Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
COUNTY DURHAM AND DARLINGTON NHS FOUNDATION TRUST
Hollyhurst Road
Darlington
DL36HX
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKC - North East (England)
Companies House
211212300
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Health
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Provision of Clinical Pathology Services
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85111800 - Pathology services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust have a requirement for lab testing services. The service includes testing a wide range of patient and environment specimens to detect the presence of pathogenic microorganisms.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £500,941.26
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKC - North East (England)
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust have a requirement for lab testing services and intends to award a contract to an existing provider following Direct Award Process C under the Provider Selection Regime (PSR).
The estimated value of the contract is £500,941.26 (VAT Not Applicable)
The services are intended to be provided for a term of 12 months from 1st March 2026 with an optional extension for 2X12 months.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Cost criterion - Name: The existing provider is satisfying the original contract and will likely satisfy the proposed contract to a sufficient standard / Weighting: 100
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
2 x 12 months extensions
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below
- The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations
Explanation:
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award. The standstill period begins on the day after the publication of this notice. Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority by 27/02/2026.
This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR using direct award process C.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
Section five. Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
2 January 2026
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust
Gateshead
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKC - North East (England)
NHS Organisation Data Service
RR7
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £500,941.26
Total value of the contract/lot: £500,941.26
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award. The standstill period begins on the day after the publication of this notice. Representations by providers must be made to decision makers by 27/02/2026. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.
Award decision-makers:
Nicola Sherriff
Christina Parks
Based on the assessment and PSR decision making process (taking into account, key criteria; quality, value, integration, inequalities and access), the authority intends to award a contract to an existing provider following Direct Award Process C under the Provider Selection Regime (PSR).
The authority is proposing a new contract to replace the existing contract at the end of its term and the proposed contracting arrangements are not changing considerably.
The authority is of the view that the existing provider is satisfying the contract to a sufficient standard and will likely satisfy the proposed contract to a sufficient standard.
Representations by providers must be made to decision makers by midnight on 27/02/2026 (8 working days from publication) via email to: cddft.sclprocurement@nhs.net
No conflicts of interest were identified during the procurement process.
No subcontracting is expected.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
Darlington Memorial Hospital,Hollyhurst Road
Darlington
DL36HX
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
Position: Chief Finance Officer