Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership-Procurement Services (hosted by Velindre University NHS Trust)
4-5 Charnwood Court
Cardiff
CF15 7QZ
Contact
ALEXANDRA MCHUGH
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
http://nwssp.nhs.wales/ourservices/procurement-services/
Buyer's address
https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA0221
one.2) Information about joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
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
International Courier Contract For NEQAS/WBMDR
Reference number
WBS-ITT-57986
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 64120000 - Courier services
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The Welsh Blood Service (WBS), operating under Velindre University NHS Trust, invites tenders for the provision of transport services for biological samples. These services are required to support the operations of two key programmes:
UK National External Quality Assessment Service for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (UK NEQAS for H&I), which distributes blood samples to medical laboratories globally as part of its External Quality Assessment (EQA) schemes.
Welsh Bone Marrow Donor Registry (WBMDR), which facilitates the transport of donor samples to laboratories worldwide as well as the transport of samples from GPs/Hospitals/Donors addresses within the UK to WBS.
NEQAS offer 19 different EQA Schemes, which are available to laboratories or appropriate companies in the UK and internationally (our customers). The EQA service necessitates the regular distribution of blood samples to our customers to allow us to check the quality of their medical tests. Some of the samples sent deteriorate quickly; therefore, delivery to destinations must be ASAP to ensure samples are suitable for testing.
The successful provider will be required to Ensure timely and reliable distribution of biological samples, including perishable samples that must be delivered to UK and international destinations as quickly as possible to maintain suitability for testing and non-perishable samples, which can be dispatched via courier or post based on customer preferences.
The successful supplier must also be able to provide transport solutions for donor samples originating from GPs, hospitals, or donor addresses within the UK to the WBS, as well as outgoing shipments from WBS to laboratories worldwide.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: Yes
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £375,000
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
International Courier Contract For NEQAS
Lot No
1
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 64120000 - Courier services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Welsh Blood Service (WBS), operating under Velindre University NHS Trust, invites tenders for the provision of transport services for biological samples. These services are required to support the operations of two key programmes:
UK National External Quality Assessment Service for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (UK NEQAS for H&I), which distributes blood samples to medical laboratories globally as part of its External Quality Assessment (EQA) schemes.
Welsh Bone Marrow Donor Registry (WBMDR), which facilitates the transport of donor samples to laboratories worldwide as well as the transport of samples from GPs/Hospitals/Donors addresses within the UK to WBS.
NEQAS offer 19 different EQA Schemes, which are available to laboratories or appropriate companies in the UK and internationally (our customers). The EQA service necessitates the regular distribution of blood samples to our customers to allow us to check the quality of their medical tests. Some of the samples sent deteriorate quickly; therefore, delivery to destinations must be ASAP to ensure samples are suitable for testing.
The successful provider will be required to Ensure timely and reliable distribution of biological samples, including perishable samples that must be delivered to UK and international destinations as quickly as possible to maintain suitability for testing and non-perishable samples, which can be dispatched via courier or post based on customer preferences.
The successful supplier must also be able to provide transport solutions for donor samples originating from GPs, hospitals, or donor addresses within the UK to the WBS, as well as outgoing shipments from WBS to laboratories worldwide.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Technical / Weighting: 40
Quality criterion - Name: Cost / Weighting: 60
Price - Weighting: 60
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
International Courier Contract For WBMDR
Lot No
2
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 64120000 - Courier services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKL - Wales
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership – Procurement Services on behalf of The Welsh Blood Service (WBS), operating under Velindre University NHS Trust required an experienced supplier provision of transport services for biological samples. These services are required to support the operations of two key programmes:
UK National External Quality Assessment Service for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (UK NEQAS for H&I), which distributes blood samples to medical laboratories globally as part of its External Quality Assessment (EQA) schemes.
Welsh Bone Marrow Donor Registry (WBMDR), which facilitates the transport of donor samples to laboratories worldwide as well as the transport of samples from GPs/Hospitals/Donors addresses within the UK to WBS.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Technical / Weighting: 40
Cost criterion - Name: Cost / Weighting: 60
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2024/S 000-039757
Section five. Award of contract
Lot No
1
Title
International Courier Contract For NEQAS
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
13 February 2026
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 2
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 2
Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 2
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
DHL
SLOUGH
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £40,000
Total value of the contract/lot: £40,000
Section five. Award of contract
Lot No
2
Title
International Courier Contract For WBMDR
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
23 December 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 2
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 2
Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 2
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
PRIORITY EXPRESS (COURIERS) LTD
PRIORITY EXPRESS (COURIERS) LTD, Unit 11 Regents Trade Park
Cardiff
CF245PF
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £40,000
Total value of the contract/lot: £25,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
(WA Ref:161915)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
High Court
Royal Courts of Justice, The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
Telephone
+44 2079477501
Country
United Kingdom