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Request for information - Liquid Handling Robots

UK Health Security Agency

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

28 Aug 2026 at 10:24

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The UK Health Security Agency, acting for the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, is exploring liquid-handling robots for its genomics laboratory services. The equipment would support laboratory processing for nucleic acid sequencing, helping maintain and expand capacity and improve efficiency. The intended users are UKHSA sequencing laboratories in Bristol, Colindale, Manchester and Porton Down. These laboratories provide pathogen surveillance, clinical metagenomics sequencing and outbreak detection services. The procurement is for goods in the laboratory, optical and precision equipment category (CPV 38000000), with delivery in the United Kingdom. It forms part of UKHSA’s Pathogen Genomics Strategy and Pandemic Preparedness Programme, supporting public health and clinical functions.

This process is at the planning stage and is currently a request for information to inform a possible future procurement. UKHSA expects to receive market information by 11 September 2026, following publication of the request on 28 August 2026. The buyer has said that responses will not create a contract and that failing to respond will not prevent suppliers from tendering in future. One lot is planned, with an indicative contract period from 1 December 2026 to 31 March 2027. The published indicative value is £1 GBP gross. No tender invitation has been issued, and the procedure or evaluation method for any later competition has not been settled.

This will suit suppliers of liquid-handling robotics and laboratory automation equipment, particularly businesses able to support workflows in high-throughput genomics and sequencing laboratories. Relevant experience is likely to include automating nucleic acid processing, integrating robotic systems with laboratory equipment and software, and improving throughput, consistency and operational efficiency. Suppliers should be prepared to explain how their systems could support pathogen surveillance, clinical metagenomics and outbreak detection across multiple UK laboratory sites. The planned lot is identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community or social enterprises. The current stage is useful for manufacturers, specialist distributors, systems integrators and laboratory technology providers preparing for a possible future tender.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Request for information - Liquid Handling Robots

Notice Description

The key dates for this RFI are as follows: RFI Published: 28 August 2026 RFI Response: 11 September 2026 Should you have any questions or queries relating to this RFI, please use the Atamis portal's messaging centre to direct your questions to us for a response. If a response is not received by the RFI response deadline this will have no impact on your ability to tender for the opportunity in the future. UKHSA will not enter into contracts on the basis of replies to this RFI. Description of Scope of Requirements: The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is responsible for protecting every member of every community from the impact of infectious diseases, chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents and other health threats. We provide intellectual, scientific and operational leadership at national and local level, as well as on the global stage, to make the nation's health secure. Background: The UKHSA Sequencing Laboratories in Bristol, Colindale, Manchester, and Porton Down offer nucleic acid sequencing services to support a variety of public health and clinical functions. These services currently include ongoing pathogen surveillance programmes, clinical metagenomics sequencing, and outbreak detection. As part of the UKHSA Pathogen Genomics Strategy and Pandemic Preparedness Programme, we are looking to maintain and expand the capacity and efficiency of our Genomics services. We therefore wish to explore available liquid handling robotics to support sequencing laboratory processing. Should you wish to respond to this Request for Information or require more information, please follow the link below: https://atamis-1928--prospend.vf.force.com/apex/CS_ContractPage?filters=&page=1&Preview=Yes&searchStr=&SearchType=Projects&sortStr=Alphabetical&uid=a07Pz00001uBE2zIAG&sfdcIFrameOrigin=https%3A%2F%2Fatamis-1928.lightning.force.com

Planning Information

Request for information

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06ee4b
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/082064-2026
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
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

CPV Codes

38000000 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
28 Aug 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
11 Sep 20262 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Dec 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 1-6 months
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
UK Health Security Agency
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
E14 4PU
Postcode Area
East London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI42 Tower Hamlets
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Tower Hamlets
Electoral Ward
Canary Wharf
Westminster Constituency
Poplar and Limehouse

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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