Specialist Courier Services_ Pathology & Pharmacy

High-level Pathology requirements:

The Authority requires the transport of the following:

1. Pathology specimens from a range of collection points to the Pathology Sciences laboratories at Southmead hospital site.

• A pre-agreed schedule of collections must be met ± 10 minutes
• Specimens are to be delivered within 4 hours of collection

2. Deliveries of Blood taking consumables, blood, liquid nitrogen and documents between the laboratories at Southmead and customers of the Authority.

• These customers are primarily local General Practitioners and local NHS Providers
• Next day delivery of these items is required

3. There is a requirement to provide, ad hoc transport services, weekdays between 8am and 6pm, to support the transport of urgent samples as well as routine overnight transport to a range of UK locations.

• All ad-hoc routine blood products movements need to be collected within 45 minutes of booking.
• Pathology samples to be transported in validated temperature-controlled vehicles or transports containers
• Maintenance of accurate records in compliance with good documentation practice for GDP requirements

High-level Pharmacy requirements:

The Authority requires the transport of the following:

1. Distribution of consignments in accordance with GDP requirements – Guidelines on Good Distribution Practice of Medicinal Products for Human Use (2013/C 343/01).

• Transport of Consignments to Pharmacies and/or other registered premises and/or home addresses / or bona fide customers from the Contract Giver’s storage locations or other specified locations (within and without out of hours)
• Maintenance of accurate inventory records in compliance with good documentation practice for GDP requirements
• Initiate emergency same day requests within 1 hr of receipt of call. Pharmaceuticals to be transported in validated temperature controlled vehicles only (no temperature controlled shippers to be used)

In both instances, the services must be compliant with the relevant regulatory bodies, which may include temperature control and security measures.

The implementation of a tracking system will be paramount for the success of the contract.

DBS’d drivers to support deliveries to patient home addresses. Drivers are required to undertake training for GDP and any other relevant regulatory guidance.

The anticipated contract term is an initial term of 3 years, followed by 2 potential annual extensions