Laundering of Reusable Gowns

1) Introduction <br/>The Royal Papworth Hospital are seeking to place a contract for the Laundering, light repairing and splashproof treatment of their non-sterile gowns. These gowns are critical to keep staff and Patients safe, used throughout the hospital in various wards. We launder and treat an average of around 2400 gowns a week. The logistics of moving, delivering and packaging the gowns is to be included within this agreement. We anticipate this contract to be for three years with two, twelve-month options to extend. <br/><br/>2) Requirements <br/>a) The supplier shall provide all management, labour, materials, tools, equipment, and transportation to ensure the laundering and protective coating are provided to all gowns. <br/>b) The supplier shall be responsible for the collection and delivery of the gown, as well as the return of gowns that are beyond repair. If any gowns are lost or damaged during the supplier’s performance, repair or replacement shall be rendered at the expense of the supplier.<br/>c) The supplier assumes liability for any and all property entrusted to them during the laundering process and shall be obligated to protect this property until transferred back to the hospital. The supplier must hold the correct liability insurance.<br/>d) The supplier shall plan for, collect, and process the estimated gown quantities as advised in this specification while meeting the collection and delivery requirements.<br/>e) The cleaning requirements are explained in detail throughout this document.<br/>f) The supplier shall provide red dissolvable laundry bags.<br/>g) The supplier shall provide cages to move both clean and soiled laundry.<br/>h) The supplier shall have a suitable laundry facility with both a clean and sanitary laundry area. The supplier shall maintain separate areas for contaminated area and cleaning area.<br/>i) The supplier shall allow annual site audits with no prior warning to support the Trusts requirements with regards to Modern Slavery.<br/><br/>3) Infection Control Requirements.<br/><br/>a) The supplier must comply, where applicable, with the following standards:<br/>• National Infection Prevention and Control Manual for England (NIPCM)<br/>• Health & Social Care Act 2008<br/>• Department of Health guidance HTM01-04.<br/>b) Contaminated gowns will be placed in a red soluble bag, which identifies the item as soiled. The entire bag should then be washed. With the bags dissolving during the wash. <br/>c) Cages used for transporting soiled gowns must be wiped down after each use.<br/>d) The washing process must include a disinfection cycle. This cycle should maintain a load temperature of either 65ºC for no less than 10 minutes or 71ºC for no less than 3 minutes if thermal disinfection is used.<br/>e) The supplier must be open to allowing ad hoc audits as requested by the trust.<br/>f) All machines used in the laundering and splash-proofing process must be fit for purpose.<br/>g) Gowns must be returned in clean, packets of 10 Gowns. <br/>Red soluble bags must be provided 300 bags on Mondays, 100 bags on Wednesday and 300 bags on Fridays. During the implementation of the contract these bags will need to be provided sooner to allow for the handover period.