Tender Summary

Specialist Transportation for Tissue Services

Buying Organisation

NHS Blood and Transplant

Contract Value

£145,000

Tender Description

NHS Blood and Transplant Tissue and Eye Services are the largest multi-tissue banking organisation in the UK, managing the deceased tissue donation programme, where tissues such as eyes, bones, tendons, skin, cartilage and heart valves are retrieved from donors after death.

NHS Blood and Transplant have specialist retrieval teams based in Liverpool and Barnsley; normal practice is for the teams to travel to hospital mortuaries to facilitate deceased donor tissue donations, however NHS Blood and Transplant are changing our working methods to maximise deceased tissue donation throughout mainland Northern England, North Wales and the Midlands There may be exceptional circumstances where coverage may extend outside these regions.

NHS Blood and Transplant wish to advise that a contract opportunity to provide the specialised transportation of deceased tissue donors and associated blood samples between NHS Blood and Transplant Tissue and Eye Services Dedicated Donation Facility (DDF) - Liverpool and Hospital Mortuaries primarily in Northern England, North Wales and the Midlands is due to be published.

Interested parties must be able to facilitate a transfer or return 24 hours per day, 365 days per year as collections and deliveries may be required outside of normal core working hours (8:30 17:00) a maximum of three donors per day.

All donors must be transported in a suitable, unidentifiable vehicle with blacked-out rear windows (where appropriate). The contractor must also provide a suitable trolley and body bag which must be be secured in the vehicle during transit. All vehicles must comply with all relevant legislation and be maintained and presented to the highest practical standards at all times.

The transport of donors to the DDF must be facilitated within strict timelines 48 hours following death; donation of eyes within 24 hours following death. Therefore a rapid response to the collection of a deceased donor for transportation to the DDF, is vital to ensure that donation occurs. The maximum time period available is governed by the time the consent is gained therefore reducing the available donation window period and maximum transfer time to NHS Blood and Transplant - Liverpool. Any untoward delay in transportation could result in the loss of organ donation and tissues. This could impact on NHS Blood and Transplants ability to fulfil its core purpose of helping to save and improve patient lives.

Tender categories (products & services required)

Health services (CPV 85100000)
Hospital and related services (CPV 85110000)
Miscellaneous health services (CPV 85140000)
Services provided by transplant organ banks (CPV 85146200)
Specialist vehicles (CPV 34114000)
Ambulances (CPV 34114121)
Patient-transport vehicles (CPV 34114122)
Special-purpose motor vehicles (CPV 34144000)
Transport services (excl. Waste transport) (CPV 60000000)
Road transport services (CPV 60100000)

Region

United Kingdom (UK)

Buyer Information