Procurement and technical expertise brought together
Children's Health Ireland (CHI)
How Lifecycle helped Children’s Health Ireland procure a future-ready laboratory service - and what other organisations can learn from it
Synopsis
Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) needed a structured procurement process advancing from a legacy equipment procurement model that focused on single purchases and draw down of reagents to a managed laboratory services approach, enabling comprehensive equipment solutions with the required support on implementation for moving to the new laboratory. Lifecycle converted complex clinical, operational, digital and service requirements into a model that would work in practice and continue delivering value over time. Lifecycle’s role was fundamental because it combined procurement and service planning with technical and scientific laboratory planning expertise — a combination many organisations do not typically have, including laboratory subject matter experts, within a conventional procurement function.
The Challenge
CHI needed a laboratory service capable of supporting a state-of-the-art children’s hospital, multiple specialist diagnostic disciplines, strong digital integration and long-term adaptability.
Traditional procurement would not have been enough. A lowest-cost, equipment-led process would have weakened flexibility, fragmented requirements and pushed implementation risk downstream.
Why Lifecycle Mattered
Most organisations can access procurement capability or technical laboratory expertise, but not always both in one integrated programme.
Lifecycle connected service design, procurement structure, market engagement, business case logic and implementation planning so the project could be shaped around long-term service value rather than short-term purchasing.
The Project Story
Lifecycle developed a structured advisory framework across the full end-to-end procurement. Requirements were defined in service terms rather than asset terms. Output-based specifications and service-led lot structures created a stronger foundation for market engagement and supplier response. Suppliers were encouraged to propose integrated solutions addressing automation, digital connectivity, workflow optimisation and future diagnostic capability. Evaluation shifted away from lowest upfront price toward long-term value, including quality, resilience, total cost of ownership and scalability.
The resulting Managed Laboratory Service model covered Blood Sciences (Biochemistry, Haematology and Coagulation), Blood Transfusion, Specialist Haematology, Metabolic, National Newborn Screening, Microbiology, Molecular Diagnostics, Histology, General Laboratory Equipment and Point of Care Testing. More importantly, it created an integrated service model designed for resilience, accountability, digital alignment and future growth.
Outcomes delivered
- A modern, integrated Managed Laboratory Service aligned to clinical and scientific need
- A procurement process that balanced innovation, quality and value
- Stronger supplier partnerships, governance and service accountability
- A resilient, digitally connected diagnostic ecosystem connected via multiple middleware, integration engine and laboratory information management systems
- A smoother transition from procurement into implementation
“The collaboration between Lifecycle Consultancy Services and Children’s Health Ireland demonstrates how strategic procurement can transform how laboratory services are delivered. By addressing complexity, enabling innovation, and embedding long term value, Lifecycle helped CHI secure a laboratory service model that supports world class paediatric care.”