Laboratory IT Systems

Concepts

• stockport
• software package
• information systems
• technical systems
• ukb laboratory operations
• laboratory it systems
• new laboratory it systems
• existing legacy systems
• ukb’s laboratory operations
• system

Location

Greater Manchester:

Description

By publishing this Contract Notice, UK Biobank (“UKB”) is inviting requests to participate in its procurement for the design and implementation of new laboratory IT systems (the “Systems”) to support the next phase of UKB’s laboratory operations.

Total Quantity or Scope

UKB (www.ukbiobank.ac.uk) is a company limited by guarantee and a registered UK charity established by its two founding funders: the Medical Research Council and Wellcome. It is a large-scale biomedical database and research resource containing genetic, lifestyle and health information from half a million UK Participants. UKB is globally accessible to approved researchers undertaking health-related research that is in the public interest. UKB is responsible for the safe preservation and scientific exploitation of a collection of over 17 million samples (plasma, serum, buffy coat, extracted DNA, urine and saliva) that are accessible for approved use by academic and industry researchers. About 11 million samples are stored at -80°C across an automated storage system and other manual freezers at UKB’s headquarters in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The remaining 6 million Samples are stored in vapour phase liquid nitrogen tanks at a backup site in the South of England. UKB is inviting requests to participate in its procurement for the design and implementation of the Systems, data migration from existing legacy systems, testing, commissioning, training, hypercare support and, if required by UKB, the provision of consultancy services in relation to the Systems on an ad hoc basis. UKB envisages that its requirements can be met and the Systems can be delivered through a combination of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) software packages managed through configuration, and complemented by bespoke services. UKB requires a licence and standard support services for any COTS software. This will either be included as part of the contract with the successful tenderer or through an additional contract between UKB and the COTS vendor. The Systems will be required to support UKB laboratory operations when they move to a new purpose-built facility in the City of Manchester in the North West of England in 2026, UKB expects to take ownership for ongoing delivery of the Systems on completion of the phased implementation and will require the Service Provider to collaborate closely with the UKB technical team to ensure a successful implementation and hand-over. The current Laboratory Information Management System data stored in the legacy systems is approximately 110GB across over 160 tables. The Systems must be capable of managing 30 million samples in the near term and have the capacity to expand to accommodate 60 million within the next 15 years. Further detail in relation to the requirements for the Systems and support services are set out in the specification provided as part of the procurement documents. Additional information: UK Biobank intends to hold a virtual information session for shortlisted tenderers. The time and final details will be confirmed to shortlisted tenderers.

Renewal Options

This period covers the implementation period, an estimated 6 month hypercare period and the right for UKB to require consultancy services on an ad hoc basis for a 5 year period from the end of the hypercare period. UKB expects to require ongoing COTS licensing and software support from the end of the initial 5 year period by further 1 year periods with the COTS vendor, up to a maximum of 15 years.

Award Criteria

CPV Codes

• 48100000 - Industry specific software package
• 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
• 48000000 - Software package and information systems
• 72220000 - Systems and technical consultancy services
• 72230000 - Custom software development services

Indicators

• This is a one-off contract (no recurrence)
• Renewals are available.

Other Information

UKB is a large-scale biomedical database and research resource containing genetic, lifestyle and health information from half a million UK participants. UKB’s database, which includes blood samples, heart and brain scans and genetic data of the 500,000 volunteer participants, is globally accessible to approved researchers who are undertaking health-related research that is in the public interest. Funding to support purchase of the Systems has been budgeted by UKRI, and announced by both UKRI, and HM Treasury. ** PREVIEW NOTICE, please check Find a Tender for full details. ** UKB reserves the right to discontinue or delay the procurement process and may decide not to award a contract as a result of this call for competition. UKB shall not be liable for any costs or expenses incurred by any organisation in considering and/or responding to the procurement process. Tenders and supporting documents must be priced in pounds sterling and all payments made under the contract(s) will be in pounds sterling, unless otherwise advised. The estimated contract value for the purchase of the Systems and the provision of services as set out in this Contract Notice and for the duration described at Section II.2.7 may be in the range of [1 - 8 million GBP]. Initial work done by UKB indicated that its requirements might potentially be delivered by a wide range of solutions with differing levels of reliance on existing COTS software packages (“Buy”) and the development of bespoke software (“Build”) which explains the very broad range in the estimated contract value. However, UKB’s expectation is that the System can be delivered through a combination of COTS software packages managed through configuration, and complemented by bespoke services (i.e. with greater emphasis on “Buy” relative to “Build”) and therefore anticipates that the estimated value will be towards the lower end of this range. The duration set out at Section II.2.7 is the estimated duration of the contract and is subject to a number of milestones being achieved. UKB will incorporate a standstill period at the point the decision in relation to the award of the contract(s) is notified to bidders. The standstill period, which will be a minimum of ten (10) calendar days, provides time for unsuccessful bidders to lodge an appeal in regards to the award decisions, before the contract(s) are entered into. NOTE: In order to request to participate in this contract opportunity, interested organisations must complete and submit a response to UKB’s selection questionnaire by the deadline stated in Section IV.2.2. UKB will then undertake a shortlisting process and shortlist successful candidates, as set out in Section II.2.9, to be invited to the tender stage of the procurement process. UKB reserves the right to invite the fourth ranked candidate through to the tender stage of the procurement if its score at the selection questionnaire stage is within 5% of the third ranked candidate. It is not envisaged that there will be any down-selection of tenderers during the tender stage of the procurement although UKB reserves the right to do so. Details of the envisaged tender stage process is set out in a draft Invitation to Negotiate provided as part of the procurement documents. To access the procurement documents, please visit the myTenders Web Site at https://www.mytenders.co.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=233323. NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the myTenders Web Site at https://www.mytenders.co.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=233531. The buyer has indicated that it will accept electronic responses to this notice via the Postbox facility. A user guide is available at https://www.mytenders.co.uk/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx. Suppliers are advised to allow adequate time for uploading documents and to dispatch the electronic response well in advance of the closing time to avoid any last minute problems. (MT Ref:233531)