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Supply of Sample Tubes

NHS Blood and Transplant

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Tender

23 Sep 2026 at 16:06

UK4 - Tender Notice
PlanningUpdate

27 Jan 2026 at 15:40

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

27 Jan 2026 at 14:29

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

NHS Blood and Transplant is seeking evacuation sample tubes for its blood and tissue donation testing service. Its two testing sites in England test about 1.5 million donations each year. Each donation requires at least three 6 mL K2 EDTA tubes; some donors also need additional tubes, including 4 mL EDTA and K3 EDTA types. Tubes must have colour-coded caps for identification and a unique barcode label that can be applied at the bedside over the manufacturer’s blank label. The procurement is for medical and laboratory supplies supporting blood grouping and microbiological screening. NHS Blood and Transplant is a UK-wide health authority, while the stated testing operations and delivery need relate to its two sites in England.

The buyer invited offers through an open procedure. The tender submission deadline was 26 October 2026 at 12:00 UTC, and the deadline for supplier questions was 19 October 2026 at 12:00 BST. The contract is due to run from 1 March 2027 to 29 February 2032, with two optional 12-month extensions, potentially extending the term to 28 February 2034. The estimated value is £2.9 million excluding VAT (£3.48 million including VAT). There is one lot. Offers are evaluated on price, weighted at 90%, and social value, weighted at 10%. Electronic submission is permitted through the Atamis eSourcing Portal, and submissions must be in English.

This requirement suits manufacturers and distributors able to supply clinical blood-collection tubes consistently at substantial scale for routine donation testing. Suppliers need a range that includes K2 EDTA tubes in 6 mL, plus additional tube types such as 4 mL EDTA and K3 EDTA, to accommodate differing donor requirements. Products must use colour-coded caps and support application of a unique barcode label at the bedside over the blank manufacturer label. The demand is tied to high-volume testing across two English sites, so dependable supply and product suitability for blood grouping and microbiological screening are commercially important. Small and medium-sized enterprises are considered suitable to compete. Social value forms part of the evaluation alongside price.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Supply of Sample Tubes

Notice Description

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is a Special Health Authority in England, with responsibilities across the United Kingdom for organ donation and transplantation. Our core purpose is to 'save and improve lives' through the provision of a safe and reliable supply of blood components, solid organs, stem cells, tissues and related services to the NHS, and to the other UK Health Services where directed. Testing function in the Blood Supply Directorate performs a wide range of testing services, these include but are not limited to the large-scale blood grouping and microbiological screening of blood and tissue donations. The Authority has two testing sites in England, in which approximately 1.5 million donations are tested each year. Each donation bled requires a minimum of 3 x 6mL sample tubes to be taken into K2 EDTA tubes which have colour coded caps for identification purposes. Some donors also require additional tubes these include but are not limited to 4mL EDTA and K3 EDTA tubes. Tubes are of the evacuation type and the Authority requires a unique bar-code label to be affixed at bed side over a blank manufacturers label.

Planning Information

Interested suppliers will receive a pre-tender questionnaire for completion. Please contact jo.murphy@nhsbt.nhs.uk to register your interest.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-060fcc
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/090292-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

33 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products

CPV Codes

33000000 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Sep 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
26 Oct 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
1 Apr 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Mar 2027 - 29 Feb 2032 Over 5 years
Recurrence
2027-02-01

Notice Status

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

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

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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