Planning

Supply and support of High-Throughput Blood Group Genotyping

NHS BLOOD AND TRANSPLANT

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

24 Mar 2026 at 12:16

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The NHS Blood and Transplant organisation is currently in the planning stage of a public procurement process for the supply and support of high-throughput blood group genotyping. This procurement opportunity relates to the medical equipment industry, with the organisation based in Bristol, United Kingdom. The process involves holding remote engagement meetings on 4th, 5th, and 6th May 2026, with expressions of interest required by 23rd March 2026 at 17:00 GMT. Prospective suppliers should send an email detailing potential attendees and a brief overview of the goods or services they might offer. A future notice is expected by 31st August 2026. The procurement involves providing solutions that allow genotyping of blood group variants, presenting a significant opportunity for innovation in medical equipment services.

This tender represents a growth opportunity for businesses specialising in medical equipment, particularly in genotyping technology. Companies capable of providing high-throughput solutions to genotype red cell types and HLA types are encouraged to participate. The NHS Blood and Transplant intends to work with suppliers to procure efficient, cost-effective solutions that meet customer and patient demands. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are recognised as suitable candidates for involvement, offering potential contracts and framework agreements which may also be utilised by other health authorities. The procurement method aims to foster partnership and advance market knowledge, representing a unique opportunity for companies within this niche medical sector.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Supply and support of High-Throughput Blood Group Genotyping

Notice Description

NHS Blood & Transplant (NHSBT) Genomics function intends to undertake a tender exercise for the supply and support of high-throughput blood group genotyping. We would like to work with future suppliers of choice to procure a high-throughput Human Erythrocyte Antigen (HEA) and Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) genotyping system in an efficient, timely and cost-effective manner to meet the demands and expectations of our customers and the patients we serve. Prior to commencing a formal procurement process and to help inform our strategy, NHSBT is seeking to engage with suppliers of commercially available high-throughput solutions that can be used for genotyping red cell types (HEA) and HLA types. NHSBT would like to improve our knowledge of all current and future systems available in the marketplace. This will aid identification of opportunities and gauge market interest in this field. NHSBT requires a high-throughput (20,000 - 80,000 test per annum) blood group genotyping solution that provides either: equipment and consumables to genotype blood group genetic variants or equipment and consumables to genotype blood group genetic variants and blood group typing software to generate predicted HEA and HLA types The proposed solution must enable genotyping of blood group variants associated with an extended panel of red cell blood groups (Appendix 1). The solution must enable the determination of Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) types (alleles) at the following genes: HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C, HLA-DRA, HLA-DRB1, HLA-DRB3, HLA-DRB4, HLA-DRB5, HLA-DQA1, HLA-DQB1, and HLA-DPB1. Blood group genotyping software for both HEA and HLA typing must support compliance with relevant national and international typing and clinical standards, including ISBT, JPAC, and IPD-IMGT/HLA. Respondents will be invited to pre-procurement engagement meetings on the 4th, 5th and/or 6th May 2026 these will be held remotely. To enable NHSBT to finalise arrangements (e.g. send meeting details and agree time slots) for the supplier engagement meetings, interested organisations are required to send an expression of interest via email to coco.otiotio@nhsbt.nhs.uk by no later than 17:00 hrs (GMT) on 23/03/2026. 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. Please include options, if available, to offer a managed service contract. 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 utilise any contracts/ framework agreements awarded. Appendix 1 - HEA blood group systems ABO Rh Kell Duffy Kidd MNS Dombrock Colton Cromer Diego Knops Lutheran LW Scianna Cartwright (Yt) Vel P1PK (P system) Wright

Planning Information

Respondents will be invited to pre-procurement engagement meetings on the 4th, 5th and/or 6th May 2026 these will be held remotely. To enable NHSBT to finalise arrangements (e.g. send meeting details and agree time slots) for the supplier engagement meetings, interested organisations are required to send an expression of interest via email to coco.otiotio@nhsbt.nhs.uk by no later than 17:00 hrs (GMT) on 23/03/2026. 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.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06729a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026754-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

33 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products

CPV Codes

33100000 - Medical equipments

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
24 Mar 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
31 Aug 20265 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Mar 2027 - 28 Feb 2031 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
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
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. 

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-06729a-2026-03-24T12:16:48Z",
    "date": "2026-03-24T12:16:48Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-06729a",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PDBY-6395-VWBP",
            "name": "NHS Blood and Transplant",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PDBY-6395-VWBP"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "500 North Bristol Park",
                "locality": "Bristol",
                "postalCode": "BS34 7QH",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKK12"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "name": "Coco Otiotio",
                "email": "coco.otiotio@nhsbt.nhs.uk",
                "telephone": "07385435288"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthorityCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PDBY-6395-VWBP",
        "name": "NHS Blood and Transplant"
    },
    "planning": {
        "milestones": [
            {
                "id": "engagement",
                "type": "engagement",
                "description": "Respondents will be invited to pre-procurement engagement meetings on the 4th, 5th and/or 6th May 2026 these will be held remotely. To enable NHSBT to finalise arrangements (e.g. send meeting details and agree time slots) for the supplier engagement meetings, interested organisations are required to send an expression of interest via email to coco.otiotio@nhsbt.nhs.uk by no later than 17:00 hrs (GMT) on 23/03/2026. 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.",
                "dueDate": "2026-05-08T23:59:59+01:00",
                "status": "scheduled"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "026754-2026",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026754-2026",
                "datePublished": "2026-03-24T12:16:48Z",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "C433877",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Supply and support of High-Throughput Blood Group Genotyping",
        "description": "NHS Blood & Transplant (NHSBT) Genomics function intends to undertake a tender exercise for the supply and support of high-throughput blood group genotyping. We would like to work with future suppliers of choice to procure a high-throughput Human Erythrocyte Antigen (HEA) and Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) genotyping system in an efficient, timely and cost-effective manner to meet the demands and expectations of our customers and the patients we serve. Prior to commencing a formal procurement process and to help inform our strategy, NHSBT is seeking to engage with suppliers of commercially available high-throughput solutions that can be used for genotyping red cell types (HEA) and HLA types. NHSBT would like to improve our knowledge of all current and future systems available in the marketplace. This will aid identification of opportunities and gauge market interest in this field. NHSBT requires a high-throughput (20,000 - 80,000 test per annum) blood group genotyping solution that provides either: equipment and consumables to genotype blood group genetic variants or equipment and consumables to genotype blood group genetic variants and blood group typing software to generate predicted HEA and HLA types The proposed solution must enable genotyping of blood group variants associated with an extended panel of red cell blood groups (Appendix 1). The solution must enable the determination of Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) types (alleles) at the following genes: HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C, HLA-DRA, HLA-DRB1, HLA-DRB3, HLA-DRB4, HLA-DRB5, HLA-DQA1, HLA-DQB1, and HLA-DPB1. Blood group genotyping software for both HEA and HLA typing must support compliance with relevant national and international typing and clinical standards, including ISBT, JPAC, and IPD-IMGT/HLA. Respondents will be invited to pre-procurement engagement meetings on the 4th, 5th and/or 6th May 2026 these will be held remotely. To enable NHSBT to finalise arrangements (e.g. send meeting details and agree time slots) for the supplier engagement meetings, interested organisations are required to send an expression of interest via email to coco.otiotio@nhsbt.nhs.uk by no later than 17:00 hrs (GMT) on 23/03/2026. 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. Please include options, if available, to offer a managed service contract. 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 utilise any contracts/ framework agreements awarded. Appendix 1 - HEA blood group systems ABO Rh Kell Duffy Kidd MNS Dombrock Colton Cromer Diego Knops Lutheran LW Scianna Cartwright (Yt) Vel P1PK (P system) Wright",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "33100000",
                        "description": "Medical equipments"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amountGross": 2400000,
            "amount": 2000000,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "goods",
        "aboveThreshold": true,
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "suitability": {
                    "sme": true
                },
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2027-03-01T00:00:00Z",
                    "endDate": "2031-02-28T23:59:59Z",
                    "maxExtentDate": "2033-02-28T23:59:59Z"
                },
                "hasRenewal": true,
                "status": "planning"
            }
        ],
        "communication": {
            "futureNoticeDate": "2026-08-31T23:59:59+01:00"
        },
        "status": "planning"
    },
    "language": "en"
}