Planning

External Quality Control Testing (for Cellular and Molecular Therapies)

NHS BLOOD AND TRANSPLANT

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

10 Jun 2026 at 11:36

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

NHS Blood and Transplant, located in Bristol, UK, is in the planning stage of a procurement process for "External Quality Control Testing (for Cellular and Molecular Therapies)." This initiative aims to support the Clinical Biotechnology Centre with services relevant to Advanced Therapeutic Investigational Medicinal Products and biotechnology. Suppliers are invited to express interest by 5pm on 10th July 2026 via email to participate in an early market engagement exercise scheduled during the week of 3rd August 2026. The procurement focuses on various quality control testing capabilities, potentially including mycoplasma and mammalian cell bank testing among others. The process might launch formally in the future, with a high-value contract of approximately GBP 2,000,000 and services expected to commence from 1st January 2027, lasting until the end of 2030, with possible extensions up to 2032. This procurement falls within the services industry category and targets the UKK11 region.

This tender offers a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in high-standard regulatory and quality testing services, including those capable of providing validated assays and quality documentation under GMP and GLP standards. Small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with expertise in system quality assurance and review services are particularly well-suited to engage, as the procurement indicates suitability for such organisations. By engaging in this market engagement exercise, companies can shape the requirements and potentially secure a long-term partnership with NHS Blood and Transplant, fostering growth and increased visibility in the healthcare and biotechnology sectors. The procurement process encourages proactive collaboration and innovation, presenting a strategic avenue for businesses aiming to expand their operations in advanced medicinal product testing.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

External Quality Control Testing (for Cellular and Molecular Therapies)

Notice Description

NHS Blood and Transplant is seeking to engage with the market in relation to the provision of external Quality Control testing services to support the Clinical Biotechnology Centre in the development and production of Advanced Therapeutic Investigational Medicinal Products, biotechnology products and biological products. The requirement is expected to include specialist QC testing services for in-process, final product and cell bank testing, with testing capabilities potentially including mycoplasma testing, bacterial cell bank testing, mammalian cell bank testing, specialised viral safety testing, viral clearance studies, sterility testing and cell-based sterility testing. The precise testing requirements may vary by project and NHSBT may require the ability to add or remove tests during the contract term. Suppliers would be expected to operate under appropriate regulatory and quality standards, including GMP and, where applicable, GLP, and to provide validated assays, appropriate quality documentation, Certificates of Analysis, comprehensive reports, support for quality technical agreements, audit access and out of specification investigations.

Planning Information

Interested suppliers are asked to express their interest to rowena.thomas@nhsbt.nhs.uk by 5pm on Friday, 10th July 2026. Suppliers expressing an interest will be invited to attend an early market engagement exercise supplier meeting during the week of the 3rd August 2026 (note: date subject to change). Prior to this session, interested suppliers will be provided with a draft specification of requirements and short questionnaire related to requirements. There is no guarantee that a formal procurement process will be launched as a result of this early market engagement exercise, nor that any contract(s) will be placed. No remuneration or compensation etc will be paid to organisations who take part in this early market engagement exercise. Suppliers should take part in this process only on the basis that they fully understand and accept this position.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06b1bc
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/054707-2026
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
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

CPV Codes

72225000 - System quality assurance assessment and review services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,600,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
10 Jun 20262 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
14 Sep 20264 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Jan 2027 - 31 Dec 2030 4-5 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
NHS BLOOD AND TRANSPLANT
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BRISTOL
Postcode
BS34 7QH
Post Town
Bristol
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK5 West of England
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK52 Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Delivery Location
TLK11 Bristol, City of
Local Authority
South Gloucestershire
Electoral Ward
Filton
Westminster Constituency
Filton and Bradley Stoke

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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