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Microbiology Services Managed Service Contract

Lothian Health Board

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Tender

01 Sep 2026 at 10:29

Tender Notice
Planning

23 Jul 2026 at 08:35

Planning Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Lothian Health Board is procuring an integrated microbiology laboratory managed service for diagnostic and laboratory services at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. The requirement covers service management, regulatory compliance, integrated information technology and firmware, major analysers, reagents and consumables for most of the test repertoire. Core services include integrated MALDI-TOF identification and advanced digital automation. Optional conventional microbiology laboratory and antimicrobial susceptibility testing services may also be instructed during the contract. The successful provider will supply, implement, calibrate, commission and maintain all equipment needed, and provide the associated consumables. The supplier will have overall responsibility for delivering the managed service, including any subcontracting or collaborative arrangements needed to meet the requirement. This is a laboratory services opportunity.

The process reached tender: Lothian Health Board invited offers through an open procedure, with electronic submission. The tender deadline was 30 September 2026 at 12:00 BST. The contract period is 3,600 days, with an extension of up to 24 months at the Board’s discretion. The estimated value is £3,000,000. One supplier is intended to take full responsibility for the service, including optional testing services and additional purchases described in the procurement documents. Evaluation is based on technical quality at 60% and price at 40%. Bids must remain valid for 300 days and may not include variants. The planned award and bid opening date was 11 December 2026 at 12:00 UTC. Electronic ordering and payment are required, while electronic invoicing is allowed.

This opportunity suits established laboratory technology, diagnostics or managed-service providers able to deliver a complex, integrated microbiology operation at hospital scale. Bidders need relevant professional or trade-register enrolment where required, average annual turnover of at least £6 million and average annual turnover of at least £4 million in the contract’s business area, each measured over the previous three years. Required or obtainable insurance includes professional indemnity of £6 million, employers’ liability of £5 million, public liability of £6 million and product liability of £6 million. Suppliers must show comparable services delivered in the previous three years, similar in size, value and complexity. They also need sufficient service engineers, technical, IT and contract-management staff, named with qualifications, plus robust supply-chain, stock-tracking and logistics systems.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Microbiology Services Managed Service Contract

Notice Description

NHS Lothian seeks next-generation automated laboratory solution delivered on a managed services basis for diagnostic and laboratory services at Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. The scope of the contract is an integrated Microbiology laboratory managed Services contract ("MSC") providing service management to meet all regulatory requirements, integrated IT firmware, major analysers, reagents and consumables to deliver the majority of the test repertoire.

Lot Information

Lot 1

NHS Lothian seeks the provision of integrated Microbiology laboratory managed services to deliver the Core Services, including integrated MALDI ToF and advanced digital automation, for laboratory located at Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. The scope of the MSC will include the provision of optional Conventional Microbiology laboratory and antimicrobial susceptibility testing services. The procurement documents will detail the basis on which these optional services may be instructed by NHS Lothian. The successful economic operator will be responsible for the provision, implementation, calibration, commissioning and maintenance of all equipment necessary to deliver the MSC and for provision of all consumables used in connection therewith. It is intended an award will be made to one successful economic operator who will assume full responsibility for provision of all the managed services to NHS Lothian. The successful economic operator shall be solely responsible for effecting any sub-contracting or collaborative arrangements required with other suppliers to allow the successful economic operator to meet this commitment. Additional information: Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Options: The procurement documents shall detail the optional laboratory testing services which NHS Lothian shall be entitled to instruct over the term of the MSC and detail the basis upon which these services may be purchased by NHS Lothian.

Renewal: Extension of the term of the contract up to a maximum of 24 months will be at the discretion of NHS Lothian.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d162
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/082495-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Planning Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

CPV Codes

71900000 - Laboratory services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£3,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
1 Sep 2026Today
Submission Deadline
30 Sep 20264 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
11 Jan 20275 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Lothian Health Board
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
EDINBURGH
Postcode
EH8 8BG
Postcode Area
Edinburgh
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM1 East Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM13 City of Edinburgh
Delivery Location
TLM75 City of Edinburgh
Local Authority
City of Edinburgh
Electoral Ward
City Centre
Westminster Constituency
Edinburgh East and Musselburgh

Further Information

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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