re-procurement with potential, suitably accredited NHS Specials License providers.

Therefore, the contracting authorities require an interim extension to the existing agreements held at both contracting authorities, in order to allow sufficient time and resource (in light of the Covid-19 pandemic) to re-engage with the technically capable market providers and design a procurement strategy for a renewed agreement.

It is the expectation of the contracting authorities that this will be awarded for an initial 12-month period, with an option to not exceed beyond 18 months in total.

IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No

University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust

Bristol

BS1 3NU

UK

NUTS: UKK1

The contractor is an SME: No

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

Southampton

UK

NUTS: UKJ32

The contractor is an SME: No

VI.4.1) Review body