Validation Technician Services for Irish Blood Transfusion Service

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

1. At a glance

Buyer Title CPV / category Estimated value Per-year Procedure type Lots Location Contract length Submission deadline Go-live / start |-------|-------|----------------|------------------|----------|----------------|------|----------|------------------|---------------------|------------------| Irish Blood Transfusion Service Validation Technician Service not stated not disclosed not stated Open procedure not stated not stated 24 Months 10/06/2026 13:00 not stated

2. Scope of Work

The contract involves providing Validation Technician Services to the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS). The contractor will be responsible for ensuring that all validation processes comply with regulatory standards and operational requirements. The scale of work includes the validation of laboratory equipment, processes, and systems critical to blood transfusion services.

Key activities include:

• Equipment Validation: Conducting validation of laboratory equipment, ensuring compliance with relevant standards.
• Process Validation: Validating processes related to blood collection, testing, and storage.
• Documentation: Preparing and maintaining validation documentation, including protocols, reports, and change control records.
• Training: Providing training to IBTS staff on validation procedures and compliance.
• Quality Assurance: Implementing quality assurance measures to ensure ongoing compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Reporting: Regularly reporting validation status and findings to IBTS management.
• Collaboration: Working closely with IBTS personnel to address validation issues and implement corrective actions.

The contractor will work approximately 7 hours per day, 45 weeks per year, to meet the total annual requirement.

3. Background & buyer context

The procurement of Validation Technician Services is aligned with the IBTS's commitment to maintaining high standards in blood safety and quality. This initiative supports the broader objectives of the Irish healthcare system to enhance patient safety and service efficiency. The IBTS has a history of engaging specialized service providers to ensure compliance with stringent regulatory frameworks governing blood transfusion practices. This tender is part of an ongoing effort to improve operational capabilities and ensure that all validation processes are up to date.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following eligibility and selection criteria:

• Turnover requirement: Not specified for this tender.
• Insurance:
• Employer’s Liability: €12.7m for any one claim or series of claims.
• Professional Indemnity: €1M limit in the aggregate per insurance year.
• Public Liability: €6.5m limit for any one claim or series of claims.
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• 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 most economically advantageous tender (MEAT) criteria. The scoring will be based on the following:

No minimum scoring threshold per criterion or overall was specified.

6. Submission requirements

Bidders must submit the following documentation:

• Method statement / response document: Follow the provided template with a maximum of 20 pages.
• CVs: Include CVs for key personnel, limited to 2 pages each.
• Pricing schedule: Use the specified template to outline pricing.
• Case studies: Provide 2 case studies demonstrating relevant experience, with values between €50,000 and €200,000.
• Declarations: Include ESPD, Bona Fides, Tax clearance, and Conflict of Interest declarations.
• Mandatory site visit: Not applicable for this tender.
• Submission portal: Tenders must be submitted via eTenders, adhering to specified format rules.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

Key contract terms include:

• Term: The contract will be for 24 months, with potential extensions.
• Payment terms: Payments will be made in accordance with the Services Contract.
• Key SLAs/KPIs: Not specified for this tender.
• Liquidated damages: Not specified for this tender.
• Termination clauses: The contract may be terminated with 14 days' notice.
• IP ownership: Not specified for this tender.
• Sub-contracting rules: Subcontractors must meet the same eligibility criteria as the primary contractor.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

Potential concerns include:

• Insurance thresholds: The requirement for high levels of insurance may limit participation to larger firms.
• Lack of specified turnover: The absence of a turnover requirement could lead to a wide range of bidders, complicating evaluation.
• No specified past experience: This may allow less experienced firms to bid, potentially impacting service quality.

10. SME fit assessment

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

• Relevant experience in validation services, ideally within the healthcare sector.
• The capacity to meet insurance requirements.
• The ability to provide qualified personnel with relevant expertise.

Consortium or subcontracting arrangements are permitted, allowing SMEs to collaborate with larger firms. Bid preparation is estimated to require approximately 10-15 days, depending on the complexity of the proposal. The presence of high insurance requirements may signal a competitive environment, potentially favoring established firms.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: RFT and Sample contract for tender Validation.docx
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified
• Contact email: Not specified
• Important attachments:
• Appendix 1: Requirements and Specifications
• Appendix 2: Pricing Schedule
• Appendix 3: Tenderer’s Statement