Supply of Automated Molecular System(s) for PathWest Laboratory Medicine WA

PathWest Laboratory Medicine WA (PathWest) operations based at Fiona Stanley Hospital (FSH) and Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre (QEII) provide diagnostic and screening microbiology molecular services for all PathWest metropolitan and branch laboratories in Western Australia. PathWest also receives samples from other referring laboratories (public and private) and agencies. The PathWest FSH and QEII laboratories utilise a range of manual and automated assay systems for the detection, identification and quantitation of bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites as well as the determination of resistance and toxin markers.

The Microbiology Departments located at the FSH and QEII branches of PathWest each require an automated molecular system to consolidate the various platforms currently employed for the detection of the following bacteria/viruses:

• Chlamydia trachomatis (CT);
• Neisseria gonorrhoea (NG); and
• Human papillomavirus (HPV).

PathWest is the only public sector provider of the abovementioned services in Western Australia and its clients include two large Sexual Health Clinics as well as General Practitioners and individual clients who choose to utilise PathWest’s services. It is expected that PathWest will experience a 3 – 5% increase in demand for the abovementioned services per annum. These projections are based on analysis of PathWest’s current laboratory testing volumes for the CT, NG, and HPV services as well as anticipated increased workload attributable to projected population growth and consequential increases in demand for pathology services. The growth in these areas will require appropriate technological support to ensure that PathWest can meet increasing demands for its services (to both public and private sectors) without compromising on quality.

By approaching the market for replacement equipment in this field, PathWest is anticipating that it will capture the latest technologies, allowing it to continue providing cost effective, efficient and high quality services in the subject areas.

The Head Agreement established as a result of this Request may be awarded to a single supplier or a panel of suppliers, and will constitute a standing offer, whereby Customers can place Orders on an ‘as required’ basis during the Term. The Contract Authority also reserves the right to award the contracts on a staggered basis. All contracts awarded will have a common contract expiration date.