Coventry and Warwickshire Pathology Services (“CWPS”) is seeking a partner to implement a Managed Laboratory Service Contract for Microbiology that will include the provision of automation, maintenance, associated connectivity, the supply of consumables, associated items, chemicals and reagents.

Additional developments of the service will be required such as the support in upskilling of staff, and access to global research to assist the future strategy of the network.

CWPS is a managed network of laboratories hosted by University Hospitals of Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust (UHCW).

Laboratory services are provided by laboratories at University Hospital, Coventry, South Warwickshire Hospital, Warwick and George Eliot Hospital, Nuneaton.

CWPS have been commissioned to provide pathology services at Burton Hospital until 2022.

It is anticipated that the scope of the procurement will include the following: · Automation of agar plate inoculation and reading (Plate labelling, inoculation, streaking, incubation, digital imaging/reading all via a track). · Automated Blood Culture instrument suitable to operate on 4 sites and be linked to a central laboratory. · Media (all agar plates and liquid culture media not directly supplied with instruments). · Enteric Molecular solution · Automated sensitivity testing (to include antibiotic discs if automation of a disc diffusion method) · CSF Molecular solution As part of this Managed Service, the contractor will also be asked to take on the responsibility of managing existing agreements and their replacements throughout the contract term.

This will be discussed in more detail throughout the dialogue phase.

To assist in the strategic direction of the procurement and overall solution, Coventry and Warwickshire Pathology Services (“CWPS”) will be seeking supplier engagement.

Please send your expression of interest to pathology@htepg.com; the deadline for expressions of interest for the supplier day will be 19th October 2016.

The supplier day will be held on 25th and/or 26th October 2016.

Supplier Engagement will be carried out in accordance with Regulation 40 & 41 of the Public Contract Regulations 2015.

Please note - direct any enquiries about the tender or future business through HealthTrust Europe LLP (“HTE”) at the above email address.

No direct contact should be made with CWPS.

HTE acting as a provider of procurement services on behalf of University Hospitals of Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust (UHCW).

The resultant contract arising from this procurement will be entered into between UHCW and the successful bidder.