The objective of this Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency (VEAT) notice is to inform the market of Tallaght University Hospital intention to enter into a contractual duration period in which public bodies may avail by means of a draw down facility (as outlined hereunder) with Syntec Scientific Ltd in accordance with Article 32.2(b) (i.e. the works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for any of the following reasons: (ii) competition is absent for technical reasons; (iii) the protection of exclusive rights, including property rights). Pursuant to a Request for Information (RFI) issued and published by Tallaght University Hospital in 2024 (Tender Ref: 4899874) for open market consultations. The RFI sought to test the marketplace to ascertain if there are providers who could meet the stated requirements and provide the contracting authority with their expertise in this field. A ten year costing of capital, associated life cycle elements, with annual maintenance, consumables were sought in relation to published requirements. For the supply, installation, validation, staff training and maintenance of a fully automated sectioning machine for producing histologic tissue sections on glass slides from formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue blocks. The key high level deliverables that any awarded Tenderer need to achieve as part of this RFI are as follows: 1.1.1 Must be able to and include supply, installation, validation, staff training and maintenance of a fully automated sectioning machine for producing histologic tissue sections on glass slides from formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue blocks. 1.1.2 Automation The machine must be fully automated so that trimmed blocks can be loaded by an operator and sections mounted on glass slides can be unloaded once the process is finished. All processes in between including fine trimming, sectioning using disposable microtome blades, and mounting onto glass slides must be fully automated without any operator input required. 1.1.3 Quality The machine must be able to cut tissue at various thickness from 3 to 8μm using programmable settings and must be compatible with standard tissue processing cassettes. Sectioning must be of a very high standard with a built in quality control check. There must be a barcode reader to identify cassettes and print a unique identifier onto the glass slide. By means of verification, one single response submitted by support in respect of requirements. Accordingly, Tallaght University Hospital entered into negotiation with Syntec Scientific Ltd. For the purposes of clarity no other entity submitted or could supply at the time following the period of consultation with the market. A Contract Award Notice (2025/S 113-385343) was issued and published. The hospital urgent immediate requirement is for the provision of a quantity of one equipment item(s) and may during the contract duration seek further equipment requirements, and/or other agencies may avail of the hospital award. The Contract duration is for a 60 month period commencing from date stated per Contract Award. At the Hospitals discretion the contract may be extended for a further period of up to two years on an annual basis, with agreement with the successful tenderer, to a maximum of seven years in total with a further option at the discretion of the Hospital to extend for a further three year period on an annual basis, subject to the Hospital operational and emergency requirements, should it be necessary at that juncture, to a maximum of ten years in total. Tallaght University Hospital is the Contracting Authority throughout the Contract proves and duration period(s) specified. At the Hospitals discretion the contract may be facilitated by means of a draw down arrangement (if applicable) relative to organisations specified hereunder. Moreover the hospital reserves the right not to permit any Draw Down facility, within the initial contract duration period, or its conclusion, or any of the extension period options set out, without any obligation by the Hospital to do. Any extension period(s) is subject to agreement with the Contractor, review(s), if applicable, and / or operational hospital matters, and / or any current or unforeseen public health situation that may occur.
