Supply of Irradiation Indicator Labels

Please note this is NOT the start of a procurement process. A separate contract notice will be published to cover this requirement.

Prior to commencing the formal procurement process, and to help inform our strategy, NHSBT would like to consult the market to improve our knowledge of all current offers available in the market place, identify further opportunities and potential issues, as well as gauge market interest in the proposed service.

NHSBT is seeking to engage with suppliers on the market who can provide a solution compliant with requirements as set out below:

• The primary requirement is for the label to positively inform either through colour change or an alternative technology solution that exposure to either a Gamma or X Ray source operating at a range of 25Gy to 50Gy has been received.
• The label activation must be verifiable by the human eye and able to be interpreted without any additional instrumentation or processes.
• The NHSBT requirement approximates delivery in the region of 360,000 indicator labels per year to 13 sites. These numbers are indicative. More precise figures including the breakdown of Gamma to X Ray will be advised.
• Label adhesive must be tested and approved for medical application.

NHSBT will consider either a single label solution which informs on exposure to either an X Ray or Gamma source, or a separate label solution where sites receive specific labels dependent of the type of irradiator in use. The label must clearly indicate the dose type it is manufactured to report.

Prospective suppliers will be invited to an engagement day in March 2021 (Teams/Zoom call due to COVID restrictions) where the requirements can be discussed further. Information gained from this exercise will be used to inform production of a detailed specification and subsequent advertisement through the FTS route. Interested organisations are requested to send an expression of interest via email to [email protected] by no later than 17:00 hrs (GMT) on 9th March 2021.

If you do not respond by this date you aren’t excluded from taking part in the forthcoming tender, this date is to allow for supplier engagement to be organised.

Further information (e.g. the draft technical specification, award criteria, timescales etc) may be released, for consultation purposes only, to organisations who express an interest.

Please note that all details are subject to change.