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Microbiology Referrals - Cambridge Clinical Labs

Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

28 Aug 2026 at 09:20

Tender Notice
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 from medical laboratories (CPV 85145000). The requirement covers microbiology referral tests that are not available locally, supporting clinical diagnosis and patient care. Services are delivered for the Trust in the United Kingdom, with the appointed laboratory based in Cambridge. The buying organisation is Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust, headquartered at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead. The service requires a laboratory able to perform specialist reference testing reliably and provide clinically useful results to the Trust. It includes the associated reporting and communication needed for the referring clinical service, rather than the supply of laboratory equipment or general healthcare services.

The procurement is complete and the contract was awarded to Cambridge Clinical Laboratories Ltd on 28 August 2026 under direct award process C of the Provider Selection Regime, using a limited procedure without prior publication of a competition notice. The contract was signed on 29 July 2026 and runs from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027. Its value is £20,000. The award rationale was that the existing provider was meeting the original contract and was likely to meet the proposed requirement, with no considerable changes anticipated. Evaluation considered cost and service quality: competitive pricing, quality-assured expertise, preferably UKAS accreditation, turnaround times, clinical advice, electronic results and appropriate reference ranges. One bid was recorded.

This award indicates a defined requirement for specialist microbiology referral testing that a local provider cannot supply. A credible future competitor would need laboratory expertise in low-throughput or specialist reference tests, with robust quality assurance and, ideally, UKAS accreditation where appropriate. The service would need to deliver clinically acceptable turnaround times and provide useful clinical advice supported by relevant experience, user feedback or a recognised national reputation. Suppliers should also be able to return results electronically wherever possible and provide appropriate reference ranges. The requirement suits established medical laboratories with dependable referral-testing processes, clinical support capability and capacity to serve an NHS pathology customer consistently throughout the contract period.

How relevant is this notice?

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/082025-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender 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
28 Aug 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
29 Jul 20261 months 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)

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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