Scope
Reference
C410439
Description
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) invites suitably qualified suppliers to participate in a tender exercise for the provision of surge laboratory diagnostic testing capacity to support national responses to future public health emergencies.
UKHSA aims to maintain a scalable ‘surge model’ that supplements its internal laboratory network with externally contracted PCR testing capability. This model ensures that, in the event of a significant public health threat, the UK can rapidly increase testing volumes to support diagnosis, surveillance, outbreak management and wider public health interventions.
Under this procurement, the Supplier will be required to provide Clinical Laboratory Diagnostic Testing Services as part of a Public Health Critical service. The contract will operate under two defined readiness states:
Cold State – the Supplier maintains operational readiness and must be capable of ramping up to Hot State within ten (10) weeks, as set out in Schedule 10 (Health Incident Response Plan). In this state, the Supplier is not required to provide the Guaranteed Daily Capacity.
Hot State – the Supplier is fully operational and capable of delivering the Guaranteed Daily Capacity in response to an emergency activation by the Authority.
The Supplier will operate in Cold State for the duration of the Contract unless formally instructed by UKHSA to transition to Hot State. Upon issue of a Notice to change readiness state, the Supplier must immediately implement its approved Health Incident Response Plan.
There is no minimum test volume under this Contract. Allocation of test kits and samples will be at the sole discretion of UKHSA. Suppliers must demonstrate the capability to provide a Guaranteed Daily Capacity of at least 100,000 PCR tests per 24-hour period for the Target Pathogen when in Hot State.
UKHSA is seeking robust, sustainable and scalable solutions that enable rapid operational mobilisation, particularly for the delivery of high volume PCR testing for Pathogen X. Suppliers should note that the indicative contract value refers to Cold State readiness only; the operational value during Hot State activation is expected to be substantially higher. The maximum estimated value by the Authority for the Cold State value £3m per annum with an expectation that costs should be £2m per annum or less.
Total value (estimated)
- £456,000,000 excluding VAT
- £547,200,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 22 May 2026 to 21 May 2029
- 3 years
Options
The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.
The primary option under this contract is the activation of the service in the hot state. When activated, the contract value will increase significantly, however, how much it increases will partly be determined by decisions in the event of the Pandemic. This may lead to a centralised national procurement activity of reagents and consumables reducing the costs incurred from lab services providers at point of need. The anticipated value for a six-month (6) hot state activation is £456m. UKHSA notes that the option may be exercised multiple times in the event of a pandemic response and the associated need to operate in a hot state.
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 71900000 - Laboratory services
Contract locations
- UK - United Kingdom
Participation
Legal and financial capacity conditions of participation
Please refer to the PSQ and the tender documents.
Technical ability conditions of participation
Please refer to the PSQ and the tender documents.
Particular suitability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Submission
Enquiry deadline
19 March 2026, 5:00pm
Tender submission deadline
2 April 2026, 12:30pm
Submission address and any special instructions
To express interest and participate in the tender, please register and apply via Atamis e-sourcing portal https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome.
Should Tenderers have any queries, or having problems using the portal, they should contact Helpdesk at:
Phone: +448000988201
E-mail: support-health@atamis.co.uk
The opportunity, along with the associated documents, can be accessed from: https://atamis-1928.my.salesforce-sites.com/ProSpend__CS_ContractPage?SearchType=Projects&uid=a07Pz00001P6OfBIAV&searchStr=&sortStr=Recently+Published&page=1&filters=&County=
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
21 May 2026
Award criteria
| Name | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Health Incident Response & Cold to Hot State Activation | Quality | 20.00% |
| Resilient Performance and Business Continuity | Quality | 15.00% |
| Interoperability - Data Sharing, LIMS Integration and API Capability | Quality | 15.00% |
| Capacity, Flexibility and Scalability | Quality | 15.00% |
| Hot State Operational Delivery & Quality Assurance | Quality | 15.00% |
| Social Value | Quality | 10.00% |
| Supply Chain Mapping | Quality | 10.00% |
Other information
Payment terms
As per the conditions of contract (Document 3).
Description of risks to contract performance
Availability of key inputs in a pandemic scenario.
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Open procedure
Special regime
Light touch
Reduced tendering period
Yes
Light touch contract - no minimum
Contracting authority
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care acting as part of the Crown through UK Health Security Agency
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PBMQ-7576-DVGW
10 South Colonnade
London
E14 4PU
United Kingdom
Contact name: Hamza Hussain
Email: hamza.hussain2@ukhsa.gov.uk
Website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency
Region: UKI42 - Tower Hamlets
Organisation type: Public authority - central government