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Provision of full diagnostic histopathology service

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

27 Jul 2026 at 13:11

Tender Notice
Award

01 Jul 2026 at 15:34

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust procured a full diagnostic histopathology service for Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton. The service covers pathology laboratory work, including Her2 testing, placenta examination from wet specimen to report, PD-L1 testing and Ki67 testing. It is a healthcare service requirement supporting diagnostic activity for the Trust. The buyer is Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, based at Musgrove Park Hospital. The selected provider, Poundbury Cancer Centre Ltd, is identified as an SME. The procurement concerns specialist pathology services rather than general laboratory supplies, construction or non-clinical support, so it is relevant to providers with the clinical, laboratory and reporting capability to deliver diagnostic histopathology for an NHS trust.

The procurement has reached the award stage. Somerset NHS Foundation Trust selected Poundbury Cancer Centre Ltd through Provider Selection Regime direct award process C, using a limited procedure without a prior call for competition. The contract was awarded on 27 July 2026 and is intended to run from 1 August 2026 to 31 July 2027. Its estimated lifetime value is £156,000 excluding any unstated tax treatment. The contract was signed on 1 July 2026. Evaluation weighted quality and innovation at 40%, value at 20%, integration, collaboration and service sustainability at 15%, improving access, reducing health inequalities and facilitating choice at 15%, and social value at 10%. The award rationale cites the existing provider’s established service and proven track record.

This award shows demand from Somerset NHS Foundation Trust for a specialist, end-to-end diagnostic histopathology provider able to support clinical reporting and deliver Her2, PD-L1 and Ki67 testing alongside placenta examination from wet specimen to report. A credible competitor for a future requirement would need demonstrated ability to maintain a high-quality pathology service, apply innovation appropriately, and work reliably with NHS clinical services. The evaluation places greatest emphasis on quality and innovation, while also rewarding value, integration, collaboration, service sustainability, improved access, reduced health inequalities, patient choice and social value. The selected supplier’s established service and proven track record indicate that comparable providers should be able to evidence dependable performance, relevant specialist expertise and effective partnership working with the Trust.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of full diagnostic histopathology service

Notice Description

Provision of full diagnostic histopathology services.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Provision of full diagnostic histopathology services including but not limited to Her2 Testing, Placenta (wet to report) PD-L1 and Ki67.

The Authority is intending to award a contract to an existing provider following direct award process C.

The lifetime value of this contract is expected to be PS156,000.00

The contract dates are 01.08.26 - 31.07.27

Procurement Information

This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award. The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority by midnight on 13 July 2026. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06c197
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/070769-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

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
£156,000 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
27 Jul 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Somerset NHS Foundation 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
TAUNTON
Postcode
TA1 5DA
Postcode Area
Taunton
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK6 North Somerset, Somerset and Dorset
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK62 Somerset
Delivery Location
TLK23 Somerset CC
Local Authority
Somerset
Electoral Ward
Bishop's Hull & Taunton West
Westminster Constituency
Taunton and Wellington

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

POUNDBURY CANCER CENTRE LTD

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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