Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust (as the lead contracting authority) is conducting this procurement on behalf of itself and South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Turst, Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust, Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust and Dorset County Hospitals NHS Foundation Trusts (together the PPSA Trusts). The PPSA Trusts are looking to establish a contract with a strategic partner for the provision of a managed service contract for their requirements within the Microbiology discipline, to include, but not limited to, laboratory equipment, maintenance and servicing and all other associated consumables and reagents. This contract does not require a pathology testing service. Currently the equipment is either owned/leased/reagent rental, with additional contractual arrangements for the supply of reagents, consumables and servicing/maintenance. The PPSA Trusts will be responsible for procuring equipment and complying with public procurement regulations. As part of the managed service it is the expectation of the trusts that the successful bidder will oversee all aspects of inventory management and asset management including IT upgrades of those assets (hardware and software), financial performance, performance management, servicing and maintenance.