Planning

Irradiation indicator labels

NHS BLOOD AND TRANSPLANT

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

11 Jun 2026 at 09:53

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The NHS Blood and Transplant, a public authority within the central government, is in the planning stage of a procurement process for the supply of irradiation indicator labels. This initiative, located in Bristol, falls under the industry category of medical consumables. The upcoming procurement will seek innovative solutions for labels that confirm exposure to gamma and x-ray radiation sources, with an expected delivery of approximately 360,000 labels annually to 13 sites. Currently described as a market consultation exercise, prospective suppliers are encouraged to enter an expression of interest by 10th July 2026. An engagement session is scheduled around June/July 2026 to further discuss requirements, and a formal procurement notice is anticipated on 2nd September 2026.

This tender process presents lucrative opportunities for businesses specialising in medical consumables, particularly those with innovative solutions in radiation indicator technologies. Companies capable of developing and supplying visually-verifiable labels that meet the specified radiation exposure criteria will find this contract an excellent avenue to expand their market presence. Businesses focused on delivering reliable health and medical solutions are ideally suited to compete for this contract, particularly if they offer unique, compliant technologies that fulfil the NHS Blood and Transplant's requirements. Engaging early in this planning stage ensures a thorough understanding of demand and positions suppliers advantageously as the formal tender process commences.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Irradiation indicator labels

Notice Description

Supply of Irradiation indicator labels

Planning Information

Supply of Irradiation Indicator LabelsNHSBT would like to consult the market to improve our knowledge of all current offers for the provision of Irradiation Indicator labels to both NHSBT and partner UK blood services. The requirement will include a supply of labels designed to confirm exposure to both Gamma and X Ray radiation sources. Please note this is NOT the start of a procurement process. A separate contract notice will be published to cover this requirement. Prior to commencing the formal procurement process, and to help inform our strategy, NHSBT would like to consult the market to improve our knowledge of all current offers available in the market place, identify further opportunities and potential issues, as well as gauge market interest in the proposed service. NHSBT is seeking to engage with suppliers on the market who can provide a solution compliant with requirements as set out below: • The primary requirement is for the label to positively inform either through colour change or an alternative technology solution that exposure to either a Gamma or X Ray source operating at a range of 25Gy to 50Gy has been received. • The label activation must be verifiable by the human eye and able to be interpreted without any additional instrumentation or processes. • The NHSBT requirement approximates delivery in the region of 360,000 indicator labels per year to 13 sites. These numbers are indicative. More precise figures including the breakdown of Gamma to X Ray will be advised. • Label adhesive must be tested and approved for medical application. NHSBT will consider either a single label solution which informs on exposure to either an X Ray or Gamma source, or a separate label solution where sites receive specific labels dependent of the type of irradiator in use. The label must clearly indicate the dose type it is manufactured to report. Prospective suppliers will be invited to an engagement in June/July (Teams) where the requirements can be discussed further. Information gained from this exercise will be used to inform production of a detailed specification. Interested organisations are requested to send an expression of interest to Sahithi Bandi sahithi.bandi@nhsbt.nhs.uk via email to by no later than 17:00 hrs (GMT) on 10th July 2026. If you do not respond by this date you aren’t excluded from taking part in the forthcoming tender, this date is to allow for supplier engagement to be organised. Further information (e.g. the draft technical specification, award criteria, timescales etc) may be released, for consultation purposes only, to organisations who express an interest. Please note that all details are subject to change.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06b28d
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/055060-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

33 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products

CPV Codes

33140000 - Medical consumables

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£581,970 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
11 Jun 2026Today
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
2 Sep 20263 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Feb 2027 - 1 Feb 2031 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
Not specified
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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