Find a TenderAwarded
Published 26 Jan 2021, 12:40 GMT

Official UK procurement notice

Supply and Delivery of QIAGEN Extraction Kits and Consumables

Official notice

Authority: DoJ Forensic Science Northern Ireland (DoJ FSNI)

GoodsNegotiated without publication of a contract notice
Awarded value£200,000published contract · exc. VAT
Awarded 11 Jan 2021
Awarded to Information withheld for security reasons

What is being bought

Published requirement description

The DNA Unit of Forensic Science Northern Ireland (FSNI) is currently validated under Home Office Regulations for the processing, sequencing and profiling of samples for the recovery of Human DNA profiles, to judicial standards. This provides the basis upon which FSNI is permitted to upload DNA Profiles to the UK National DNA Database (NDNADB). As a UK Forensic Science Provider (FSP) customer expectations are that FSNI be validated with the UK Home Office for the upload and searching of DNA profiles.

The Home Office require FSNI to hold Accreditation to current standards. The Home Office require all DNA suppliers, wishing to avail of NDNADB functions, to be Accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). UKAS carry out inspection, testing and trials of Service Provision and Quality Assurance on behalf of the Home Office, thereby, giving the Home Office the confidence in FSNI processes and work standards to the expected level to meet Judicial Standards.

FSNI are required to conduct adequate testing and monitoring of current processes via scientific validation to standards set and approved by UKAS. UKAS approve FSNI under ISO17025 for Testing Laboratories. Without the Accreditation of UKAS, FSNI would not be permitted to conduct the current DNA processes and FSNI would no longer be in a position to meet customer demands.

CPV: Biological evidence collection kits

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published
Lot #1FSNI require Extraction Kits and Consumables for the extraction of DNA from various…

FSNI require Extraction Kits and Consumables for the extraction of DNA from various sample types (blood, semen, saliva, hair and skin cells).

Delivery: Northern Ireland · Forensic Science NI, Seapark, Carrickfergus, Co Antrim

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record · publisher note attached
Procedure method
Negotiated without publication of a contract notice
Legal basis
CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
Procurement category
Goods
Notice status
Awarded
Procurement threshold
Unspecified in notice
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Yes (GPA)
Recurring procurement
Unspecified in notice
First published
26 Jan 2021, 12:40 GMT
Last source update
26 Jan 2021, 12:40 GMT
Authority reference
DOJDAC 30/20
FTS notice number
2021/S 000-001537
Classification (CPV)
Biological evidence collection kits
Delivery area
Northern Ireland (UKN13)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-028d57 Find a Tender
Why no open competition

The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator due to absence of competition for technical reasons

Published justification

FSNI are required to conduct adequate testing and monitoring of current processes via scientific validation to standards set and approved by UKAS. UKAS approve FSNI under ISO17025 for Testing Laboratories. Without the Accreditation of UKAS, FSNI would not be permitted to conduct the current DNA processes and FSNI would no longer be in a position to meet customer demands.

The DNA Unit at FSNI have validated QIAGEN Extraction Kits and Consumables for the extraction of DNA from various sample types (blood, semen, saliva, hair and skin cells). This validation has been accredited by UKAS as have the procedures for extraction. These procedures are covered by the Quality Management System at FSNI and are subject to both internal audit and method witness by UKAS during surveillance and re-accreditation visits. As such QIAGEN extraction kits and consumables provide a highly robust platform for the recovery of extracted DNA.

QIAGEN Extraction kits and consumables are approved by the Home Office as meeting the required standards under NDNADB requirements.

This DAC is being requested to allow FSNI to purchase QIAGEN Extraction Kits and Consumables directly from QIAGEN. QIAGEN are the sole supplier and hold Intellectual Property Rights to these kits and consumables. By purchasing these kits FSNI will obtain a License Agreement under which FSNI will be allowed to utilise the data recovered for Judicial Purposes. This License is required as without it FSNI would be in breach of legislation under which QIAGEN could challenge the data recovered as in breach of the conditions for use of their Intellectual Property, such a challenge would diminish the validity of results produced by FSNI.

Review and risk notes
Review procedure

The UK does not have any special review body with responsibility for appeal/mediation procedures in public procurement competitions. Instead, any challenges are dealt with by the High Court, Commercial Division, to. which proceedings may be issued regarding alleged breaches of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.

Publisher note: Please note that information relating to contractors engaged by the Northern Ireland Department of Justice,and associated bodies, is not published in any publicly accessible forum or publication. This is to protect such contractors, whose security and safety could be threatened by dissident terrorist organisations still active in Northern Ireland if their details became known. This is consistent with Regulation 50(6)(a).. The estimated contract value is a broad estimate only and includes additional quantum for unforeseen demand and to future proof. There is no guarantee of any level of business under this contract. The estimate is not deemed to be a condition of contract nor a guarantee of minimum demand or uptake. No compensation will be payable to a contractor should the actual demand be less than. That stated.. The successful contractor’s performance on this contract will be managed as per specification and regularlymonitored (see Procurement Guidance Note 01/12 Contract Management: https://www.finance-ni.Gov.uk/sites/default/ files/publications/dfp/PGN-01012-Contract-Management-Principles-Procedures-25-Sept-2017.PDF). Contractors not delivering on contract requirements is a serious matter. It means the public Purse is not getting what it is paying for. If a contractor fails to reach satisfactory levels of contract performance they will be given a specified time to improve. If, after the specified time, they still fail to reach satisfactory levels of contract performance, the matter will be escalated to senior management in Construction and Procurement Delivery for further action. If this occurs and their performance still does not improve to satisfactory levels within the specified period, it may be regarded as an act of grave professional misconduct and they may be issued with a notice of written warning and notice of unsatisfactory performance and this contract may be terminated.The issue of a notice of written warning and notice of unsatisfactory performance will result in the Contractor being excluded from all procurement competitions being undertaken by Centres of Procurement Expertise on behalf of bodies covered by the Northern Ireland Procurement Policy for a period of up to 3 years from the date of issue of the notice.

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 1
Awarded value £200,0001 contract exc. VAT
Contracts signed 1latest 11 Jan 2021
Awarded toValueDateStatus
Information withheld for security reasonsSME£200,000 †—Awarded

Contracts

  • Supply and Delivery of QIAGEN Extraction Kits and Consumables · Information withheld for security reasonsSME

    Signed
    11 Jan 2021
    Value
    £200,000
    Status
    active

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

DoJ Forensic Science Northern Ireland DoJ FSNI

Contracting authorityBody governed by public lawGeneral public services c/o Construction Procurement Delivery, Clare House, 303 Airport Road West, BELFAST, UK, BT3 9EDContact email

Dispute resolution & review bodies

  • See VI.4.3 / Review procedureMediation bodyReview bodyReview contact point See VI.4.3 / Review procedure

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice
  • Information withheld for security reasonsAwarded supplier Information withheld for security reasons, UKContact email

Official documents & specifications

Official links; attachments are not copied

No document links were published on the notice.