VEAT Notice for the Provision of LABScreen Testing Kits, LINKSEQ Testing Kits and LABType Typing Kits

Description

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust intends to award a contract to VH Bio for the provision of LABScreen Testing Kits, LINKSEQ Testing Kits and LABType Typing Kits.
The Trust currently utilises One Lambda HLA antibody screening (LABScreen) testing kits for use with LABScan3D analysers, which have been previously procured, to detect and define HLA specific antibodies. The LABScreen kits are a trademark of One Lambda which are routinely used to screen patient serum samples in the pre- and post-transplant setting for both solid organ and haematopoietic progenitor stem cell transplant recipients. The LABScreen kits are the most reliable and informative kit available, and this kit is needed for consistency with longitudinal testing. VH Bio provide the Trust with technical support for the products. The Transplant Laboratory has been accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service for performing HLA antibody detection and definition using the LABScreen testing kits with the LABScan3D testing platform.
The Trust currently utilises LINKSEQ testing kits for use with LightCycler 480 ii and Quantstudio 7 Flex real-time PCR instruments for HLA typing, which have been previously procured. The LINKSEQ kits are the only compatible SSP kits for the LightCycler 480 II and Quantstudio 7 Flex real-time PCR instruments for HLA typing of DNA tests undertaken. The LINKSEQ wipe tests are required for quality control and are a requirement of accreditation standards. The Transplant Laboratory has been accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service for performing HLA typing using the LINKSEQ testing kits with the Light Cycler 480 II and Quantstudio 7 Flex real-time PCR instruments. 
The Trust currently utilises LABTYPE HLA and KIR typing kits and ancillary reagents for use with the LUMINEX LABScan 3D instruments, which have been previously procured. The LABType kits and ancillary reagents are compatible with the LUMINEX LABScan 3D instruments for DNA tests undertaken. The Transplant Laboratory has been accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service for performing HLA typing using the LABType kits with the LIMINEX LABScan 3D system.
As such, a negotiated procedure without prior publication will be followed and is believed to be justified under section 32(2) (b) (ii) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 - 'competition is absent for technical reasons'.