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High Quality synthetic molecular products

UK Health Security Agency

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

24 Sep 2026 at 08:13

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

27 Jul 2026 at 13:16

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

16 Jul 2026 at 07:25

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The UK Health Security Agency, acting for the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, contracted for synthetic DNA products for delivery in the United Kingdom. The range includes custom oligo pools, target enrichment panels, library preparation kits and unique dual index adapters, made using a proprietary silicon-based DNA synthesis platform. This is a supply of specialist molecular biology and laboratory research products, rather than a general laboratory consumables requirement. The products support the agency’s scientific and public health work. The procurement was arranged as one lot, covering the product range under a single requirement.

The procurement is complete and the contract has been signed. Twist Bioscience was selected through a direct award, justified on the basis that technical reasons left no competition or reasonable alternative supplier. The contract was signed on 22 September 2026 and runs from 23 September 2026 to 28 June 2029, with two possible one-year extensions, up to 28 June 2031. Its initial value is £1,710,000 including VAT; the stated maximum, including an option to increase the value, is £4,910,000 including VAT. The award is recorded as pending at a value of £4,910,000 including VAT, while the associated contract is active. The stated rationale for direct award was single-supplier technical capability.

For suppliers assessing future demand from UKHSA, this award demonstrates a requirement for a supplier able to provide a coordinated range of synthetic DNA products: custom oligo pools, target enrichment panels, library preparation kits and unique dual index adapters. The chosen route relied on a proprietary silicon-based DNA synthesis platform and a claim that technical reasons left no reasonable alternative supplier. A credible competitor would therefore need to show that its platform can meet the agency’s product requirements and offer a viable alternative across the specified range, rather than only supplying general laboratory reagents or research services. The single-lot structure indicates the products were bought together under one supplier relationship. This is specialist supply at substantial scale, with possible extensions and additional purchasing built into the contract.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

High Quality synthetic molecular products

Notice Description

Supply of a range of synthetic DNA products, including custom oligo pools, target enrichment panels, library preparation kits, and unique dual index adapters, using a proprietary silicon-based DNA synthesis platform

Procurement Information

The proposed Direct Award is justified under Schedule 5, Section 41 (Single Supplier), Paragraph 6, which applies where: (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

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06cc52
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/090363-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

33 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products

38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

33696500 - Laboratory reagents

38970000 - Research, testing and scientific technical simulator

73111000 - Research laboratory services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£4,091,666 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
£4,091,666 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
24 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
16 Jul 20262 months ago
Contract Period
23 Sep 2026 - 28 Jun 2029 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active, Pending
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UK Health Security Agency
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
E14 4PU
Postcode Area
East London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI42 Tower Hamlets
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Tower Hamlets
Electoral Ward
Canary Wharf
Westminster Constituency
Poplar and Limehouse

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Twist Bioscience

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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