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Microbiology Referrals - Cambridge Clinical Labs

Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

18 Aug 2026 at 16:09

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust procured a microbiology referral testing service for tests that are not available locally. The requirement covers specialist laboratory analysis and referral of samples, with results and supporting clinical information returned to support patient care. Services are intended for the Trust and its clinical users in the United Kingdom. The selected supplier is Cambridge Clinical Laboratories Ltd, based in Cambridge. The procurement is classified as medical laboratory services. The work is therefore relevant to clinical laboratories and diagnostic providers able to undertake specialist microbiology referral testing, manage samples and communicate reliable results to an NHS healthcare organisation. It is not a general healthcare delivery contract: the focus is laboratory testing, associated reporting and clinical support for referred microbiology tests.

The procurement is complete: Cambridge Clinical Laboratories Ltd was selected through a limited direct award procedure without prior publication of a competition, under the Provider Selection Regime. The contract was awarded on 29 July 2026 and is active, with services scheduled from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027. The awarded and contracted value is £20,000, with one bid recorded. The stated evaluation considered whether the existing provider could meet the requirement, alongside price, quality assurance, turnaround times, clinical advice, electronic results and appropriate reference ranges. The published rationale gives weightings of 30% for competitive pricing, 30% for laboratory expertise and quality assurance, 20% for turnaround times, 10% for clinical advice, 5% for electronic results and 5% for reference ranges. UKAS accreditation was preferred where feasible.

This award demonstrates demand from Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust for specialist microbiology referral testing that cannot be provided locally. A credible future competitor would need laboratory expertise in the required reference tests, quality-assured processes and the capacity to deliver reliable results within clinically acceptable turnaround times. UKAS accreditation would strengthen a bid where available, although the stated approach recognises that specialist, low-throughput tests may use in-house designs that are not always accredited. Suppliers should also be able to provide useful clinical advice based on relevant expertise, reputation or user feedback, return results electronically wherever possible and supply appropriate reference ranges. The requirement is suited to established diagnostic laboratories with dependable referral, reporting and clinical liaison arrangements rather than providers offering only routine local testing.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Microbiology Referrals - Cambridge Clinical Labs

Notice Description

Microbiology referral testing service

Lot Information

Lot 1

The contract is for the proviion of Microbilogy Referral tests. Contract Award Statement: The intention is to award the contract to Cambridge Clinical Laboratories Ltd following direct award process C of the Provider Selection Regime. Contract Value: The approximate lifetime value of the contract is PS20000. Contract period: The services are intended to be provided between 01.04.26 - 31.03.27

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 Procurement Act 2023 do not apply to this award. The standstill period begins on the day after the publication of this notice. Representations from providers must be submitted to the relevant authority no later than 27 August 2026 via email to ghnt.psr@nhs.net. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR. Decision Makers: Dr A Wort, Joint Clinical Lead for Microbiology & Dr J Moore, Joint Clinical Lead for Microbiology. No Conflicts of interest were declared. Rationale: Existing service provider, will likely satisfy the proposed contract to a sufficient standard. No considerable changes anticipated. Required reference test, not available locally, offered at a competitive price compared to other potential providers (weighting 30%) Lab has the expertise required to conduct the test in a quality assured way - ideally with UKAS accreditation - though we recognise this is not always possible for low throughput specialist tests with in house designs (weighting 30%) Satisfactory turn around times to meet clinical need (weighting 20%) Availability of useful clinical advice (based on national reputation, and/or experience and/or user feedback) (weighting 10%) Results conveyed electronically wherever possible (weighting 5%) Appropriate reference ranges provided where applicable (weighting 5%)

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e6d8
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078673-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award 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
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85145000 - Services provided by medical laboratories

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£20,000 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
18 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
29 Jul 20264 weeks ago
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
Gateshead Health 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
GATESHEAD
Postcode
NE9 6SX
Postcode Area
Newcastle upon Tyne
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC43 Tyneside
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Gateshead
Electoral Ward
High Fell
Westminster Constituency
Gateshead Central and Whickham

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Cambridge Clinical Laboratories 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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