Scope
Reference
C405898
Description
NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is developing a national programme of Assessment and Recovery Centres (ARCs), specialised facilities that will bring together and implement ex situ machine perfusion techniques at the centre of a national network across the UK. Marginal organs from deceased donors will be retrieved and assessed for transplantation, extending their viability between donation and transplantation. ARCs would enable identification and preservation of marginal or higher risk organs that can be optimised for successful transplantation. In the future, organ function could also be transformed and organs repaired.
We anticipate the introduction of a national ARC service will have a net positive impact on the NHS' carbon footprint, and wider health economy (e.g. through reduction in dialysis interventions) and an environmental assessment will help us to better understand our impact against the status quo.
The aim of the ARCs environmental impact assessment is threefold:
1. Assess the overall impact of the proposed national ARC service on the health economy from an environmental sustainability perspective.
2. A comprehensive comparison of the potential impact of the ARCs programme with the 'as is' or status quo, to clearly articulate the impact of delivering a national ARCs programme on the overall NHS' carbon footprint.
3. Assess the environmental implications of changes to clinical pathways and models within the proposed ARCs service. This will include identifying areas of positive and negative change, and identifying a suite of options and recommendations, to support the service to minimise its carbon footprint throughout the delivery and implementation phase of the programme.
Total value (estimated)
- £100,000 excluding VAT
- £120,000 including VAT
Below the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 April 2026 to 30 September 2026
- 6 months
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 90711400 - Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) services other than for construction
Contract locations
- UKK11 - Bristol, City of
Engagement
Engagement deadline
2 January 2026
Engagement process description
NHSBT wishes to invite those organisations who express an interest in this opportunity to Supplier engagement meetings to be held during the week of the 5th January 2026. Any interested organisations are asked to contact rowena.thomas@nhsbt.nhs.uk by no later than 17:00 on the 2nd January 2026 to express their interest.
If you do not respond by this date, you are not excluded from participating in the forthcoming
tender, this date is to allow for optional supplier engagement meetings to be organised.
There is no guarantee that a formal procurement process will be launched as a result of this early market engagement exercise, nor that any contract(s) will be placed. No remuneration or compensation etc will be paid to organisations who take part in this early market engagement exercise. Suppliers should take part in this process only on the basis that they fully understand and accept this position.
Further information e.g. draft technical specification, award criteria and timescales may be
released for consultation purposes only, to organisations who express an interest in this notice.
Please note that all details are subject to change.
Participation
Particular suitability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Submission
Publication date of tender notice (estimated)
2 February 2026
Contracting authority
NHS Blood and Transplant
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PDBY-6395-VWBP
500 North Bristol Park
Bristol
BS34 7QH
United Kingdom
Email: rowena.thomas@nhsbt.nhs.uk
Website: https://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/
Region: UKK12 - Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Organisation type: Public authority - central government