Planning

PCR Sample Collection Kit Request for Information (RFI)

UK HEALTH SECURITY AGENCY

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

22 Aug 2025 at 14:11

Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is currently in the planning stage of a procurement process titled "PCR Sample Collection Kit Request for Information (RFI)." This initiative focuses on the industry category pertaining to Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) equipment and diagnostic kits. Located in London, United Kingdom, the agency aims to enhance its understanding of the marketplace for potential future requirements in pandemic preparedness. The engagement end date for this market engagement is set as 15 September 2025. The procurement stage is currently marked as planning, indicating that the UKHSA is gathering information and exploring options without committing to a specific sourcing exercise at this moment.

This tender provides significant opportunities for businesses involved in manufacturing or supplying medical diagnostic kits, PCR equipment, and related services. In particular, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with the capability to provide UKCA/CE approved self-collection PCR kits that are user-friendly and require no specialist training are well-suited to respond. The RFI seeks to identify suitable products and turnkey services that can support the UK's agile response to infectious disease outbreaks. This is an excellent opportunity for businesses to align with the UK's strategic initiatives, such as enhancing resilience and flexibility in pandemic preparedness and supporting the 100 Days Mission, which targets rapid deployment of diagnostics.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

D3 Tenders Premium

Win More Public Sector Contracts

AI-powered tender discovery, pipeline management, and market intelligence — everything you need to grow your public sector business.

Start Free Trial Book a Demo
All Features Pricing

Notice Information

Notice Title

PCR Sample Collection Kit Request for Information (RFI)

Notice Description

The purpose of this document is to enhance the Authority's understanding of the marketplace and its options for sourcing for a potential future requirement. The issuance of this request for information (RFI) does not constitute a sourcing exercise nor will the Authority pay any costs incurred in the preparation of a response to this RFI. Should you have any questions or queries relating to this RFI, please use the Atamis portal's messaging centre to direct your questions to us for a response. If a response is not received by the RFI response deadline this will have no impact on your ability to tender for the opportunity in the future. UKHSA will not enter into contracts on the basis of replies to this RFI. | Description of Scope of Requirements: The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is responsible for protecting every member of every community from the impact of infectious diseases, chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents and other health threats. We provide intellectual, scientific and operational leadership at national and local level, as well as on the global stage, to make the nation's health secure. UKHSA uses PCR sample collection kits as a critical tool in protecting public health, providing support in outbreak investigations and control measures for a range of pathogens including SARS-CoV-2 and H1N2 To provide greater resilience and flexibility across use cases as part of UKHSAs Pandemic Preparedness strategy and support the UK's contribution to the 100 Days Mission - GOV.UK, which targets deployment of diagnostics within 100 days of identifying a new pandemic threat, it would be beneficial to identify a suitable standard VTM self-collection PCR sample collection kit that could either be procured for central stockpile or acquired at the point of need. The UKHSA requires a UKCA/CE approved self-collection PCR sample collection kit that is easy to access, simple and intuitive to be used by the UK public (with no required specialist training and with minimal technical jargon). In addition, UKHSA is also seeking to understand the availability of turnkey services that could support the PCR product and inform our choice of delivery model Should you wish to respond to this Request for Information, please complete the response questionnaire which is found at the following link: https://atamis-1928.my.salesforce-sites.com/ProSpend__CS_ContractPage?SearchType=Projects&uid=a07Sr00000e7gVVIAY&searchStr=&sortStr=Recently+Published&page=1&filters=&County=

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-fcd1ca4f-f505-48a7-89c9-4c583685797c
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/ce465f76-4370-413b-aa47-07c66dee0627
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

33 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products

38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

CPV Codes

33140000 - Medical consumables

33141625 - Diagnostic kits

38911000 - Manual swab test kits

38951000 - Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) equipment

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 Aug 20256 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
15 Sep 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UK HEALTH SECURITY AGENCY
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
E14 4PU
Post Town
East London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI42 Tower Hamlets
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Tower Hamlets
Electoral Ward
Canary Wharf
Westminster Constituency
Poplar and Limehouse

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts. 

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-b5fd17-fcd1ca4f-f505-48a7-89c9-4c583685797c-2025-08-22T15:11:20+01:00",
    "date": "2025-08-22T15:11:20+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-b5fd17-fcd1ca4f-f505-48a7-89c9-4c583685797c",
    "language": "en",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "title": "PCR Sample Collection Kit Request for Information (RFI)",
    "planning": {
        "milestones": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "title": "Engagement end date",
                "type": "engagement",
                "dueDate": "2025-09-15T23:59:59+01:00"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "description": "Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder",
                "url": "https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/ce465f76-4370-413b-aa47-07c66dee0627",
                "datePublished": "2025-08-22T15:11:20+01:00",
                "format": "text/html",
                "language": "en"
            },
            {
                "id": "2",
                "description": "20250822_C385192_PCR Sample Collection Kit_RFI_Final_V1",
                "url": "https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/74b1bd77-99eb-4880-ab55-6665653b7026",
                "format": "application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document"
            }
        ]
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "CF-3162400D0O000000rwimUAA",
        "title": "PCR Sample Collection Kit Request for Information (RFI)",
        "description": "The purpose of this document is to enhance the Authority's understanding of the marketplace and its options for sourcing for a potential future requirement. The issuance of this request for information (RFI) does not constitute a sourcing exercise nor will the Authority pay any costs incurred in the preparation of a response to this RFI. Should you have any questions or queries relating to this RFI, please use the Atamis portal's messaging centre to direct your questions to us for a response. If a response is not received by the RFI response deadline this will have no impact on your ability to tender for the opportunity in the future. UKHSA will not enter into contracts on the basis of replies to this RFI. | Description of Scope of Requirements: The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is responsible for protecting every member of every community from the impact of infectious diseases, chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents and other health threats. We provide intellectual, scientific and operational leadership at national and local level, as well as on the global stage, to make the nation's health secure. UKHSA uses PCR sample collection kits as a critical tool in protecting public health, providing support in outbreak investigations and control measures for a range of pathogens including SARS-CoV-2 and H1N2 To provide greater resilience and flexibility across use cases as part of UKHSAs Pandemic Preparedness strategy and support the UK's contribution to the 100 Days Mission - GOV.UK, which targets deployment of diagnostics within 100 days of identifying a new pandemic threat, it would be beneficial to identify a suitable standard VTM self-collection PCR sample collection kit that could either be procured for central stockpile or acquired at the point of need. The UKHSA requires a UKCA/CE approved self-collection PCR sample collection kit that is easy to access, simple and intuitive to be used by the UK public (with no required specialist training and with minimal technical jargon). In addition, UKHSA is also seeking to understand the availability of turnkey services that could support the PCR product and inform our choice of delivery model Should you wish to respond to this Request for Information, please complete the response questionnaire which is found at the following link: https://atamis-1928.my.salesforce-sites.com/ProSpend__CS_ContractPage?SearchType=Projects&uid=a07Sr00000e7gVVIAY&searchStr=&sortStr=Recently+Published&page=1&filters=&County=",
        "status": "planning",
        "classification": {
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "id": "38951000",
            "description": "Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) equipment"
        },
        "additionalClassifications": [
            {
                "scheme": "CPV",
                "id": "33141625",
                "description": "Diagnostic kits"
            },
            {
                "scheme": "CPV",
                "id": "33140000",
                "description": "Medical consumables"
            },
            {
                "scheme": "CPV",
                "id": "38911000",
                "description": "Manual swab test kits"
            }
        ],
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "postalCode": "E14 4PU"
                    },
                    {
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ]
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amount": 1,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "suitability": {
            "sme": true,
            "vcse": false
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "goods"
    },
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-CFS-254798",
            "name": "UK Health Security Agency",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "UK Health Security Agency"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "10 South Colonnade",
                "locality": "London",
                "postalCode": "E14 4PU",
                "countryName": "GB"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "name": "Joshua Williams",
                "email": "joshua.williams@ukhsa.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ]
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-CFS-254798",
        "name": "UK Health Security Agency"
    }
}