Award

Development of ABR peer review External Quality Assurance system

NHS ENGLAND

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

23 Jan 2026 at 13:14

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

23 Jan 2026 at 13:07

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

NHS England has awarded a contract for the "Development of ABR peer review External Quality Assurance system" to GENQA LTD, a large supplier based in Hawick, United Kingdom. The procurement falls under the health services category and follows a direct award due to technical reasons, as confirmed by Paragraph 6, Schedule 5 of PA 2023. The contract, valued at £280,000, aims to develop a standard rapid Auditory Brainstem Response External Quality Assurance scheme and will involve a partnership with Gen QA, the National Physical Laboratory, and NEQAS. Scheduled dates for the contract period are from 24th January 2026 to 31st March 2026, with the presence of a light-touch regime enhancing its procedural flexibility. The contract is in its Award stage with a completion status.

This tender presents notable opportunities for businesses specialising in health services, particularly those with expertise in quality assurance and audiology testing. The involvement in a politically sensitive programme underscores the value for businesses with a capacity for high-standard service delivery in technical fields. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) with capabilities aligned to the requirements can find growth possibilities through collaboration or subcontracting possibilities. By participating in such an advanced and specialised project, businesses can expand their scope, improve technical credibility, and foster significant relationships with central government bodies like NHS England.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Development of ABR peer review External Quality Assurance system

Notice Description

Development of a standard rapid Auditory Brainstem Response External Quality Assurance (ABR EQA) scheme focused on ABR traces only in partnership with Gen QA (consortium with NEQAS and the National Physical Laboratory), to facilitate national and regional ABR EQA and provide an improved measure and assurance of testing performance. The recent review into paediatric audiology within England has shown a significant gap in ABR testing, both in terms of knowledge in performing the test and in quality assurance of the testing. At the present time, the only form of quality assurance for ABR testing is through peer review. There is no national external quality assessment scheme. ABR peer review, is sporadic across the country, with a number of different groups across each area. The quality of these groups is variable, with differing governance structures and no consistent criteria for which cases are selected for review. Participation, desp

Procurement Information

Due to an absence of competition for technical reasons. Para 6, Schedule 5 of PA 2023 utilised. Lead by GenQA, the consortium - consisting of GenQa, the National Physical Laboratory and the UK National External Quality Assurance Service (UKNEQAS) - are verified as the only provider offering the combination of expertise involved and required to deliver this politically sensitive programme. No reasonable alternative or substitute exists. GenQA is operated under the legal entity of Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-060d52
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/006189-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85100000 - Health services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£280,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Jan 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
2 Jul 20257 months ago
Contract Period
24 Jan 2026 - 31 Mar 2026 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NHS ENGLAND
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
england.commercialqueries@nhs.net
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SE1 8UG
Post Town
South East London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI45 Lambeth
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Lambeth
Electoral Ward
Waterloo & South Bank
Westminster Constituency
Vauxhall and Camberwell Green

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

GENQA

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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