Scope
Description
NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is a Special Health Authority in England, with responsibilities across the United Kingdom for organ donation and transplantation. Our core purpose is to 'save and improve lives' through the provision of a safe and reliable supply of blood components, solid organs, stem cells, tissues and related services to the NHS, and to the other UK Health Services where directed.
Testing function in the Blood Supply Directorate performs a wide range of testing services, these include but are not limited to the large-scale blood grouping and microbiological screening of blood and tissue donations.
The Authority has two testing sites in England, in which approximately 1.5 million donations are tested each year. Each donation bled requires a minimum of 3 x 6mL sample tubes to be taken into K2 EDTA tubes which have colour coded caps for identification purposes. Some donors also require additional tubes these include but are not limited to 4mL EDTA and K3 EDTA tubes. Tubes are of the evacuation type and the Authority requires a unique bar-code label to be affixed at bed side over a blank manufacturers label.
The Authority also requires automated de-capping equipment at each of the Authority's Testing sites which have sufficient capacity to handle the daily workload by safely removing at least 40 original stoppers from sample tubes per minutes per decapper, with a minimum de-capping success rate at 95%.
To find out more about this opportunity, or to an express an interest, please contact jo.murphy@nhsbt.nhs.uk before Friday 6th February 2026.
Total value (estimated)
- £2,000,000 excluding VAT
- £2,400,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 7 August 2026 to 6 August 2031
- Possible extension to 6 August 2033
- 7 years
Main procurement category
Goods
CPV classifications
- 33000000 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products
Engagement
Engagement deadline
6 February 2026
Engagement process description
Interested suppliers will receive a pre-tender questionnaire for completion. Please contact jo.murphy@nhsbt.nhs.uk to register your interest.
Submission
Publication date of tender notice (estimated)
1 April 2026
Contracting authority
NHS Blood and Transplant
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PDBY-6395-VWBP
500 North Bristol Park
Bristol
BS34 7QH
United Kingdom
Region: UKK12 - Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Organisation type: Public authority - central government