The Midlands and East 2 Network (the "ME2 Network") is a network-wide pathology collaboration in the Midlands and East 2 region, comprising the Contracting Authorities listed in this notice. The ME2 Network carried out a further competition for a pathology managed service under the NHS Supply Chain Laboratory Diagnostics, Point of Care Testing and Pathology Managed Service Framework in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. This contracts award notice covers the contract for a pathology managed service awarded by the contracting authority in section I.1 of this notice

The Midlands East 2 Pathology Network is made of the following NHS Trusts: University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust; Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust; University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust; Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust; Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust; and Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust ("ME2 Network"). The ME2 Network carried out a further competition under Lot 1 of the NHS Supply Chain Framework Agreement for Laboratory Diagnostics, Point of Care Testing and Pathology Managed Services (Framework reference number 2023 S/00 028831) to select a pathology managed service provider (the "Successful Supplier"). Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust has entered into its own contract with the Successful Supplier. This contract award notice is being published by Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust. The other NHS Trusts listed as part of the ME2 Network have also entered into separate contracts with the Successful Supplier although note that Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust will enter into its contract for and on behalf of itself and United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust as the "Path Links" arrangement and this also includes pathology provision at Grimsby, Scunthorpe, Lincoln, Boston and Grantham hospitals and "Derbyshire Pathology" is hosted by University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust, which includes Derby, Burton and Chesterfield Pathology services. The contract includes Phase 1 services: general managed services, biochemistry (including some elements of immunology and serology) and haematology services (including coagulation), pre and post analytical equipment with associated IT and middleware; and Phase 2 services: immunology, blood transfusion, POCT, specialist biochemistry, specialist haematology, cellular pathology (histopathology and mortuary), microbiology (molecular microbiology, bacteriology, serology (including virology)). In accordance with the terms of the contract, the Successful Supplier is responsible for the provision of Phase 1 services in accordance with the implementation plans set out in the contract. The initial ten (10) year term will begin from the ME2 Network Actual Services Commencement Date (the date that the first of the ME2 Network contracts actually commences the delivery of all Phase 1 Services). The term of the contract may be extended for up to 2 years. The Successful Supplier is required to work in collaboration with the ME2 Network to fully develop each of the NHS Trusts' requirements for phase 2 sub-disciplines, test the market and award the winning supplier (a sub-contractor) to provide the relevant Phase 2 service discipline, to ensure value for money and quality of delivery. The Successful Supplier will be responsible for fully managing its sub-contractors under the terms of the contract. The contract sets out the process and governance arrangements for initiating and delivering phase 2 services. The contract value of the Phase 1 services is approximately £14 million. It is anticipated that the contract value of both Phase 1 and Phase 2 services shall be somewhere between £14 million and £52 million