Planning

North East & North Cumbria Pathology Archiving System

  • Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management
  • The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
  • Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust
  • County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
  • NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board
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  • South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
  • North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust

UK2: Preliminary market engagement notice - Procurement Act 2023 - view information about notice types

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-084663

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-05f9ca (view related notices)

Published 18 December 2025, 10:33pm



Scope

Reference

NH2049

Description

Cellular Pathology laboratories in the North East North Cumbria (NENC) region currently maintain long term (30+ years) archives of all wax tissue blocks and microscope slides that are produced. The North East & North Cumbria Pathology network (NENC) has obtained limited Digital Diagnostics Capability funding from NHS England for purchase of an "advanced archiving solution" that will both save time for laboratory staff and dramatically reduce the risk of misfiling and loss of tissue blocks and slides. Any proposed archiving solution must be compatible with the current and legacy linear and/or data matrix barcodes on blocks and slides for identification of the materials

Total value (estimated)

  • £558,333.33 excluding VAT
  • £670,000 including VAT

Above the relevant threshold

Contract dates (estimated)

  • 2 February 2026 to 1 February 2030
  • Possible extension to 1 February 2035
  • 9 years

Main procurement category

Goods

CPV classifications

  • 38000000 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)
  • 48329000 - Imaging and archiving system

Engagement

Engagement deadline

1 October 2025

The engagement was carried out before this notice was published.

Engagement process description

2 companies able to provide a pathology archiving solution identified via online search. Providers were invited to demonstrate their solutions and how they may potentially improve administration process of archiving slides and blocks containing pathology samples. To aid understanding of how this technology could potentially fit within existing processes and save staff time and achieve efficiency of storage space.


Participation

Particular suitability

  • Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
  • Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)

Submission

Publication date of tender notice (estimated)

19 December 2025


Contracting authorities

Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management

  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PLMV-4859-MQXP

Northumbria House, Unit 7 & 8 Silver Fox Way, Cobalt Business Park

North Shields

NE27 0QJ

United Kingdom

Region: UKC22 - Tyneside

Organisation type: Public authority - central government

The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PDCY-5582-YRHQ

Freeman Hospital, Freeman Road, High Heaton

Newcastle-upon-Tyne

NE7 7DN

United Kingdom

Region: UKC22 - Tyneside

Organisation type: Public authority - central government

Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust

  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PBLN-7375-RYXJ

Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Sheriff Hill

Gateshead

NE9 6SX

United Kingdom

Region: UKC22 - Tyneside

Organisation type: Public authority - central government

County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PQLT-2871-PCJY

Hollyhurst Road

Darlington

DL3 6HX

United Kingdom

Region: UKC13 - Darlington

Organisation type: Public authority - central government

NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board

  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PMYZ-6944-BYLH

Voreda Portland Place

Penrith

CA11 7BF

United Kingdom

Region: UKD12 - East Cumbria

Organisation type: Public authority - central government

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PZDC-7131-GJTH

The James Cook University Hospital, Marton Road

Middlesbrough

TS4 3BW

United Kingdom

Region: UKC12 - South Teesside

Organisation type: Public authority - central government

North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust

  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PJDT-5353-JMRJ

Hardwick Road

Stockton

TS19 8PE

United Kingdom

Region: UKC11 - Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees

Organisation type: Public authority - central government


Contact organisation

Contact Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management for any enquiries.