Award

Provision of Culture Media, Labware and Embryoslides

QE FACILITIES LTD

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

14 Apr 2026 at 12:41

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

14 Apr 2026 at 10:04

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The contracting process initiated by QE Facilities Ltd involves the provision of Culture Media, Labware, and Embryoslides for Gateshead Fertility Services. This tender is valued at £387,749.70 over a five-year term, with the contract commencing on 1st May 2026 and concluding on 30th April 2031. The process has reached the award stage, having been completed through a direct procurement method due to technical compatibility reasons. QE Facilities Ltd operates out of Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead, UKC22, United Kingdom, serving as the central government public authority. The legal basis for this procurement is under the UK Procurement Act 2023, specifically Section 41. The industry category involved is the supply of laboratory reagents, and the supplier awarded is Vitrolife Limited, located in Warwick.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses involved in the biotechnology and medical supply sectors, particularly those specialising in laboratory reagents and embryology equipment. With the contract awarded to Vitrolife Limited, an SME specialising in products critical to IVF processes, other similar businesses can explore growth prospects by diversifying or enhancing their product offerings in the niche of fertility treatment supplies. The direct award, justified by technical dependencies, highlights the importance for suppliers to ensure compatibility and high-performance standards, making it essential for businesses with innovative solutions and specialised expertise to position themselves advantageously for future contracts of this nature.

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

Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of Culture Media, Labware and Embryoslides

Notice Description

A 5 year price agreement for the provision of Culture Media, Labware and Embryoslides for use within the Gateshead Fertility Services. Cost based on previous 12 months spend is estimated to be PS323,124.75 ex VAT, PS387,749.70 inc VAT over the term of the 5 year agreement

Procurement Information

Reason for Direct Award Embryo culture media is a critical component of the IVF process, with a direct impact on embryo development, clinical pregnancy rates, and potentially the long-term health outcomes of resulting offspring. Any change in culture media therefore represents a significant clinical decision with inherent risk. It is not feasible to conduct a tandem trial using multiple media products concurrently within our service. Such an approach would require formal ethical approval and would introduce substantial complexity into routine clinical practice. Furthermore, any transition between media systems would necessarily affect all patients undergoing treatment during that period, thereby exposing them to potential variability in outcomes. While retrospective analysis could be undertaken to evaluate the impact of a change on key performance indicators, this would only be possible after implementation, at which point any negative effects on patient outcomes would already have occurred. In addition, EmbryoScope time-lapse incubators require the use of EmbryoScope-specific culture dishes (slides), which are the only compatible consumables for this equipment. This creates a technical dependency that further limits the ability to consider alternative suppliers. For these reasons, this direct award is justified under Section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023, relying on Schedule 5, paragraph 6 (single supplier: technical reasons). The requirement can only be supplied by a particular supplier due to technical compatibility and the absence of reasonable alternatives. A change in supplier would result in incompatibility and/or disproportionate clinical and operational risk.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0681b5
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/033770-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

33 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products

CPV Codes

33696500 - Laboratory reagents

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£323,124 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
14 Apr 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
12 Apr 20261 weeks ago
Contract Period
30 Apr 2026 - 30 Apr 2031 Over 5 years
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
QE FACILITIES LTD
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
GATESHEAD
Postcode
NE9 6SX
Post Town
Newcastle upon Tyne
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC43 Tyneside
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Gateshead
Electoral Ward
High Fell
Westminster Constituency
Gateshead Central and Whickham

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

VITROLIFE

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-0681b5-2026-04-14T13:41:38+01:00",
    "date": "2026-04-14T13:41:38+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-0681b5",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PXGG-1229-JLQM",
            "name": "QE Facilities Ltd",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PXGG-1229-JLQM"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Avenue, Sheriff Hill",
                "locality": "Gateshead",
                "postalCode": "NE9 6SX",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKC22"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "name": "Steven McCallum QEF/QEH",
                "email": "steven.mccallum@nhs.net",
                "telephone": "0191 445 2805"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://www.qefacilities.co.uk/",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthorityCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-COH-04628698",
            "name": "VITROLIFE LIMITED",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-COH",
                "id": "04628698"
            },
            "additionalIdentifiers": [
                {
                    "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                    "id": "PGHJ-7852-TXHV"
                }
            ],
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "1 Chapel Street",
                "locality": "Warwick",
                "postalCode": "CV34 4HL",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKG13"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "Kgresty@vitrolife.com"
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://www.vitrolifegroup.com/en",
                "scale": "sme",
                "vcse": false,
                "publicServiceMissionOrganization": false,
                "shelteredWorkshop": false
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PXGG-1229-JLQM",
        "name": "QE Facilities Ltd"
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-0681b5",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Provision of Culture Media, Labware and Embryoslides",
        "description": "A 5 year price agreement for the provision of Culture Media, Labware and Embryoslides for use within the Gateshead Fertility Services. Cost based on previous 12 months spend is estimated to be PS323,124.75 ex VAT, PS387,749.70 inc VAT over the term of the 5 year agreement",
        "status": "complete",
        "procurementMethod": "direct",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Direct award",
        "procurementMethodRationale": "Reason for Direct Award Embryo culture media is a critical component of the IVF process, with a direct impact on embryo development, clinical pregnancy rates, and potentially the long-term health outcomes of resulting offspring. Any change in culture media therefore represents a significant clinical decision with inherent risk. It is not feasible to conduct a tandem trial using multiple media products concurrently within our service. Such an approach would require formal ethical approval and would introduce substantial complexity into routine clinical practice. Furthermore, any transition between media systems would necessarily affect all patients undergoing treatment during that period, thereby exposing them to potential variability in outcomes. While retrospective analysis could be undertaken to evaluate the impact of a change on key performance indicators, this would only be possible after implementation, at which point any negative effects on patient outcomes would already have occurred. In addition, EmbryoScope time-lapse incubators require the use of EmbryoScope-specific culture dishes (slides), which are the only compatible consumables for this equipment. This creates a technical dependency that further limits the ability to consider alternative suppliers. For these reasons, this direct award is justified under Section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023, relying on Schedule 5, paragraph 6 (single supplier: technical reasons). The requirement can only be supplied by a particular supplier due to technical compatibility and the absence of reasonable alternatives. A change in supplier would result in incompatibility and/or disproportionate clinical and operational risk.",
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "status": "complete"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "conflictOfInterest",
                "documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
                "description": "Not published"
            }
        ],
        "procurementMethodRationaleClassifications": [
            {
                "id": "singleSuppliersTechnicalReasons"
            }
        ]
    },
    "awards": [
        {
            "id": "1",
            "status": "active",
            "value": {
                "amountGross": 387749.7,
                "amount": 323124.75,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "mainProcurementCategory": "goods",
            "aboveThreshold": true,
            "suppliers": [
                {
                    "id": "GB-COH-04628698",
                    "name": "VITROLIFE LIMITED"
                }
            ],
            "items": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "additionalClassifications": [
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "33696500",
                            "description": "Laboratory reagents"
                        }
                    ],
                    "deliveryAddresses": [
                        {
                            "region": "UK",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UK",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        }
                    ],
                    "relatedLot": "1"
                }
            ],
            "contractPeriod": {
                "startDate": "2026-05-01T00:00:00+01:00",
                "endDate": "2031-04-30T23:59:59+01:00"
            },
            "relatedLots": [
                "1"
            ],
            "documents": [
                {
                    "id": "033640-2026",
                    "documentType": "awardNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK5",
                    "description": "Transparency notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/033640-2026",
                    "datePublished": "2026-04-14T11:04:21+01:00",
                    "format": "text/html"
                },
                {
                    "id": "033770-2026",
                    "documentType": "awardNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK6",
                    "description": "Contract award notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/033770-2026",
                    "datePublished": "2026-04-14T13:41:38+01:00",
                    "format": "text/html"
                }
            ],
            "milestones": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "type": "futureSignatureDate",
                    "dueDate": "2026-05-01T23:59:59+01:00",
                    "status": "scheduled"
                }
            ],
            "date": "2026-04-13T00:00:00+01:00"
        }
    ],
    "language": "en"
}