Award

KMMH Portable Magnetic Resonance Imaging System (2026)

KENT AND MEDWAY MENTAL HEALTH NHS TRUST

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

AwardUpdate

29 May 2026 at 23:03

Award

29 May 2026 at 22:23

Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process, initiated by the Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust, involves a direct award contract for a Portable Magnetic Resonance Imaging System. This procurement, relevant to the medical imaging equipment industry, is designed to support neuroimaging research in mental health conditions such as dementia. The procurement stage has reached completion, with the transparency notice published on 30th May 2026 and the contract scheduled to start on 1st September 2026, continuing for five years. The equipment will be delivered to various locations in the South East of England (UKJ region).

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in technologically advanced healthcare solutions. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with expertise in medical imaging technology are well-positioned to engage with such contracts in the future, particularly those with the capacity to develop or distribute cutting-edge, portable imaging systems compliant with UKCA standards. The project underlines an emphasis on technological advancement, potentially driving innovations in artificial intelligence applications within the healthcare domain.

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

Notice Title

KMMH Portable Magnetic Resonance Imaging System (2026)

Notice Description

Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust (the "Trust") hereby gives notice of its intention to directly award a contract for the provision of a portable low-field (0.064 Tesla) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. The contract will also include the provision of associated peripherals, together with training, support and maintenance services, for a period of five (5) years. The MRI system will be utilised to support the acceleration and development of local, place-based neuroimaging research, particularly in relation to the assessment and diagnosis of dementia, where timely access to imaging is frequently a rate-limiting factor. The system will also be made available to support research into other mental health conditions, including initiatives aligned to the Kent Complex Psychosis Service and wider investigation into non-dementia mental illness affecting both older and younger adults. A key objective of this programme is to facilitate the development of new artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms for the assessment of structural brain changes associated with dementia and cognitive decline. This is intended to reduce reliance on high-field MRI imaging within specialist centres and to avoid the associated restrictive clinical environments. In order to support these research objectives, the Trust requires a system that meets the following essential criteria: * Approval for commercial sale in the United Kingdom (UKCA marking); * A compact and highly portable design, capable of passing through standard doorways and elevators and allowing ease of manoeuvrability within clinical environments; * A magnetic configuration that enables researchers to work safely in close proximity to participants during imaging procedures; * Operation via standard electrical power outlets; * Low power consumption to minimise ongoing operational costs; * An open design to reduce participant anxiety and improve patient experience; and * Operation via a portable, user-friendly wireless device (for example, a tablet). The Trust considers that the direct award of this contract is justified pursuant to paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 to the Procurement Act 2023. Accordingly, the Trust is publishing this Transparency Notice to inform the market of its intention to enter into the contract by way of direct award. Following publication of this Transparency Notice, the Trust intends to publish a Contract Award Notice to confirm the outcome of the procurement process and to notify the market of its intention to enter into the contract. The publication of the Contract Award Notice will initiate a mandatory standstill period of eight (8) working days. The Trust will not enter into the contract prior to the publication of the Contract Award Notice and the expiry of the applicable standstill period. The dates and contract values included in this Transparency notice are provided for indicative purposes only. The final details will be confirmed in the subsequent publication of the Contract Award Notice. The Trust expressly reserves the right not to award any contract as a result of this notice.

Procurement Information

The Trust considers that the direct award of this contract is justified pursuant to paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 to the Procurement Act 2023., whereby the following conditions are met: (a) due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and (b) there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works. Following the completion of appropriate market research, the Trust is satisfied that the required goods and associated services can only be supplied by a single economic operator, and that no reasonable alternatives or substitutes exist. This conclusion is informed by the Trust's core requirements for a portable, low-field MRI system that is optimally suited to support the acceleration and development of local, place-based neuroimaging clinical research. The essential characteristics of the required system include: * Approval for commercial sale in the United Kingdom (UKCA marking); * A compact and highly portable design, capable of passing through standard doorways and elevators and allowing ease of manoeuvrability within clinical environments; * A magnetic configuration that enables researchers to work safely in close proximity to participants during imaging procedures; * Operation via standard electrical power outlets; * Low power consumption to minimise ongoing operational costs; * An open design to reduce participant anxiety and improve patient experience; and * Operation via a portable, user-friendly wireless device (for example, a tablet). The Trust considers that Xiel Ltd is the exclusive UK distributor of the Hyperfine Portable MR Imaging System and is therefore the only economic operator capable of supplying an existing solution that meets the above requirements. Accordingly, Xiel Ltd is deemed to be the sole supplier able to support the Trust's objectives for delivering local, place-based neuroimaging clinical research within the required timescales.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06a9b0
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/051128-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK5 - Transparency Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

33 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products


CPV Codes

33113000 - Magnetic resonance imaging equipment

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£367,219 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
29 May 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
29 May 20265 days ago
Contract Period
31 Aug 2026 - 31 Aug 2031 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Pending
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
KENT AND MEDWAY MENTAL HEALTH 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
MAIDSTONE
Postcode
ME16 9PH
Post Town
Rochester
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ4 Kent
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ45 Mid Kent
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Maidstone
Electoral Ward
Barming Heath & Teston
Westminster Constituency
Maidstone and Malling

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

XIEL

Further Information

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-06a9b0-2026-05-30T00:03:04+01:00",
    "date": "2026-05-30T00:03:04+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-06a9b0",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PNZR-1968-PDPD",
            "name": "Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PNZR-1968-PDPD"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Priority House, Hermitage Lane",
                "locality": "Maidstone",
                "postalCode": "ME16 9PH",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKJ45"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "kmmh.procurement@nhs.net"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://www.kentmedwaymentalhealth.nhs.uk/",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthorityCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-COH-11875702",
            "name": "Xiel Limited",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-COH",
                "id": "11875702"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "2 Yelling Mill",
                "locality": "Shepton Mallet",
                "postalCode": "BA4 4JT",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKK23"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "info@xiel.co.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "http://www.xiel.co.uk",
                "scale": "sme",
                "vcse": false
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PNZR-1968-PDPD",
        "name": "Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust"
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-06a9b0",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "KMMH Portable Magnetic Resonance Imaging System (2026)",
        "description": "Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust (the \"Trust\") hereby gives notice of its intention to directly award a contract for the provision of a portable low-field (0.064 Tesla) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. The contract will also include the provision of associated peripherals, together with training, support and maintenance services, for a period of five (5) years. The MRI system will be utilised to support the acceleration and development of local, place-based neuroimaging research, particularly in relation to the assessment and diagnosis of dementia, where timely access to imaging is frequently a rate-limiting factor. The system will also be made available to support research into other mental health conditions, including initiatives aligned to the Kent Complex Psychosis Service and wider investigation into non-dementia mental illness affecting both older and younger adults. A key objective of this programme is to facilitate the development of new artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms for the assessment of structural brain changes associated with dementia and cognitive decline. This is intended to reduce reliance on high-field MRI imaging within specialist centres and to avoid the associated restrictive clinical environments. In order to support these research objectives, the Trust requires a system that meets the following essential criteria: * Approval for commercial sale in the United Kingdom (UKCA marking); * A compact and highly portable design, capable of passing through standard doorways and elevators and allowing ease of manoeuvrability within clinical environments; * A magnetic configuration that enables researchers to work safely in close proximity to participants during imaging procedures; * Operation via standard electrical power outlets; * Low power consumption to minimise ongoing operational costs; * An open design to reduce participant anxiety and improve patient experience; and * Operation via a portable, user-friendly wireless device (for example, a tablet). The Trust considers that the direct award of this contract is justified pursuant to paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 to the Procurement Act 2023. Accordingly, the Trust is publishing this Transparency Notice to inform the market of its intention to enter into the contract by way of direct award. Following publication of this Transparency Notice, the Trust intends to publish a Contract Award Notice to confirm the outcome of the procurement process and to notify the market of its intention to enter into the contract. The publication of the Contract Award Notice will initiate a mandatory standstill period of eight (8) working days. The Trust will not enter into the contract prior to the publication of the Contract Award Notice and the expiry of the applicable standstill period. The dates and contract values included in this Transparency notice are provided for indicative purposes only. The final details will be confirmed in the subsequent publication of the Contract Award Notice. The Trust expressly reserves the right not to award any contract as a result of this notice.",
        "status": "complete",
        "procurementMethod": "direct",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Direct award",
        "procurementMethodRationale": "The Trust considers that the direct award of this contract is justified pursuant to paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 to the Procurement Act 2023., whereby the following conditions are met: (a) due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and (b) there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works. Following the completion of appropriate market research, the Trust is satisfied that the required goods and associated services can only be supplied by a single economic operator, and that no reasonable alternatives or substitutes exist. This conclusion is informed by the Trust's core requirements for a portable, low-field MRI system that is optimally suited to support the acceleration and development of local, place-based neuroimaging clinical research. The essential characteristics of the required system include: * Approval for commercial sale in the United Kingdom (UKCA marking); * A compact and highly portable design, capable of passing through standard doorways and elevators and allowing ease of manoeuvrability within clinical environments; * A magnetic configuration that enables researchers to work safely in close proximity to participants during imaging procedures; * Operation via standard electrical power outlets; * Low power consumption to minimise ongoing operational costs; * An open design to reduce participant anxiety and improve patient experience; and * Operation via a portable, user-friendly wireless device (for example, a tablet). The Trust considers that Xiel Ltd is the exclusive UK distributor of the Hyperfine Portable MR Imaging System and is therefore the only economic operator capable of supplying an existing solution that meets the above requirements. Accordingly, Xiel Ltd is deemed to be the sole supplier able to support the Trust's objectives for delivering local, place-based neuroimaging clinical research within the required timescales.",
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "status": "complete",
                "suitability": {
                    "sme": true
                }
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "conflictOfInterest",
                "documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
                "description": "Not published"
            }
        ],
        "procurementMethodRationaleClassifications": [
            {
                "id": "singleSuppliersTechnicalReasons"
            }
        ]
    },
    "awards": [
        {
            "id": "1",
            "status": "pending",
            "value": {
                "amountGross": 440663.64,
                "amount": 367219.7,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "mainProcurementCategory": "goods",
            "aboveThreshold": true,
            "suppliers": [
                {
                    "id": "GB-COH-11875702",
                    "name": "Xiel Limited"
                }
            ],
            "items": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "additionalClassifications": [
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "33113000",
                            "description": "Magnetic resonance imaging equipment"
                        }
                    ],
                    "deliveryAddresses": [
                        {
                            "region": "UKJ4",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKJ41",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKJ4",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKJ41",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        }
                    ],
                    "relatedLot": "1"
                }
            ],
            "contractPeriod": {
                "startDate": "2026-09-01T00:00:00+01:00",
                "endDate": "2031-08-31T23:59:59+01:00"
            },
            "hasOptions": true,
            "options": {
                "description": "Lifetime support services, including software updates and hardware servicing, are optional, and the Trust may purchase these products individually at at any time during the Contract Term."
            },
            "relatedLots": [
                "1"
            ],
            "documents": [
                {
                    "id": "051127-2026",
                    "documentType": "awardNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK5",
                    "description": "Transparency notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/051127-2026",
                    "datePublished": "2026-05-29T23:23:52+01:00",
                    "format": "text/html"
                },
                {
                    "id": "051128-2026",
                    "documentType": "awardNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK5",
                    "description": "Transparency notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/051128-2026",
                    "datePublished": "2026-05-30T00:03:04+01:00",
                    "format": "text/html"
                }
            ],
            "milestones": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "type": "futureSignatureDate",
                    "dueDate": "2026-07-01T23:59:59+01:00",
                    "status": "scheduled"
                }
            ],
            "amendments": [
                {
                    "id": "051128-2026",
                    "description": "Paragraph 5(a)(b) of Schedule 5 to the Procurement Act 2023 was erroneously cited in the direct award justification. This has been updated to correctly reference paragraph 6(a)(b) of Schedule 5."
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "language": "en"
}