Planning

Supply of 10.5mL glass bottles and polypropylene screw caps

NHS BLOOD AND TRANSPLANT

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

23 Dec 2025 at 17:39

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

NHS Blood and Transplant, a central government public authority, is currently in the planning stage for an open tender for the supply of 10.5mL glass bottles and polypropylene screw caps. This procurement exercise focuses on medical consumables, specifically items used in red cell immunohaematology tests. The buying organisation is based in Bristol, United Kingdom, and aims to gauge market interest through a formal procurement process following a pre-procurement supplier engagement. Interested suppliers are encouraged to express interest by 19th January 2026, with the process involving remote meetings scheduled for the week of 19th to 23rd January 2026. This process precedes the tender, which is anticipated to allow the participation of other health authorities and has a projected contract value of up to £220,000.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses, particularly those specialising in medical consumables such as small and micro enterprises (SMEs) or voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs). It is suitable for businesses capable of supplying durable, shatter-resistant glass bottles with compatible polypropylene caps designed to prevent leakage. The contract is scheduled to start on 1st October 2026 and may extend until 2034. Engaging in this tender not only affords the possibility of securing a lucrative, long-term contract with a respected governmental body but also positions any successful supplier as a key player in the supply chain for medical testing supplies within the UK healthcare sector.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Supply of 10.5mL glass bottles and polypropylene screw caps

Notice Description

Supply of 10.5mL glass bottles and polypropylene screw caps - Open tender

Planning Information

Supply of 10.5mL glass bottles and polypropylene screw caps NHS Blood & Transplant (NHSBT) intends to undertake a procurement tender exercise for 10.5ml glass bottles and screw caps for dispensing of IVD Reagents. NHSBT now wishes to commence a formal procurement process and is seeking to engage with suppliers prior to this tender process. This will aid identification of opportunities and gauge market interest for supply of these products. The current contract ends in 22/12/2026. The purpose of the 10.5mL bottles and screw caps is to hold red cell suspensions, plasma/serum products & solutions containing proteolytic enzymes for use in red cell immunohematology tests. Some of the main technical requirements for the bottles and caps are as follows: • The 10.5mL glass bottles must be made from type 1A glass • The total bottle height must be approx. 38mm • The body diameter of the bottle must be approx. 17mm • The bottle supplier must provide compatible caps for the bottle type they supply. • Caps must be made from polypropylene and supplied sterile • Caps must be black or white • Caps must be designed to prevent leakage and make/maintain a leak proof seal with the container • The bottle supplier can propose more than one type of cap for consideration, but all caps must be compatible with the bottles • The 10.5mL bottles and screw caps must be suitable for use on NHSBT’s fully automated dispensing and capping machines and be durable enough to resist shatter It is NHSBT's intention to hold pre-procurement supplier engagement meetings the week of January 19th 2026 to January 23rd 2026. The meetings will be held remotely and the dates are to be confirmed. To enable NHSBT to finalise arrangements (e.g. send meeting details and agree time slots) for the meeting’s, interested organisations are required to send an expression of interest via email to Sahithi Bandi - sahithi.bandi@nhsbt.nhs.uk no later than 17:00 hrs (GMT) on 19th January 2026. This should include a list of your potential attendees and a brief overview (or a website link) of the Goods / Services which might be offered. No business whatsoever is guaranteed under any resulting framework agreement or contract, and there is no guarantee that any framework agreement or contract will be put in place in relation to this notice. No compensation etc. will be paid if a tender or resulting framework agreement is withdrawn for any reason. Bidders should take part in this process only on the basis that they fully understand and accept this position. It should be noted that this procurement exercise may allow other Health authorities to use any agreements awarded.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05fcfc
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/086014-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

33 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products

CPV Codes

33140000 - Medical consumables

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£200,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Dec 20256 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
11 Mar 20263 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
30 Sep 2026 - 1 Oct 2030 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NHS BLOOD AND TRANSPLANT
Contact Name
Sahithi Bandi
Contact Email
sahithi.bandi@nhsbt.nhs.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
BRISTOL
Postcode
BS34 7QH
Post Town
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

Further Information

Notice Documents

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. 

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