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Framework Agreement for the Supply of Copper Sulphate Solution for Blood Donor Haemoglobin Screening

NHS Blood and Transplant

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

Award

23 Jul 2026 at 14:41

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

21 May 2026 at 11:01

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

23 Dec 2025 at 10:08

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

04 Sep 2025 at 12:04

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

NHS Blood and Transplant procured a framework agreement for the supply of copper sulphate solution used in blood donor haemoglobin screening. This is a goods requirement for a specialist chemical product, classified under CPV 24313126. The requirement covers supply to NHS Blood and Transplant’s operations in the United Kingdom. The framework is a closed arrangement, allowing the authority to award call-off contracts with or without reopening competition. It is relevant to manufacturers, authorised distributors and specialist laboratory-chemical suppliers able to provide copper sulphate solution consistently for a clinical screening application. Suppliers should also be able to support the authority’s requirements for product quality, reliable supply and whole-life value across the framework’s operating period.

The procurement is complete and the framework was awarded on 18 May 2026 to REAGENT CHEMICAL SERVICES LIMITED and VICKERS LABORATORIES LIMITED. The award value is £2,135,132 excluding VAT, or £2,562,158.40 including VAT. The signed contract is active, was signed on 3 July 2026, and runs from 3 July 2026 to 14 June 2030. The framework’s estimated maximum value was £2,250,000 excluding VAT, or £2,700,000 including VAT; the framework could extend to 10 June 2031. This was an above-threshold open competitive flexible procedure. The tender deadline was 6 February 2026 at 12:00, with enquiries closing on 21 January 2026 at 17:00. Evaluation weighted whole-life cost at 60%, technical and quality responses at 30%, and social value at 10%. Two final-stage bids were received, both from SMEs.

This award demonstrates established NHS demand for copper sulphate solution in blood donor haemoglobin screening and shows that the requirement can be delivered through a specialist supplier framework with more than one appointed provider. The successful supply team combined REAGENT CHEMICAL SERVICES LIMITED and VICKERS LABORATORIES LIMITED, both recorded as SMEs, indicating that scale alone was not the defining supplier profile. A credible future competitor would need dependable access to compliant copper sulphate solution, robust quality assurance, laboratory-chemical handling and distribution capability, and the capacity to maintain continuity of supply for NHS operations. Strong evidence on technical performance, whole-life cost and measurable social value would be important, alongside the ability to operate within a competitive flexible framework and support call-offs with or without renewed competition.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Framework Agreement for the Supply of Copper Sulphate Solution for Blood Donor Haemoglobin Screening

Notice Description

Framework Agreement for the Supply of Copper Sulphate Solution for Blood Donor Haemoglobin Screening. Please note that the Total Contract Value is the anticipated 'maximum' value of the Framework Agreement and there is no guarantee that the spend under the Framework Agreement will reach this level.

Planning Information

If you are interested in taking part in the market engagement, please contact james.marshall2@nhsbt.nhs.uk by no later than 12:00 hrs (GMT) on 30/09/2025. Market engagement is likely to take place via a questionnaire and potentially video calls in October 2025. 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.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0593fd
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/069796-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

24 - Chemical products

CPV Codes

24313126 - Copper sulphate

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,250,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£2,250,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
£2,135,132 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
£2,135,132 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Jul 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
6 Feb 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
12 Nov 2025Expired
Award Date
18 May 20263 months ago
Contract Period
3 Jul 2026 - 14 Jun 2030 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NHS Blood and Transplant
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BRISTOL
Postcode
BS34 7QH
Postcode Area
Bristol
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK5 West of England
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK52 Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
South Gloucestershire
Electoral Ward
Filton
Westminster Constituency
Filton and Bradley Stoke

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
2
Supplier Names

REAGENT CHEMICAL SERVICES LIMITED

VICKERS LABORATORIES LIMITED

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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