Introduction:

Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust (the ‘Trust’) has a requirement for the provision of an additional Tandem Mass Spectrometer to provide further analytical capacity for Aldoseterone and Renin analysis and additional allowing the back up of assays currently performed in the laboratory (female testosterone, Steroids (Prednisolone, Cortisol) in biological fluids and urinary free catecholamnies).

Contract Structure:

Currently a large Pathology Managed Service Contract (MSC), provided by Abbott Laboratories Ltd, is in place which encompasses a primary service and also 3rd party provisions from various suppliers for other elements of the overall Pathology Laboratory Service. It is the Trusts intention that the contract for the Tandem Mass Spectrometer will be with Abbott Laboratories Ltd under this Pathology MSC. Therefore bidders should note that agreeing to contract with Abbott Laboratories under this MSC is an essential requirement and by responding to the tender, you will agree to working with Abbott and their requirements.

To be completely clear the Trust will make the award decision using the scoring criteria as set out in the tender and notify all bidders of the results. Thereafter the Trust will work with the winning bidder and the Pathology MSC provider with the aim of having this as a 3rd Party within this MSC.

Abbott reserves the right to not include this in the Abbott MSC in the unlikely event they cannot contract with the successful provider. In that instance the Trust may need to contract direct and as such the NHS terms and conditions of Service will be agreed with the preferred bidder.