Invitation to tender for the provision of reagents for assays run on AB SCIEX LC/MS/MS instrumentation for the Biochemistry Dept at St James’s Hospital

AI-generated analysis of the documents. Check the official notice and any amendments for current submission details.

1. At a glance

2. Scope of Work

The contract involves the provision of reagents for assays conducted on AB SCIEX LC/MS/MS instrumentation within the Biochemistry Department at St James’s Hospital. The Biochemistry Department processes approximately 3,500 blood samples daily, amounting to around 1,200,000 patient samples annually, and performs over 10 million tests each year. The reagents supplied must meet specific quality standards and be suitable for a range of assays.

Key activities include:

• Supply of Reagents: Provision of CE marked mass spectrometry assay reagents.
• Volume Requirements: Reagents should be stable for use for at least four months and supplied in shrink wrap of six units.
• Assay Workload: The expected workload for various assays includes:
• 17 OHP: 1,175 (2023), 1,336 (2024), 1,423 (2025)
• DHEAS: 2,137 (2023), 2,199 (2024), 1,899 (2025)
• ANDRO: 3,122 (2023), 2,981 (2024), 2,316 (2025)
• TESTO: 16,883 (2023), 14,219 (2024), 11,418 (2025)
• VITAMIN D: 15,460 (2023), 16,622 (2024), 17,786 (2025)
• Maintenance Program: The contractor must provide a maintenance program for the reagents and instrumentation.
• Compliance: All reagents must comply with ISO 15189:2012 accreditation requirements for medical laboratories.

The contractor will also be responsible for ensuring that all products meet the necessary international directives, such as EU CE/IVD marking or FDA approval.

3. Background & buyer context

This procurement is initiated by St James’s Hospital, the largest acute general hospital in Ireland, to enhance its Biochemistry Department's capabilities. The hospital has a long-standing partnership with Trinity College Dublin, providing extensive training and education in medical and allied health professions. The need for this tender arises from the hospital's commitment to maintaining high-quality laboratory services and ensuring the availability of reliable reagents for its mass spectrometry assays.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following eligibility and selection criteria:

• Turnover requirement: Minimum average annual turnover of €600,000 over the past three years.
• Insurance:
• Employers Liability: €13m
• Public Liability: €6.5m
• Professional Indemnity: €6.5m
• Certifications: Compliance with ISO 15189:2012 and ISO 9001, 13485, 17664 or equivalent.
• Past experience: Not specified for this tender.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

Bids will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

The contract will be awarded to the tenderer deemed to have submitted the Most Economically Advantageous Tender Overall (MEAT).

6. Submission requirements

Bidders must submit the following documents:

• Method statement / response document: Use the provided template with a maximum of 10 pages.
• CVs: For key personnel, maximum of 2 pages each.
• Pricing schedule: Must follow the compulsory pricing schedule template.
• Case studies: At least two relevant case studies demonstrating experience with similar projects.
• Declarations: Include ESPD, Bona Fides, Tax clearance, and Conflict of Interest declarations.
• Mandatory site visit: Not specified for this tender.
• Submission portal: All submissions must be made via eTenders (www.etenders.gov.ie) in a zipped format.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

Key contract terms include:

• Contract duration: Initial term of 12 months with options for two extensions of 12 months each, subject to satisfactory performance and funding availability.
• Payment terms: Not specified for this tender.
• Key SLAs/KPIs: Compliance with ISO 15189:2012 standards and timely delivery of reagents.
• Liquidated damages: Not specified for this tender.
• Termination clauses: Not specified for this tender.
• IP ownership: Not specified for this tender.
• Sub-contracting rules: Allowed, but the primary contractor must be clearly identified.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

Potential risks and concerns include:

• The turnover requirement of €600,000 may limit participation from smaller firms.
• The absence of specified past experience requirements could lead to a wide range of submissions, complicating the evaluation process.
• The contract's reliance on CE marking and ISO accreditation may exclude firms without these certifications.
• The lack of clarity on payment terms and penalties could pose financial risks for bidders.

10. SME fit assessment

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that can credibly bid must:

• Have experience in supplying medical laboratory reagents and compliance with ISO standards.
• Be able to demonstrate financial stability with a minimum turnover of €600,000.
• Consider forming consortia or subcontracting to meet the technical and financial requirements.
• Expect a bid preparation effort of approximately 5-10 days, depending on the complexity of their offerings.
• Be aware of potential incumbent advantages, as the hospital may have existing relationships with suppliers.

11. Where to dig deeper

• RFT filename: 001 Invitation to Tender for MS reagents.docx
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified
• Contact email: [email protected]
• Important attachments:
• 002 Tender Response Document
• 003 Compulsory Pricing Schedule
• 004 SJH Standard terms and conditions