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Bacteriophage QC Testing

NHS Blood and Transplant

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

30 Jul 2026 at 10:17

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

NHS Blood and Transplant is procuring a bacteriophage quality-control testing service for its Clinical Biotechnology Centre in Bristol. The service will test bacterial master cell banks used as starter material, and products involved in producing advanced therapeutic investigational medicinal products. Testing must meet the relevant regulatory requirements and provide GMP-grade bacteriophage testing. The requirement is for a specialist laboratory or testing provider able to deliver regulated quality-control services for biotechnology and medicinal-product production. The expected work covers bacterial master cell bank testing associated with NHS Blood and Transplant’s production runs, with delivery taking place in Bristol. The procurement is classified as a quality-assurance assessment and review service, making it relevant to laboratories and contract research or testing organisations with bacteriophage, microbiology and pharmaceutical quality-control expertise.

The procurement has reached tender: NHS Blood and Transplant invited offers through an open procedure. It is a single-lot service contract with an estimated value of £180,000 excluding VAT, or £216,000 including VAT. Questions had to be submitted by 12 August 2026 at 12:00, and offers by 28 August 2026 at 12:00. The award decision was due by 14 September 2026. The contract period is 1 November 2026 to 31 October 2027, with one optional 12-month extension available until 31 October 2028. Evaluation is based on price at 60%, quality at 30% and social value at 10%. Economic and technical selection requirements apply. Electronic submission in English is allowed, through Atamis. Payment terms are 30 days.

This opportunity suits specialist laboratories, contract testing organisations and biotechnology service providers with experience of bacteriophage quality-control testing for pharmaceutical or advanced-therapy production. The successful provider must be suitably qualified and licensed to EU GMP standards, so regulated laboratory systems, documented methods and inspection-ready quality assurance will be important. Relevant capability includes testing bacterial master cell banks, supporting advanced therapeutic investigational medicinal products and meeting specific regulatory requirements for GMP-grade results. The expected workload is recurring but moderate, associated with NHS Blood and Transplant production activity and approximately 20 bacterial master cell banks in a typical year. The buyer identifies the requirement as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises. Providers should also be able to demonstrate economic and technical capacity and address potential regulatory changes affecting testing requirements or frequency.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Bacteriophage QC Testing

Notice Description

This procurement seeks to establish a contract with a suitably qualified and licenced (to EU GMP standard) provider who can provide NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) with a Bacteriophage QC Testing Service. NHSBT's Clinical Biotechnology Centre (CBC) handles a number of products in the production of Advanced Therapeutic Investigational Medicinal Products (ATMPs) and starter material master cell banks (MCBs). These require bacteriophage QC testing services that meet specific regulatory requirements. Within a typical year, CBC anticipates approximately 10-30 production runs, resulting in an average requirement for around 20 bacterial MCBs per year requiring GMP-grade bacteriophage testing. More details can be found at https://atamis-1928.my.site.com/ (Project Reference: C385645).

Lot Information

Lot 1

Options: One extension of 12 months available.

Renewal: One extension of 12 months available.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d740
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/072036-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
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
£180,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£180,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
30 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
28 Aug 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Nov 2026 - 31 Oct 2027 6-12 months
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
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
Postcode Area
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)

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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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