Award

International Courier Contract For NEQAS/WBMDR

NHS WALES SHARED SERVICES PARTNERSHIP-PROCUREMENT SERVICES (HOSTED BY VELINDRE UNIVERSITY NHS TRUST)

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

Award

23 Feb 2026 at 09:47

Tender

10 Dec 2024 at 13:32

Award

14 Feb 2023 at 13:44

Tender

08 Dec 2022 at 15:29

Summary of the contracting process

The Welsh Blood Service, part of Velindre University NHS Trust, under the NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership, recently completed the procurement process for an International Courier Contract for NEQAS/WBMDR addressing courier services classified under CPV code 64120000. The procurement, conducted via an open procedure, covered transport services of biological samples integral to the UK National External Quality Assessment Service and the Welsh Bone Marrow Donor Registry. This initiative supports laboratories globally, with a focus on ensuring rapid delivery of time-sensitive samples. The procurement process reached the award stage on 23rd February 2026, with active contracts awarded to DHL and PRIORITY EXPRESS (COURIERS) LTD for distinct lots. The service location encompasses regions within the UK, highlighting a strategic focus on health-related logistics services.

This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in logistical and courier services, particularly those with capabilities in handling biological samples under strict delivery timelines. Companies with experience in international transportation and a robust understanding of medical logistics are well-positioned to benefit. The demand for precision and reliability in delivery provides growth potential for service providers able to offer efficient solutions tailored to sensitive and perishable items. Involvement in such high-profile contracts can enhance a company's reputation, providing further avenues for business expansion within the healthcare logistics sector.

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Notice Title

International Courier Contract For NEQAS/WBMDR

Notice 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.

Lot Information

International Courier Contract For NEQAS

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.

Renewal: Optional Extension Period of 12 Months

International Courier Contract For WBMDR

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.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-038bf8
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015907-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

64 - Postal and telecommunications services


CPV Codes

64120000 - Courier services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£375,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£375,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£380,000 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Feb 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
13 Jan 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
13 Feb 20233 years ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
3 years

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NHS WALES SHARED SERVICES PARTNERSHIP-PROCUREMENT SERVICES (HOSTED BY VELINDRE UNIVERSITY NHS TRUST)
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
ST ASAPH
Postcode
LL17 0JL
Post Town
Llandudno
Country
Wales

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLL Wales
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLL5 South East Wales
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLL51 Central Valleys and Bridgend
Delivery Location
TLL Wales

Local Authority
Rhondda Cynon Taf
Electoral Ward
Taff's Well
Westminster Constituency
Cardiff North

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
2
Supplier Names

DHL

PRIORITY EXPRESS (COURIERS

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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