Preferred Bidder appointed to build new blood centre

News Release – Wednesday 5 March 2014

Following a comprehensive evaluation process, the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS – part of NHS National Services Scotland) has announced today that Interserve Kajima has won the contract to build and maintain a new National Centre of excellence at Heriot-Watt Research Park, close to Edinburgh.

This new purpose-built facility will consolidate several of SNBTS’ core activities and related services. This includes the processing and testing of blood, tissues and cells, quality and regulatory functions and research and development.

Mary Morgan, Director of SNBTS, said “We are delighted to announce Interserve Kajima as our preferred bidder and are looking forward to working closely with them to deliver this new centre of excellence”.

“The National Centre will facilitate the effective introduction of new developments, products and safety measures in a flexible, state-of-the-art building.”

“It is very exciting to have reached this stage of the project and we are looking forward to working with Interserve Kajima to turn their winning design into reality.”

This project is part of the Scottish Government’s £750 million pipeline of health projects, which is delivering health infrastructure across Scotland. Health Secretary Alex Neil said: “This new purpose-built facility will help to modernise the processing and testing of the blood which people across Scotland are donating to help others, and will help to ensure the future supply of blood, tissues and cells for all patients”.

“It will also deliver investment and opportunities to the local community, and will mean we can continue to provide sustainable, high quality and continually improving healthcare services to patients across Scotland.”

The project is being procured under the Scottish Government’s Non Profit Distributing (NPD) model and the SNBTS team has worked closely with the Scottish Futures Trust and the Scottish Government during this procurement process.

With input from their advisers, the SNBTS team will now work directly with Interserve Kajima to finalise all aspects of the design, ensure compliance with all regulatory bodies and agree the detailed contractual arrangements that will allow the NPD contract to be signed and financial close achieved. This is expected to take place at the end of July 2014.

Following this, work will start on site at Heriot-Watt Research Park during the early autumn. It is anticipated that the move to the National Centre will be completed in the spring of 2017.

Notes to Editors

• SNBTS is part of NHS National Services Scotland (NSS). Accountable to the Scottish Government, NSS works at the very heart of the health service, providing national support services and expert advice to NHSScotland. It also plays an active and crucial role in the delivery of effective healthcare to patients and the public.
• The Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) is an independent company, established by the Scottish Government in 2008, with a responsibility to deliver value for money across all public infrastructure investment. SFT works closely with the public sector to seek and deliver improved value for taxpayers.
• The National Centre will be funded through what is known as the Non-Profit Distributing (NPD) model. Through a process of competitive dialogue with potential bidders for the project, NPD aims to ensure best value for money.
• After careful consideration and analysis by SNBTS management and trade union representatives and taking into account staff views, it was agreed that the most appropriate location for the new National Centre would be within the Edinburgh area and the Heriot-Watt research park was the preferred site.
• SNBTS advertised the project on the Public Contracts Scotland website and in the Official Journal of the European Union in December 2012. Following a successful Bidders’ Day in January 2013, four consortia completed the pre-qualification questionnaire. A detailed evaluation process was carried out on each of the responses including reviewing financial standing, previous relevant experience and references. Based on the results of this process the decision was made to shortlist three applicants.
• The three consortia worked with the SNBTS’ project team to develop a design that could be submitted for planning approval. Planning permission in principle was achieved in May 2012.
• Following eight months of rigorous competitive dialogue meetings, the bidders submitted their final tenders just before Christmas 2013.
• The Preferred Bidder was appointed after a comprehensive evaluation process.
• An important factor of this development is that hospitals in Scotland will see either no change or a noticeable improvement in the level of service they receive. A separate distribution centre with five full days’ blood stock will remain at the Gartnavel Hospital site in Glasgow.

Contact

Sue Hutchison, Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service

Tel: 0141 357 7746 / 07775 030396