PHF/250735 - DNA extraction services

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is planning a negotiated procurement procedure for services related to DNA extraction from pathogenic bacteria. This opportunity is aimed at specialized labs or organizations with the capability to handle biosafety level 2 pathogens. The total estimated contract value is €140,000, and the contract duration will be a maximum of 24 months.

Eligible regions for this tender include European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) countries, as well as countries within the Stabilisation and Association Agreements and the Western Balkans. The contractor is responsible for receiving samples from these areas and sending the extracted DNA back to the sending laboratories or other designated laboratories within the eligible regions.

The specific pathogens for DNA extraction must include mandatory bacteria such as carbapenem-/colistin-resistant Enterobacterales, carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, while other biosafety level 2 bacteria listed in the relevant EU decision are considered non-mandatory.

This procurement will utilize an open call method, with an expression of interest period starting on May 5, 2025, and concluding on May 22, 2025. The indicative date for launching the negotiated procedure is set for June 2, 2025. It is important to note that this announcement does not constitute a call for tenders but serves as a pre-information notice to inform potential contractors of the upcoming opportunity.

The procurement process does not require co-funding, as the EU will cover all costs associated with the services rendered. The nature of support is monetary, specifically for the DNA extraction services performed by the contractor, who must demonstrate both technical expertise and compliance with biosafety regulations. Given the specificity and competitive nature of the tender, the success rates are projected to be low, indicating fewer than 10 percent.

This initiative aims to enhance efforts in genomic surveillance for antibiotic-resistant infections, aligning with public health objectives and adhere to EU guidelines directed at communicable diseases.

This is a pre-information notice, specifically a publication announcing the contracting authority’s intention to publish a future negotiated low or middle value procedure. It is not a call for tenders.

The procedure identifier is ECDC/2025/MVP/0011-EXA.

The description of the procurement procedure is as follows: The purpose of this procurement procedure is to provide DNA extraction services for pathogenic, maximally biosafety level 2, bacteria as listed in the EC Decision 2018/945. The extracted DNA samples will be used as templates for whole genome sequencing. The mandatory pathogens that must be included in each tender are carbapenem-/colistin-resistant Enterobacterales, carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, whereas the remaining biosafety level 2 bacteria listed in the EC Decision are non-mandatory. After ECDC authorises the sample submission to the laboratory, the contractor will receive a sample, i.e. a pure culture, extract the DNA from it and provide this back to the sending laboratory or to another laboratory within European Union, European Economic Area or Stabilisation and Association Agreements countries if indicated by ECDC and/or the sending laboratory. If requested, the contractor needs to be able to arrange the shipment of samples to its premises dispatched from EU/EEA and Western Balkan countries.

The procedure type is a planned negotiated procedure for a middle/low value contract.

The estimated total value is 140000 EUR.

The lead contracting authority is the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

The main classification (CPV) code is 85100000, which refers to Health services.

The nature of the contract is for services.

The maximum contract duration is 24 months.

The framework agreement is a framework agreement without reopening of competition.

The start date for expression of interest is 2025-05-05 Europe/Brussels.

The deadline for expression of interest is 22/05/2025 04:59 Europe/Stockholm.

The indicative date of launch of the negotiated procedure is 2025-06-02 Europe/Stockholm.

Submissions must be sent exclusively at the address for submission given below. The method of expression of interest is electronic.

A question and answer section exists with public Q&A, FAQs, and a "My Q&A" section. There is also a download QA's (xls) option.

One Q&A is listed: Where can I find the procurement documents for calls for tenders with ‘ExA' in the reference? The answer is: References that feature an ‘ExA’ are not calls for tenders. They are a publication announcing the contracting authority’s intent to launch in the future a low or middle negotiated procedure. This was published on 03/10/2024 16:32.

In summary, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) plans to launch a negotiated procurement procedure for middle/low value contracts (estimated at 140000 EUR) to secure DNA extraction services from pathogenic bacteria. The services will involve extracting DNA from pure cultures of bacteria, including mandatory pathogens like carbapenem-/colistin-resistant Enterobacterales, carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, as well as other non-mandatory biosafety level 2 bacteria. The extracted DNA will be used for whole genome sequencing. The contractor must be able to receive samples from and send DNA to laboratories within the EU/EEA and Western Balkan countries. The contract duration is a maximum of 24 months, and the framework agreement will not involve reopening of competition. The expression of interest period begins on May 5, 2025, and ends on May 22, 2025, with the negotiated procedure expected to launch around June 2, 2025. This announcement is not a call for tenders but a pre-information notice to alert potential contractors about the upcoming opportunity.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated, but based on the description, it is implied that suitable applicants would be laboratories or organizations capable of providing DNA extraction services for pathogenic bacteria, specifically those with biosafety level 2 capabilities.

Funding Type: This is a procurement procedure, specifically a planned negotiated procedure for a middle/low value contract. The nature of the contract is for services.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity does not explicitly state whether a single applicant or a consortium is required.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The contractor needs to be able to arrange shipment of samples dispatched from EU/EEA and Western Balkan countries. The extracted DNA must be provided back to the sending laboratory or to another laboratory within European Union, European Economic Area or Stabilisation and Association Agreements countries if indicated by ECDC and/or the sending laboratory.

Target Sector: The target sector is health, specifically related to disease prevention and control, genomics, and laboratory services. It involves DNA extraction services for pathogenic bacteria.

Mentioned Countries: European Union, European Economic Area, Western Balkan countries, Stabilisation and Association Agreements countries.

Project Stage: The project stage is service delivery, specifically providing DNA extraction services based on samples provided.

Funding Amount: The estimated total value is 140000 EUR, which falls into the €50k–€200k range.

Application Type: The application type is a planned negotiated procedure. An expression of interest is required.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in exchange for DNA extraction services.

Application Stages: There are multiple stages. First, there is an expression of interest. Then, there is a negotiated procedure.

Success Rates: The success rates are not mentioned.

Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding is not mentioned.

Summary:

This is a pre-announcement for a planned negotiated procurement procedure by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). The ECDC intends to contract a service provider for DNA extraction services from pathogenic bacteria, specifically those at biosafety level 2. The extracted DNA will be used for whole genome sequencing. The mandatory pathogens include carbapenem-/colistin-resistant Enterobacterales, carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The contractor must be able to receive samples from and send extracted DNA to laboratories within the EU, EEA, and countries with Stabilisation and Association Agreements, and also arrange sample shipments from the EU/EEA and Western Balkan countries. The estimated total value of the contract is 140000 EUR, and the maximum contract duration is 24 months. The procedure will be a framework agreement without reopening of competition. The start date for expression of interest is planned for 2025-05-05, with a deadline of 2025-05-22. The indicative launch date for the negotiated procedure is 2025-06-02. The method of expression of interest is electronic. This is not a call for tenders but an announcement of a future negotiated procedure.