PHE - Non-Invasive Pre-Natal Testing Procurement Collaboration

Public Health England (PHE) have been tasked with leading a procurement of the Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) as part of the Fetal Anomaly Screening Programme (FASP). The UK National Screening Committee (UKNSC), through FASP has recommended that NIPT be evaluated as an additional choice within the current screening pathway: NIPT for Down's syndrome, Edwards' syndrome and Patau's syndrome will be offered to all pregnant women whose chance of having a baby with one of these conditions is greater than 1 in 150 from an initial combined or quadruple screening test. PHE are justified in seeking to engage the services of NHS Arden and GEM CSU for the following reasons: Close co-operation between Authorities: The delivery of the NIPT procurement will require close co-operation between PHE and NHS England to ensure its success. Individuals from both Authorities will work together, sharing their respective skills and expertise to deliver the procurement, roll-out and evaluation. This co-operation allows PHE to direct award the contract to NHS Arden and GEM CSU based on the procurement regulations and Regulation 12 (7) which sets out the grounds for genuine co-operation between contracting authorities.