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Supply of Cryopreservation-Grade Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) Products

NHS Blood and Transplant

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

10 Aug 2026 at 11:32

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

NHS Blood and Transplant intends to procure cryopreservation-grade dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO), a sterile liquid used to preserve stem cell and immunotherapy products during long-term storage. The goods fall within laboratory reagents, pharmaceutical products and medical consumables. Supply is expected in vials or bottles, and potentially in alternative containers such as bags or syringes suitable for sterile docking systems. The products will support Cellular and Molecular Therapies laboratories that process, test, store and distribute cellular therapy products in Barnsley, Birmingham, Filton, Oxford and Southampton. The requirement includes product quality documentation, suitable packaging, batch and expiry labelling, and information on DEHP content and the use of animal-derived materials in manufacture.

This procurement is at the planning stage and NHS Blood and Transplant has not yet invited tenders. It is undertaking preliminary market engagement to understand products, supplier capability, packaging, innovation and market capacity before deciding its procurement strategy and specification. Suppliers are expected to be able to express interest by email by 17:00 BST on 21 August 2026; engagement activities are planned for 24 August to 4 September 2026, with a future notice currently expected on 1 October 2026. The planned requirement has one lot, with an estimated value of £1,000,000 excluding VAT (£1,200,000 including VAT). The anticipated contract period is 1 February 2027 to 1 February 2031, with renewal potentially extending to 1 February 2035.

This will suit manufacturers and specialist healthcare or laboratory consumables suppliers able to provide sterile, pyrogen-free DMSO with at least 99.9% purity and compliance with current European and/or United States Pharmacopoeia standards. UKCA or CE marking will be relevant where applicable. Suppliers should be prepared to demonstrate packaging compatibility throughout shelf life, provide a Certificate of Analysis or Compliance with every batch, and deliver stock with at least six months’ remaining shelf life. NHS Blood and Transplant is seeking dependable supply continuity, contingency stock equal to at least three months of demand, business continuity planning, quality audits, product recall and complaint procedures, adverse-event management, and replacement of unsatisfactory stock within 24 hours where necessary. Discussions may also cover sustainability and product innovation.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Supply of Cryopreservation-Grade Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) Products

Notice Description

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is seeking to engage with suppliers and manufacturers of Dimethyl Sulphoxide (DMSO) used in the cryopreservation of stem cell and immunotherapy products. The purpose of this preliminary market engagement is to improve NHSBT's understanding of the current market, available products, supply chain capabilities, packaging options, quality standards, innovation opportunities, and market capacity ahead of a potential future procurement exercise. The requirement is expected to include sterile, pyrogen-free DMSO with a minimum purity of 99.9%, supplied in a range of formats including vials, bottles, bags and/or syringes suitable for use within NHSBT Cellular and Molecular Therapies laboratories. NHSBT is also interested in understanding supplier capabilities relating to quality assurance, business continuity arrangements, supply resilience, sustainability initiatives, and future product developments.

Planning Information

Preliminary Market Engagement Notice (UK02) NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) intends to undertake a procurement exercise for the supply of Dimethyl Sulphoxide (DMSO) for use in the cryopreservation of stem cell and immunotherapy products across NHSBT Cellular and Molecular Therapies (CMT) laboratories. NHSBT is seeking to engage with suppliers and manufacturers of DMSO products to improve its understanding of available solutions within the market, identify innovation opportunities, assess supplier capability, and inform the development of the procurement and specification requirements ahead of any future tender exercise. Background Cellular and Molecular Therapies (CMT), part of NHSBT's Cellular and Gene Therapies Directorate (CAGT), operates specialist laboratories located in Barnsley, Birmingham, Filton, Oxford and Southampton. These laboratories process, test, store and distribute cellular therapy products for transplantation and immunotherapy treatments. DMSO is used during the cryopreservation process to preserve cells during long-term storage at temperatures below -150°C. Requirement Overview NHSBT is interested in obtaining information from suppliers capable of providing DMSO products that meet the following indicative requirements: Technical Requirements • Sterile liquid DMSO ready for use. • Pyrogen-free product. • Minimum purity of 99.9%. • Compliance with current European and/or United States Pharmacopoeia standards. • UKCA or CE marked where applicable. • Availability in: o Vials or bottles (Lot 1); and/or o Alternative containers such as bags or syringes suitable for sterile docking systems (Lot 2). • Evidence that primary packaging materials are compatible with DMSO throughout the stated shelf life. • Certificate of Analysis/Compliance supplied with each batch. • Clear batch and expiry date labelling. • Confirmation regarding DEHP content where applicable. • Assurance that no animal-derived materials are used in manufacture and that there is no risk of cross-contamination. Supply and Service Requirements • Ability to maintain contingency stock equivalent to at least three months' NHSBT demand. • Guaranteed supply continuity and delivery performance. • Minimum six months' shelf life remaining upon delivery. • Agreement to quality audits where required. • Business continuity arrangements suitable for the supply of critical healthcare consumables. • Robust product recall, complaint handling and adverse event management procedures. • Ability to replace unsatisfactory stock within 24 hours where necessary Areas for Market Engagement NHSBT would welcome discussions with suppliers regarding: • Available DMSO products and packaging formats. • Manufacturing and quality assurance arrangements. • Supply chain resilience and continuity of supply. • Shelf-life optimisation. • Environmental sustainability initiatives. • Future product developments and innovations. • Market capacity and opportunities to improve value for money. Supplier Engagement NHSBT intends to undertake preliminary market engagement activities between 24 August 2026 and 4 September 2026. Engagement may take the form of: • Virtual supplier meetings; • Written questionnaires; • Product presentations or demonstrations; • Technical discussions; and/or • Requests for further product and market information. To enable NHSBT to finalise arrangements, interested organisations are requested to submit an expression of interest by email to sahithi.bandi@nhsbt.nhs.uk no later than 17:00 BST on 21 August 2026. Expressions of interest should include: • Organisation name. • Contact details. • Proposed attendees. • Brief overview of relevant products and services. • Product literature and/or company capability information. Participation in this preliminary market engagement exercise will not influence any future procurement process and will not provide any supplier with an advantage in any subsequent competition. Information obtained during the engagement will be used solely to support NHSBT in developing its procurement strategy and refining its requirements. Important Information This notice is issued solely for the purpose of preliminary market engagement under the Procurement Act 2023. No business whatsoever is guaranteed under any resulting contract or framework agreement, and there is no guarantee that a procurement process will be commenced following this notice. No compensation or reimbursement of costs will be paid to organisations participating in this market engagement exercise. Organisations participate entirely at their own cost and risk. NHSBT reserves the right not to proceed with any procurement process following completion of the engagement activities. Any future procurement may be available for use by NHS Blood and Transplant and other eligible contracting authorities where permitted. [Sample of...PIN draft | Word] Contact Details Sahithi Bandi Commercial Manager NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) Expression of Interest Deadline: 21 August 2026, 17:00 BST Planned Preliminary Market Engagement Period: 24 August 2026 to 4 September 2026.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06dfe3
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/075629-2026
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

33600000 - Pharmaceutical products

33696500 - Laboratory reagents

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
10 Aug 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Oct 2026Expired
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
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
Not specified
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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