PHE - Breast Cancer Test and Training System

The NHS Breast Screening Programme (NHSBSP) is a two-stage process for screening and diagnosing breast cancers. Women initially undergo two-view mammography of each breast. The resulting images are reported by two independent readers who may be breast radiologists, breast physicians, consultant radiographers or advanced practitioner radiographers. The two possible outcomes from image reporting are abnormal or normal.

The aim of the Programme is to maximise screening sensitivity (diagnosing the disease in the population who have the disease) whilst also maximising screening specificity (correctly identifying those who do not have the disease).

PHE originally went out to market using the open procedure with only one tenderer (the existing supplier) expressing an interest. Subsequently that tenderer notified PHE that they could no longer fulfil the requirements of the specification due to a key member of staff moving to the University of Nottingham. The tenderer subsequently transferred the intellectual property to the University of Nottingham to help facilitate the continuance of programme monitoring.

The University of Nottingham have agreed to meet the specification requirements at the same cost as the bidder that originally tendered therefore ensuring value for money.

As there is only one supplier capable of meeting the requirements PHE used the negotiated procedure without prior publication to award the contract to the University of Nottingham under Regulations 32 (2) (b) (ii) and (iii).