Tender for the Supply of Laboratory Consumables and Reagents for the University of Birmingham

The University has a requirement for an all-encompassing Framework to the following Lots: Lot 1 - Laboratory Consumables Lot 2 - Laboratory Reagents The Framework Agreement will be awarded to up to 4 suppliers per Lot, provided the bidder(s) meets the required minimum standards.

The bidders may bid for one or combinations of both Lots.

The Framework Agreement will be for a period of four (4) years.

Initial contract will be for two (2) year, subject to annual review of cost, competitiveness, sustainability performance and the on-going need for the agreement.

The Framework Agreement may be extended, also subject to annual review.

The Framework Agreement will not exceed a maximum period of four (4) years.

The estimated total spend for the duration of this framework ranges between £3M to £30M excluding VAT.

The Contracting Authority for this Framework Agreement is the University of Birmingham and will be the primary user however the Framework Agreement may also be used by the West Midlands Universities.

Additionally, the agreement may also be accessed by other Universities in the United Kingdom.

In addition, the University will provide access to the following classifications of user organisations: • Educational Establishments: Nursery School, Primary School, Middle or High School, Secondary School, Academy, Special School, Pupil Referral Unit (PRU), Further Education College, University; • Local Authority Councils: County, Unitary, District, Borough, and Metropolitan Councils (Parish and Community Councils are also permissible users); • NHS Bodies, the HSC (Northern Ireland) and Ambulance Services.

The participation in and use of the contract by these other authorities would be at the discretion of the supplier and the University on a viability basis e.g. if the existing specification is acceptable, or in certain circumstances can easily be modified e.g. by adding a small additional requirement to the contract with the authorisation of the Lead University (University of Birmingham), and provided the modification would not conflict with the EU directives.

This project may be funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) or; - European Structural and Investment Fund (ESIF) or; - Research Councils UK (RCUK), the strategic partnership of the UK's seven Research Councils.