Planning

Pathology Labels, Forms and Packaging

EAST SUFFOLK AND NORTH ESSEX NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

08 Apr 2026 at 13:22

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust is undertaking a procurement process for the supply of bespoke pathology consumables, including labels, forms, specimen bags, and miscellaneous packaging. This contract, titled "Pathology Labels, Forms and Packaging," falls under the pathology services industry category. The Trust, located in Colchester, United Kingdom, is currently in the planning stage and conducting preliminary market engagement from 8 April 2026 until 22 April 2026. Interested suppliers must submit an expression of interest by 13 April 2026. The procurement method will follow a competitive flexible procedure, as outlined in the Procurement Act 2023. The main procurement category is services, and the contract value is estimated at £8,400,000, running from 15 October 2026 to 14 October 2031 with a renewal option through to 2033.

This procurement represents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in non-clinical consumables suitable for pathology and community healthcare settings. Companies that can demonstrate capability and reliability in delivering high-quality and efficient consumables, while aligning with market best practices, are well-suited to participate. The procurement process encourages participation from SMEs and VCSEs, fostering opportunities for diverse suppliers to engage with the NHS. By providing feedback during the market engagement phase, suppliers can help shape the procurement strategy and service specification, potentially influencing how this sizeable contract is structured and delivered.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Pathology Labels, Forms and Packaging

Notice Description

Supply of Non-clinical consumables for use within various pathology disciplines, community settings and across primary care inclusive of forms, labels and packaging

Planning Information

The Contracting Authority is undertaking preliminary market engagement (PME) to inform the development of a future procurement for the supply of Bespoke Pathology Consumables. This is to include Labels, Forms, Specimen Bags and miscellaneous packaging. The Authority will be conducting the further competition under the Procurement Act 2023. The purpose of this engagement is to understand current market capability, capacity, and commercial models that may enhance the delivery of high quality and efficient Pathology consumables. Through this early engagement, the Authority seeks insight into the intended Procurement route and stages under the competitive flexible procedure, value for money, operational resilience and ethical supply chain sourcing. Feedback from Suppliers will help shape the procurement strategy, refine the service specification, and ensure that the future opportunity is realistic, deliverable, and aligned with market best practice. Participation in this engagement is voluntary and will not form part of any future tender evaluation process. Information shared at this stage will be used solely to support the Authority’s planning and will not advantage or disadvantage any supplier in any subsequent competition. The engagement will run from the date of this notice 8 April 2026 until 22 April 2026 as the deadline for any feedback. To participate in this engagement Suppliers must submit an expression of interest to simone.dato@esneft.nhs.uk no later than noon on 13 April 2026. Upon expressing an interest to participate in this engagement, Suppliers must confirm if they have the capability to provide such products and provide some indicative information to substantiate this (i.e: customer reference sites). The Authority will then share an overview of the opportunity in more detail with capable providers and offer a dedicated 1:1 meeting virtually via MS Teams should the supplier wish to discuss the requirements further. The offer of a 1:1 slot is at the discretion of the Authority. The Authority will outline specific areas they seek feedback on from capable Suppliers during this engagement. This is not an exhaustive list and the Authority welcome all feedback the Suppliers feel relevant for the Authority to consider. All capable Suppliers will have the opportunity to submit questions during the engagement up until the feedback deadline for this stage. The Authority may try to answer these either during this period should it impact the Suppliers response or immediately following the event if it doesn’t. The Authority may also request additional feedback as appropriate following this engagement. If operational pressures require them to do so, the Authority may change the date of the engagement and subsequent 1:1's. Any amendments will be notified ahead of the event. Details of any future procurement will be published separately in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-067e13
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/031979-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85111800 - Pathology services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£7,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
8 Apr 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
29 Apr 20263 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
14 Oct 2026 - 14 Oct 2031 Over 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
EAST SUFFOLK AND NORTH ESSEX NHS FOUNDATION TRUST
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
COLCHESTER
Postcode
CO4 5JL
Post Town
Colchester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH3 Essex
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH34 Essex Haven Gateway
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Colchester
Electoral Ward
Mile End
Westminster Constituency
Colchester

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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