Award

Supply, Delivery, Installation, Commissioning and Post-Warranty Maintenance of an Automated System for the Embedding of Tissue Samples in Paraffin Wax including Tracking, Transport and Storage and Retrieval of Wax Tissue Blocks

CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

04 Feb 2026 at 15:17

Tender

01 Dec 2025 at 12:23

Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process initiated by the Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust focuses on the supply, delivery, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of an automated system for embedding tissue samples in paraffin wax. This process encompasses tracking, transport, storage, and retrieval of wax tissue blocks. It falls under the goods category and follows an open procurement method, described as a Competitive Flexible Procedure. The contract has an estimated value of £2.28 million (gross) and is being awarded to Axlab Ltd, a supplier based in Suffolk. The contract has a start date set for 1st April 2026, with its contract period extending to 31st March 2033, but it includes an option for renewal for up to three additional years. Key dates include the end of the standstill period on 13th February 2026, and a future signature scheduled for 16th February 2026.

This tender provides significant opportunities for business growth, particularly for SMEs specializing in medical automation systems. The call-off contract from the HealthTrust Europe Framework offers the potential for steady revenue over the long term due to the inclusion of post-warranty maintenance services. Companies with expertise in healthcare equipment and a strong track record in delivering high-quality automated systems may find themselves particularly well-suited to compete. With the contract's significant value and strategic importance, businesses involved in this sector can both expand their market share and establish a long-standing relationship with a major public sector health institution.

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.

Notice Title

Supply, Delivery, Installation, Commissioning and Post-Warranty Maintenance of an Automated System for the Embedding of Tissue Samples in Paraffin Wax including Tracking, Transport and Storage and Retrieval of Wax Tissue Blocks

Notice Description

Framework Call-Off for Supply, Delivery, Installation, Commissioning and Post-Warranty Maintenance of an Automated System for the Embedding of Tissue Samples in Paraffin Wax including Tracking, Transport and Storage and Retrieval of Wax Tissue Blocks

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: An option to extend for a period of further 3 years at the Authority's discretion

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05ebdf
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/010083-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems


CPV Codes

48921000 - Automation system

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£2,000,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
£1,900,000 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
4 Feb 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
2 Jan 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
4 Feb 20262 weeks ago
Contract Period
31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2033 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST
Contact Name
Eos Wong
Contact Email
eos.wong1@nhs.net
Contact Phone
+44 7719 412765

Buyer Location

Locality
CAMBRIDGE
Postcode
CB2 0QQ
Post Town
Cambridge
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH4 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH42 Cambridgeshire CC
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Cambridge
Electoral Ward
Queen Edith's
Westminster Constituency
South Cambridgeshire

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

AXLAB

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-h6vhtk-05ebdf-2026-02-04T15:17:43Z",
    "date": "2026-02-04T15:17:43Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-05ebdf",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-NHS-RGT",
            "name": "CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-NHS",
                "id": "RGT"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Hills Road",
                "locality": "Cambridge",
                "postalCode": "CB2 0QQ",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKH12"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "name": "Eos Wong",
                "email": "eos.wong1@nhs.net",
                "telephone": "+44 7719 412765"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthorityCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-COH-14471643",
            "name": "Axlab Ltd",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-COH",
                "id": "14471643"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "112C High Street, Hadleigh",
                "locality": "Suffolk",
                "postalCode": "IP7 5EL",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKH14"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "matt.anderton@axlab.co.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ],
            "details": {
                "scale": "sme",
                "vcse": false,
                "publicServiceMissionOrganization": false,
                "shelteredWorkshop": false
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-NHS-RGT",
        "name": "CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST"
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "ADD/PU/EW/25/33",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Supply, Delivery, Installation, Commissioning and Post-Warranty Maintenance of an Automated System for the Embedding of Tissue Samples in Paraffin Wax including Tracking, Transport and Storage and Retrieval of Wax Tissue Blocks",
        "description": "Framework Call-Off for Supply, Delivery, Installation, Commissioning and Post-Warranty Maintenance of an Automated System for the Embedding of Tissue Samples in Paraffin Wax including Tracking, Transport and Storage and Retrieval of Wax Tissue Blocks",
        "status": "complete",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "48921000",
                        "description": "Automation system"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UK",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amountGross": 2400000,
            "amount": 2000000,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "procurementMethod": "open",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Competitive flexible procedure",
        "procedure": {
            "features": "Call-off from HealthTrust Europe Framework for Anatomical Pathology Automation"
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "goods",
        "aboveThreshold": true,
        "submissionMethodDetails": "Jaggaer One https://eoecph.ukp.app.jaggaer.com",
        "submissionTerms": {
            "electronicSubmissionPolicy": "allowed",
            "languages": [
                "en"
            ]
        },
        "tenderPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2026-01-02T13:00:00+00:00"
        },
        "enquiryPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2025-12-29T13:00:00+00:00"
        },
        "awardPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2026-02-28T23:59:59+00:00"
        },
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "status": "complete",
                "value": {
                    "amountGross": 2400000,
                    "amount": 2000000,
                    "currency": "GBP"
                },
                "awardCriteria": {
                    "criteria": [
                        {
                            "type": "quality",
                            "name": "Technical Requirements",
                            "numbers": [
                                {
                                    "number": 75,
                                    "weight": "percentageExact"
                                }
                            ]
                        },
                        {
                            "type": "cost",
                            "name": "Whole Life Costs",
                            "numbers": [
                                {
                                    "number": 25,
                                    "weight": "percentageExact"
                                }
                            ]
                        }
                    ]
                },
                "suitability": {
                    "sme": true
                },
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2026-04-01T00:00:00+01:00",
                    "endDate": "2033-03-31T23:59:59+01:00",
                    "maxExtentDate": "2036-03-31T23:59:59+01:00"
                },
                "hasRenewal": true,
                "renewal": {
                    "description": "An option to extend for a period of further 3 years at the Authority's discretion"
                }
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "conflictOfInterest",
                "documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
                "description": "Not published"
            },
            {
                "id": "078457-2025",
                "documentType": "tenderNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK4",
                "description": "Tender notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078457-2025",
                "datePublished": "2025-12-01T12:23:22Z",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "language": "en",
    "bids": {
        "statistics": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "measure": "bids",
                "value": 1,
                "relatedLot": "1"
            },
            {
                "id": "2",
                "measure": "finalStageBids",
                "value": 1,
                "relatedLot": "1"
            },
            {
                "id": "3",
                "measure": "smeFinalStageBids",
                "value": 1,
                "relatedLot": "1"
            },
            {
                "id": "4",
                "measure": "vcseFinalStageBids",
                "value": 0,
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ]
    },
    "awards": [
        {
            "id": "1",
            "status": "pending",
            "date": "2026-02-04T00:00:00+00:00",
            "value": {
                "amountGross": 2280000,
                "amount": 1900000,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "mainProcurementCategory": "goods",
            "aboveThreshold": true,
            "suppliers": [
                {
                    "id": "GB-COH-14471643",
                    "name": "Axlab Ltd"
                }
            ],
            "items": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "additionalClassifications": [
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "48921000",
                            "description": "Automation system"
                        }
                    ],
                    "relatedLot": "1"
                }
            ],
            "standstillPeriod": {
                "endDate": "2026-02-13T23:59:59+00:00"
            },
            "contractPeriod": {
                "startDate": "2026-04-01T00:00:00+01:00",
                "endDate": "2033-03-31T23:59:59+01:00",
                "maxExtentDate": "2036-03-31T23:59:59+01:00"
            },
            "hasRenewal": true,
            "renewal": {
                "description": "An option to extend for a period of further 3 years at the Authority's discretion"
            },
            "relatedLots": [
                "1"
            ],
            "documents": [
                {
                    "id": "010083-2026",
                    "documentType": "awardNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK6",
                    "description": "Contract award notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/010083-2026",
                    "datePublished": "2026-02-04T15:17:43Z",
                    "format": "text/html"
                }
            ],
            "assessmentSummariesDateSent": "2026-02-04T00:00:00+00:00",
            "milestones": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "type": "futureSignatureDate",
                    "dueDate": "2026-02-16T23:59:59+00:00",
                    "status": "scheduled"
                }
            ]
        }
    ]
}