Cryptosporidium & Colilert Testing Kits

CPV: Fine and various chemical products · Laboratory reagents

Procedure method

Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition

Legal basis

CELEX · 32014L0025 Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016 (Directive 2014/25/EU)

Procurement category

Goods

Notice status

Awarded without competition

Procurement threshold

Unspecified in notice

Regulatory regime

Standard

Commercial structure

Stand-alone contract (no framework)

Competition type

Direct award (no call for competition)

GPA / WTO covered

Unspecified in notice

Recurring procurement

Unspecified in notice

First published

11 Mar 2024, 07:31 GMT

Last source update

11 Mar 2024, 07:31 GMT

Authority reference

2023-0954

FTS notice number

2024/S 000-007609

Classification (CPV)

Fine and various chemical productsLaboratory reagents

Delivery area

East of England (UKH)

Official registry OCID

ocds-h6vhtk-04471a Find a Tender

Why no open competition

The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the directive

Published justification

Colilert - Regulation 50.1 (c) (iii)

The Microbiology of Drinking Water (2009) - Part 4 - methods for the isolation and enumeration of coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli (including E.coli O157:H7 sets out the methods for the Examination of Waters and Associated Materials. Anglian Water Services (AWS) use the method D - the enumeration of coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli by a defined substrate most probable number technique incubated at 37°C. The Colilert-18 method is the worldwide ISO standard for method D and AWS have previously trialed and validated this method, gaining accreditation through UKAS in 2015.

The Colilert-18 test uses reagents that are more specific to target organisms and consequently produces results 18 hours earlier than other methods. This enables Water Companies to react quicker to potential public health incidents and ensures that regulatory best practice is adhered to at all times.

The Colilert-18 system is manufactured by IDEXX Laboratories Ltd who are the only supplier/distributors of this product. The system using the quanti-trays is the only defined substrate method that is currently in the microbiology of drinking water and therefore the one that all water companies are accredited for.

Cryptosporidium - Regulation 50.1(e)

The Microbiology of Drinking Water (2010) - Part 14 - Methods for the isolation, identification and enumeration of Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts sets out appropriate methods for analysis of Cryptosporidium within the water industry. Anglian Water Services (AWS) use method AD - Procedures using the IDEXX Filta-Max xpress system for the initial isolation of Cryptosporidium by filtration. The further steps in the process are covered by method D - Isolation of Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts by immuno-magnetic separation (IMS) and enumeration by microscopic examination from the same publication as referenced above.

The Filta-Max xpress system was validated for use in 2010 by AWS as a development on the manual Filta-Max process that had been in use previously. The IMS kit used was validated circa 2000 for use by AWS and all work undertaken is based upon the use of this kit.

The Filta-Max xpress system is in place on all assets that require large volume sampling for Cryptosporidium analysis as part of the regulatory requirement. The IMS kit distributed by IDEXX has been used for all validation work since pre-2000. To change the accreditation and procedures for testing will be significantly disproportionate. These products are supplied by IDEXX Laboratories Ltd who are the sole distributer.

1 further award records carry no date or value.

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