Planning

BHR/Transformation of Pathology Services

BARKING, HAVERING AND REDBRIDGE UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS TRUST

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

22 May 2026 at 16:43

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

22 May 2026 at 11:02

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust is currently in the planning stage of transforming its pathology services, as reflected in the Preliminary Market Engagement exercise. This process, titled "BHR/Transformation of Pathology Services," aims to establish a strategic partnership that will drive improvements in operational delivery, efficiency, and resilience within the trust's pathology services, aligning with its strategic aims. The procurement falls under the services industry category and is set in Romford, United Kingdom. Key dates include a virtual engagement session on 29th May 2026 and the conclusion of the Preliminary Market Engagement on 12th June 2026. The process aims to explore the merging of in-house and outsourced services and is not yet at the call for competition stage, thus focusing on gathering market feedback to inform a future procurement route.

This tender offers significant opportunities for businesses involved in the healthcare services and pathology sectors, particularly those with expertise in digital infrastructure and managed pathology networks. Companies that can contribute to the development of a sustainable pathology workforce and operational excellence stand to benefit from participating. The trust's emphasis on a future-proofed, high-quality pathology service, responsive to patient needs, underlines opportunities for firms capable of delivering innovative solutions that incorporate digital advancements. Businesses that excel in creating social value and addressing health inequalities might also find this an advantageous venture, aligning with the trust's commitment as part of the NEL ICS to promote wellbeing and community health. Interested parties are encouraged to engage with the trust through the Atamis procurement tendering portal.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

BHR/Transformation of Pathology Services

Notice Description

The Barking Havering and Redbridge University Trust (BHRUT) is looking to establish a strategic partnership to drive transformation of its pathology services. It is exploring procurement solutions for merging in-house and outsourced services to deliver pathology as part of a managed pathology network. The aim of the transformation is to improve operational delivery, efficiency and resilience, supporting the best possible patient care. BHRUT is conducting a Preliminary Market Engagement Exercise (PME) to gauge interest in any future procurement of pathology services and obtain feedback from the market to help shape the service specification, investment case, procurement route and commercial structures. Background: With a dedicated workforce of more than 9,500 staff and volunteers and an income of PS1.007bn, BHRUT is a large district general hospital providing all the major clinical specialties from two main hospital sites: King George Hospital (KGH) in Goodmayes and Queen's Hospital (QH) in Romford and community services to a population of around 800,000. BHRUT delivers a comprehensive pathology service including blood sciences, microbiology and cellular pathology. It currently operates as a stand-alone service and is not part of a formal pathology network. The trust requires a future operating model for pathology that reflects the following principles: A high quality, safe and effective pathology service that is resilient and future-proofed for activity growth. Delivery of a sustainable future pathology workforce by delivering operational excellence, a robust training and development pipeline and creating the conditions for a positive workplace culture. Enablement of a strong digital infrastructure and capability. Adopting digital opportunity and technology advances to deliver more efficient and scalable pathology services. Drives high efficiency and productivity through economies of scale and standardisation. Alignment with the trust's strategic aims and corporate objectives. Commitment to working as part of NEL ICS to address health inequalities at national and system levels. A service that creates social value through its activities in terms of the wellbeing of individuals and communities, social capital created and the environment. All further and relevant details are available from the Preliminary Market Engagement documentation. The approach to any future procurement and commercial model has yet to be established. The preliminary market engagement exercise aims to obtain information that will help shape the future operating model, which may or may not be via a procurement process. A virtual engagement session will be held on Friday 29th May 2026 at 10.00am The purpose of this session is to present BHRUT's objectives and requirements and gather feedback from suppliers ahead of a future procurement. A suite of market engagement documents is available on Atamis. The PME exercise will conclude on 12th June 2026 at 17:00 All interested parties should email mark.bourke@nhs.net to express their interest or for any initial points of clarification. Additional information. The trust is issuing this Notice to undertake Preliminary Market Engagement. The primary aim of which is an information gathering exercise to inform its approach to transforming pathology services as part of a managed pathology network. The trust is utilising the Atamis procurement tendering portal for interested parties to express their interest. It is important to note that this Notice is not a call for competition and as such potential providers will need to express interest in any future tender opportunity once and only if a contract notice is published on the Find Tender Service (FTS) and on Contracts Finder portals

Planning Information

Preliminary Market Engagement

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06a0e0
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/048284-2026
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
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
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 May 2026Today
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
2 Nov 20266 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
2 Apr 2028 - 2 Apr 2043 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
BARKING, HAVERING AND REDBRIDGE UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS 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
ROMFORD
Postcode
RM7 0AG
Post Town
Romford
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI5 Outer London - East and North East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI52 Barking & Dagenham and Havering
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Havering
Electoral Ward
Rush Green & Crowlands
Westminster Constituency
Romford

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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