Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) Services 2022-2024 (2025-2026)

This document is not a procurement announcement, not a Call for Tenders, nor will its publication start a Tender Procurement Process. This document serves as a Prior Information Notice (PIN) and a Call for Tenders information procedure. The purpose of this document is to inform about potential suppliers. Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (later referred to as "THL") will publish an Open Call for Tenders in August 2022 (estimation). The Open Call for Tenders concerns Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) Services for both Bacterial DNA extraction and whole genome sequencing service (complete service from nucleic acids or from a bacterial strain) and Viral nucleic acid extraction and whole genome sequencing service (complete service from nucleic acids, PCR amplicons or from a clinical or an environmental specimen).

Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (later referred to as "THL") will publish an Open Call for Tenders in August 2022 (estimation). The Open Call for Tenders concerns Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) Services for both Bacterial DNA extraction and whole genome sequencing service (complete service from nucleic acids or from a bacterial strain) and Viral nucleic acid extraction and whole genome sequencing service (complete service from nucleic acids, PCR amplicons or from a clinical or an environmental specimen). Bacteriology laboratory at THL Expert Microbiology Unit conducts laboratory-based surveillance for several bacterial pathogens. Surveillance is needed for outbreak investigations and to monitor changes in bacterial disease epidemiology. Whole genome sequencing provides means for both long-term surveillance and investigations requiring high-discriminative power. The sequence data will be used for bacterial strain typing and characterization. THL will purchase both bacterial DNA extraction and whole genome sequencing service or just the latter depending on our needs. Bacterial cultures or DNA extracts of bacterial isolates from clinical human cases will be produced by the customer. Virology laboratory at THL Expert Microbiology Unit conducts laboratory-based surveillance for several viral pathogens. Surveillance is needed for outbreak investigations and to monitor changes in viral disease epidemiology. Whole genome sequencing provides means for both long-term surveillance and investigations requiring high-discriminative power. The sequence data will be used for viral strain typing and characterization. THL will purchase both viral RNA/DNA extraction and whole genome sequencing service or just the latter depending on our needs. Clinical or environmental specimens, nucleic acids extracted from those specimens or complementary DNA/amplified DNA will be produced by the customer. THL uses Illumina sequencing technology in house and the sequence data produced by the service provider must be comparable with the sequence data obtained in THL e.g., paired-end reads. Duration of the contract is two (2) years plus two option years (1+1). Total amount of samples to be sequenced is between 200 and 2500 per contract year. However, THL will not be bound by the minimum purchase amount if something that is independent of THL occurs e.g., a pandemic. Suppliers interested in the upcoming procurement may bring to the attention of the THL any issues that the THL may wish to take into account in the future Call for Tenders. Suppliers are invited to contact us before August 2022 by e-mail to outi.nyholm(a)thl.fi on question regarding bacterial NGS or soile.blomqvist(a)thl.fi on questions regarding viral NGS with "NGS Services 2022" in the subject line of the e-mail. Companies are not entitled to claim any compensation for their participation in this Prior Information Notice.

The suitability criterion of tenderers: Supplier or its subcontractors are not subject to sanctions or asset freezing orders imposed by the European Union, the United Nations (UN) or the Finnish authorities.

This Prior Information Notice (PIN) does not bind the THL to make any procurement based on this notice.