Supply of Defined Contingency Toxicology Services

Description

The Lord Advocate through the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) has responsibility in Scotland for the prosecution of crime in Scotland and the investigation of sudden or suspicious deaths which require further investigation. As part of the process of investigating deaths, the Procurator Fiscal may, in order to establish the cause and mechanism of death, instruct post-mortem examinations at specified mortuaries. As part of the post-mortem process, the Pathologists may require toxicological analysis in order to assist with the determination of the cause of death. COPFS currently contracts with Glasgow University (the University) of these post-mortem toxicological services for the whole of Scotland (excluding Aberdeenshire and the Highlands). The University is currently working through a transition process as agreed with COPFS and Scottish Government leading to the transfer of this service to the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) effective from 1st December 2022. As part of that transition process the University is required to engage closely with SPA to successfully implement the transition and to establish the new laboratory facilities. As a consequence, there will be periods when the University is not able to fully engage with operational service delivery and therefore service provision will require to be supplemented and supported. The intention is to issue a Contract Notice for these services in the coming weeks. The purpose of this PIN Notice is to carry out a market engagement exercise to provide information to the market and to gather market intelligence from organisations that can deliver these services. The aim is to give contractors as much notice as possible to allow them to start thinking about their plans for delivering the services and to prepare for the tender process. As part of this process Toxicological analysis is required in many cases to assist the Pathologists in establishing the cause of death. At present this Post Mortem Toxicology Service (PMTS) is provided under contract to COPFS by Glasgow University. However, this contractual arrangement will cease on 30th November 2022 at which time provision of the service will transition to the Scottish Police Authority (SPA). COPFS therefore is, as the client, seeking service delivery to be maintained in the middle of a detailed and complex service transition process. This involves working closely with the University and SPA to ensure as efficient and effective transition of the service as possible. The nature of this transition is such that it poses possible risks to service continuity and in view of the nature of the services, breaks at all in service provision are not acceptable to COPFS. As a result, COPFS is looking to procure the provision of a Post Mortem Toxicology Support Service (PMTSS) to support the wider pathology services required by the Crown for deaths requiring further investigation across most of Scotland during the PMTS transition phase. This service will supplement as opposed to replace the existing service. The value of the contract is estimated to be up to 900,000 GBP In the event that there are possible delays for a short time post transition, the contract(s) may be novated to the new Service Provider, Scottish Police Authority (SPA), to ensure ongoing service continuity in the short-term post transition. More details about the precise nature of the planned procurement are contained within the attached paper relating to the questionnaire. Consideration has been given to holding supplier engagement events to allow pre-procurement market engagement. However due to the potential time constraints we are inviting contractors to provide feedback, using the questionnaire provided along with this PIN Notice . Your completed questionnaire should be submitted no later than 5pm 1 June 2022. We will decide at that point whether there is further merit and time available to hold any suppler engagement events The prior information notice is issued solely for the purpose of conducting pre-procurement market engagement and does not constitute any commitment to undertake any procurement in the future. Interested parties will not be prejudiced by any response or failure to respond to the PIN and a response to this PIN does not guarantee any invitation to participate in this event or any future procurement. This PIN does not constitute a call for competition to procure any services, supplies or works mentioned in this PIN and the Contracting Authority will not accept any proposals offered in response to this PIN. COPFS is not liable for any costs, fees, or expenses incurred by any party in replying to the PIN or completing the questionnaire.