Planning

Future Pathology Managed Service

GLOUCESTERSHIRE HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

10 Apr 2026 at 09:56

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is in the planning stage of a significant procurement process titled "Future Pathology Managed Service". This initiative is categorised under pathology services and spans various disciplines, including Cellular Pathology, Chemical Pathology, Haematology, Immunology, and Infection Sciences. The procurement, located in Gloucester, aims to replace several existing contracts due to expire in October 2026. The comprehensive service is intended to address the increasing and complex demand for pathology services. The planned procurement method is a competitive flexible procedure, with the contract expected to commence on 30th April 2027 and potentially extend until 29th March 2039. A future notice is anticipated by 3rd August 2026.

This tender represents substantial business growth opportunities, particularly for companies specialising in pathology, medical equipment, IT, AI, and estate renovation. Businesses capable of providing capital equipment, reagents, and maintenance services, as well as those offering innovative software integrations, are well-positioned to benefit. By participating, suppliers can secure a significant contract valued at up to £486 million, thus establishing a long-term partnership with the Trust to improve operational efficiency and expand service capabilities to meet national and local healthcare demands.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Future Pathology Managed Service

Notice Description

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (GHFT) provides acute hospital services from two large district general hospitals, Cheltenham General Hospital (CGH) and Gloucestershire Royal Hospital (GRH). Maternity Services are also provided at Stroud Maternity Hospital. GHFT Pathology services are critical in supporting the delivery of a high-quality, first-class clinical service that can meet the demand and needs of the acute Trust and our One Gloucestershire partners (Gloucestershire Primary care, Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust), South Worcestershire Primary care, private healthcare providers and other out of county NHS healthcare organisations. The Pathology disciplines are spread across two sites (GRH and CGH), with Haematology, Blood transfusion, and Chemical Pathology provided at both sites due to the acute clinical services at each site. Cellular Pathology services are consolidated and are based at CGH, and Immunology and Microbiology services are consolidated and are based at GRH. Several managed service contracts are due to expire, the most significant ones in October 2026. As a minimum, replacement of the current contracts must ensure ongoing service provision, as Pathology services are a fundamental diagnostic and prognostic service that supports every aspect of patient care, where 70% to 80% of clinical decisions and 95% of chronic disease pathways are reliant upon input from Pathology. However, national and local demand for Pathology services has increased and become more complex over the last 10 years, and the ability to deliver Pathology services fit for the future, is currently constrained by the estate occupied by GHFT Pathology disciplines. Each discipline has unique estate (e.g. space, storage capacity, temperature control, layout) and workflow challenges, that need to be reconfigured to deliver the operational efficiency and lean process required in a modern-day NHS laboratory, and to provide income generating capacity through analytical suites that offer bespoke analysis to other NHS organisations, organisations carrying out research and innovation, other areas of the private sector (e.g. sports medicine, veterinarians and private patients). GHFT Pathology disciplines: * Cellular Pathology (includes Histopathology and Cytology) * Chemical Pathology * Haematology, Immunology and Blood Transfusion * Infection Sciences (includes Microbiology, Serology and Molecular Microbiology) * Point of Care Testing Our proposed scope is looking to include Pathology Managed Services relating to all Pathology disciplines with the remit to cover but not limited to: * Capital, Instruments & Devices * Reagents, Chemicals & Consumables * Maintenance * IT, AI & Software Integration * Estate upgrades

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-067fba
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/032705-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
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
£324,000,000 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
10 Apr 20262 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
3 Aug 20264 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
29 Apr 2027 - 29 Mar 2033 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
GLOUCESTERSHIRE HOSPITALS 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
GLOUCESTER
Postcode
GL53 7AN
Post Town
Gloucester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK73 Gloucestershire CC
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Cheltenham
Electoral Ward
College
Westminster Constituency
Cheltenham

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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