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Microbiology Testing Managed Service

The Common Services Agency (more commonly known as Public Services Delivery Scotland) (PSD Scotland)

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

AwardUpdate

22 Jul 2026 at 10:25

Award Notice
Award

02 Apr 2025 at 12:19

Award Notice
Tender

16 Apr 2024 at 08:53

Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Common Services Agency, operating as NHS National Services Scotland and Public Services Delivery Scotland, procured a fully integrated microbiology testing managed service for the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service. The service covers mandatory and discretionary microbiology testing of blood and tissue donations, including screening for markers such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV and syphilis, with additional testing for HTLV, HBc, CMV and malaria antibodies. It includes test kits, instrumentation, data-management software and transfer of final results to SNBTS information systems. The solution also supports sample archiving, plate-map creation and retrieval through the Item Tracker database, and long-term retention of paper and electronic test data. Delivery and testing take place at the Jack Copland Centre in Edinburgh.

The procurement was completed through an open procedure, with electronic bids evaluated on 80% price and 20% technical quality. The single lot received two bids, both submitted electronically, and was awarded to Roche Diagnostics Ltd. The award period began on 27 May 2024, and the contract was signed on 12 March 2025. The contract runs from 21 May 2025 to 20 May 2032, with three possible 12-month extensions subject to nine months’ notice. Published contract records show £3.7 million initially and £5.16 million after an amendment to include the full potential term and extension periods; these are separate published values, not cumulative amounts. The contract is active and the procurement has been completed.

This requirement indicates demand for suppliers able to provide and operate an end-to-end microbiology testing platform in a blood-transfusion environment. Credible competitors would need experience delivering comparable testing services, supplying and maintaining laboratory instrumentation and test kits, integrating results and plate maps with information systems, and managing secure sample and data archiving. The service requires capacity for high-volume screening of approximately 160,000 blood and tissue donations each year, while accommodating smaller-scale and additional tests as protocols change. Suppliers should also be able to support future testing associated with plasma for medicines and potential quality-control requirements. The stated selection requirements included evidence of relevant services, three years’ average turnover, and £5 million each of employers’ liability, public liability and product liability insurance.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Microbiology Testing Managed Service

Notice Description

SNBTS requires a fully integrated microbiology testing system including all the mandatory and discretionary microbiology testing within a managed service. This includes the test kits, instrumentation and data management software to deliver a final result to the SNBTS information management system(s).

Lot Information

Lot 1

SNBTS collects approximately 160,000 blood and tissue donations each year, these are tested at the Jack Copland Centre in Edinburgh within the Manufacturing Department of SNBTS. The Manufacturing Department performs a wide range of testing services; these include the large-scale serological screening of blood and tissue donations for microbiological markers such as HBsAg, HCV, HIV and Syphilis. Discretionary testing of HTLV, HBc and CMV. There is also a requirement for smaller scale screening for malaria antibodies on selected donations. SNBTS also requires a solution to allow archiving of samples. After testing, the whole of the remaining PPT tube is archived. Hard copy of the result data is also retained for thirty (30) years. The electronic copy of the raw test data is maintained in archive databases and retained indefinitely. SNBTS is currently using "Item Tracker" (archiving database). The Supplier MUST provide a solution for creating appropriate plate maps for integration into "Item Tracker" in such a way that the sample is later retrievable. During the course of the contract SNBTS may look to introduce additional testing/protocols into the contract. This would be in relation to the introduction of any new mandatory/discretionary markers. This would be fully discussed with the successful Supplier and SNBTS would expect the Supplier to provide options for inclusion in the contract. Future Potential Impacts SNBTS in line with other Blood Authorities will be starting to collect plasma for medicines (PFM) since the option to fractionate UK plasma has opened again. PFM is expected to be 5 year phased implementation with minimal impact in the early years of the contract. (Up to 10% increase). SNBTS will update and work with the successful supplier or bidders where information is available throughout the process where known. Beyond 5 years there is likely to be a larger increase that will increase the contract. Additional QC testing may be required as an impact of implementation of plasma for medicines. Dependant on the volume of testing SNBTS may wish to cease outsourcing of Total protein testing and source a suitable platform for use within SNBTS. Figures for this have yet to be defined however SNBTS would like to enter discussions to see if operationally it is viable to bring this in house. It is expected that this would be able to be accommodated with a modification of any contract put in place due to the estimated value of this testing.

Options: The Authority shall be entitled, at its option, to continue this Agreement beyond the Initial Term for three (3) twelve (12) Contract Month periods subject to giving not less than nine (9) Contract Months' notice to the Contractor.

Renewal: The Authority shall be entitled, at its option, to continue this Agreement beyond the Initial Term for three (3) twelve (12) Contract Month periods subject to giving not less than nine (9) Contract Months' notice to the Contractor.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-045275
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/069008-2026
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
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

50 - Repair and maintenance services

CPV Codes

50421000 - Repair and maintenance services of medical equipment

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£8,860,000 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 Jul 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
20 May 2024Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
12 Mar 20251 years ago
Contract Period
21 May 2025 - 20 May 2032 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
The Common Services Agency (more commonly known as Public Services Delivery Scotland) (PSD Scotland)
Additional Buyers

The Common Services Agency (more commonly known as NHS National Services Scotland) ("NSS")

Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
EDINBURGH
Postcode
EH12 9EB
Postcode Area
Edinburgh
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM1 East Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM13 City of Edinburgh
Delivery Location
TLM Scotland
Local Authority
City of Edinburgh
Electoral Ward
Drum Brae/Gyle
Westminster Constituency
Edinburgh South West

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Roche Diagnostics Ltd

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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.

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