Award

Automated Slide Preparation System

NOTTINGHAM UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS TRUST

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

03 Oct 2025 at 16:08

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

03 Oct 2025 at 16:04

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust has completed the procurement of Automated Slide Preparation Systems for their histopathology laboratory, aligning with NHS England's plan to transform pathology services. The procurement title indicates a focus on laboratory equipment, with a specific location in Nottingham, UK. The contract, awarded to AXLAB Limited, follows a direct award method under the legal basis of UKPGA 2023/54. The award was confirmed on 3rd October 2025, with the contract set to begin on 3rd November 2025 and conclude by 31st March 2026. The procurement process is in the award stage, and the project involves a significant contract value of £996,000.

This contract presents growth opportunities for businesses specialising in high-throughput laboratory automation, particularly those manufacturing or servicing precision equipment. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with expertise in laboratory and medical equipment, like AXLAB Limited, could find such procurements beneficial for expanding their market presence. The direct award method suggests that the Trust prioritised technical specifications, indicating the system's uniqueness in the healthcare sector, catering especially to organisations capable of addressing specific diagnostic service needs.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Automated Slide Preparation System

Notice Description

As part of Nottingham University Hospitals' commitment to delivering world-class diagnostic services, we are introducing two Automated Slide Preparation Systems into the histopathology laboratory. This installation directly supports NUH's strategic aim to Standardise, Centralise and Digitise the diagnostic services. This procurement also aligns with the NHS England's 6-point plan for transforming pathology services.

Procurement Information

The system being procured is the only fully automated tissue embedding system available which is essential to eliminate manual embedding and ensuring consistency at very high throughput levels for the histopathology department.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05a849
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/062320-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

38000000 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£830,000 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
3 Oct 20254 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
2 Oct 20254 months ago
Contract Period
3 Nov 2025 - 31 Mar 2026 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Pending
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NOTTINGHAM UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS TRUST
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
nuhnt.commercialteamnuh@nhs.net
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
NOTTINGHAM
Postcode
NG5 1PB
Post Town
Nottingham
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLF East Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLF1 Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLF14 Nottingham
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Nottingham
Electoral Ward
Sherwood
Westminster Constituency
Nottingham East

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

AXLAB

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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