Genomic surveillance

Creating sustainable surveillance capacity with the help of strong supply chains

Genomic surveillance through next-generation sequencing (NGS) has become a critical tool in helping countries bolster pandemic preparedness. Genomic surveillance, through sequencing of clinical specimens and wastewater samples, is used to characterize a virus, estimate a particular variant’s prevalence in a population, evaluate how effective medical treatments, such as monoclonal antibodies, are against variants, and investigate the spread of a virus in outbreaks. Collectively, this information is used to better understand how variants might impact public health.

PFSCM helps streamline the NGS workflow

streamlining the NGS workflow
Laboratories are continuing to invest in NGS, and have to navigate a fairly complex market and regulatory environment. When setting up new infrastructure or expanding current workflows to support NGS, countries must understand key procurement and delivery considerations to avoid supply chain pitfalls that may result in financial loss, product waste, or delays.
PFSCM NGS supply chain services

PFSCM works closely with donors, suppliers, recipients, and end users to align processes and procedures for streamlined procurement and delivery of NGS products. A high level of coordination among stakeholders is required to ensure that fit-for-purpose NGS products are procured and delivered in a cost-effective, risk-free manner.

PFSCM’s supply chain offering includes:

  • Equipment implementation
  • Delivery, site readiness, and installation
  • Ongoing supply of consumables, warranties, training, and maintenance.

Procurement services for genetic analyzers

PFSCM helps countries improve their genomic surveillance efforts through access to affordable, quality-assured, compatible, and fit-for-purpose NGS products.

We take a project management approach to fulfill orders and manage shipments for genomic surveillance products. In doing so, we educate countries about the requirements and considerations for ordering and receiving these complex products. We help clients plan for the long-term success and sustainability of their surveillance implementation programs. We also manage supply chain risks to take pressure off in-country stakeholders and free up their time for programmatic health work.

NGS Implementation challenges and opportunities

Sourcing and procurement

PFSCM’s approach to sourcing is to build a diverse and reliable supplier base that ensures its clients have access to high-quality products that are affordable and fit for purpose.

Through full and open competitive procedures, PFSCM ensures the timely delivery of quality products and services at a reasonable cost. PFSCM follows the WHO Model for Quality Assurance (MQAS) for procurement agencies and uses diverse criteria to select suppliers based on “best value.”

With more than 15 suppliers offering specialized NGS products, PFSCM has access to a wide range of quality-assured sequencers, ancillary products, and reagents on offer.

Review examples of the products in PFSCM’s portfolio.

Project management and site readiness

Project-based procurement is a specialized service area for PFSCM.

We work with clients on orders from start to finish and beyond.

We help clients select laboratory and medical equipment that is affordable, compatible, and easy to maintain in the long run.

We advise clients on the requirements for delivery, site readiness, and installation and help clients plan for the long-term success of the equipment implementation through activities like the ongoing supply of consumables, warranties, ongoing training, and maintenance.

A holistic project-management approach to capital equipment orders is essential to ensure maximum machine uptime, peak performance, and, ultimately, uninterrupted service delivery.

Logistics planning and cold chain management

PFSCM supports its clients with logistics solutions, transport planning, and cold chain management for NGS analyzers and reagents.

We work closely with suppliers and freight forwarders (3PLs) to determine the most suitable Incoterms to ensure products are delivered to various destinations in a cost-effective and efficient manner.

Further, we collaborate with 3PLs, clearing agents, and consignees to ensure all parties understand and execute their part of the waiver application and clearing process in a timely manner.

We also ensure reagents and consumables are readily available. We work with our clients to understand their replenishment needs and ensure time and temperature-sensitive reagents are delivered frequently and promptly cleared at the port(s) of entry.

Key considerations for ordering and taking receipt of NGS equipment and consumables

Despite the variety of technologies, methods, workflows, and protocols, there are important factors that clients must consider for a successful NGS implementation; these are:

  • The intended use of the equipment (Research Use Only).
  • The required throughput or amount of samples being processed in a certain amount of time (equipment options).
  • The existing infrastructure to comply with installation requirements (site-readiness, space, electricity, extraction, anti-vibration tables etc.).The present and future applications/needs must ensure long-term feasibility.
  • The options for data management and connectivity (storing and sharing data).
  • Budget and total cost of ownership.
  • Training and installation services.
  • Warranties, maintenance, in-country support, and after-sales service.
  • Supply chain management and distribution cold chain and short-shelf life reagents.

Roadmap for equipment procurement

Access the PFSCM checklists for practical information on:

  • Site readiness
  • Understanding equipment options and cost of ownership
  • Planning for human resources
  • Training
  • Installation
  • Warranties
  • Maintenance
  • After-sales service
PFSCM Roadmap for Capital Equipment Procurement Projects 2022

PFSCM’s NGS experience

PFSCM added NGS products to its portfolio early in 2022. Since then, PFSCM has delivered more than 30 shipments of NGS products worth more than $20 million to more than 20 countries, including Burkina Faso, Benin, Kenya, Morocco, Malawi, Nepal, Nigeria, and Ethiopia.

  • In 2022, PFSCM floated a tender to negotiate affordable pricing structures for NGS instruments and consumables with suppliers. Through this initiative, suppliers started offering products with discounts, and equity programs were created by several suppliers. These programs ensure fair product prices for eligible countries on an international or regional level.
  • PFSCM hosted several educational webinars on the key considerations for procuring sequencers and related products.
  • PFSCM presented on “the role of supply chain management in the expansion of genomic surveillance” at the ASLM 2023 conference in Cape Town in 2023.
  • PFSCM presented a poster on NGS implementation challenges and opportunities at ICASA in Zimbabwe in 2023.
  • During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, we prepared a paper on NGS in the context of COVID-19.
  • PFSCM has a team dedicated to project managing NGS orders, thereby ensuring that common pitfalls are avoided and recipients are empowered to make sound decisions about not only the kinds of products they are acquiring but also about the time frames within which they plan on ordering and receiving the goods
PFSCM NGS map

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