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Co-Developing the 'Digestive Disease Centre' at University Hospital Southampton, Hybrid Procurement and Sponsorship Opportunity

University Hospital Southampton

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

08 Sep 2026 at 13:49

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

University Hospital Southampton is exploring a strategic partnership to co-develop a purpose-built regional diagnostic endoscopy centre near Southampton General Hospital. The centre would support a population of more than 3 million and provide diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy, motility services, workforce training, technology trials and new technique development. The scope may include supplying endoscopy equipment for NHS clinical activity, innovation testing and training; designing and constructing the centre; co-locating hospital staff, clinicians, data and patients with an industry partner; and developing a live NHS test bed for technologies such as artificial intelligence diagnostic tools and ergonomic solutions. The partnership could also include commercial sponsorship, value-in-kind goods or services, and agreed recognition and collaboration benefits. The category is endoscopy equipment, innovation and specialist training services.

This procurement is at the planning and preliminary market engagement stage; it is not an invitation to tender or a current bidding opportunity. Interested parties are expected to register by 6 October 2026 to receive a questionnaire. A virtual engagement webinar is planned for mid-October 2026, followed by optional one-to-one discussions. The buyer expects any future contract to run from 1 September 2027 to 30 August 2037, with a possible extension to 31 August 2037. The indicative budget for designing and constructing the centre is £20m–£25m. Existing endoscopy equipment valued at approximately £8m–£10m would need refreshing throughout the contract. The future procurement is being developed as a hybrid partnership and sponsorship model, with supplier-neutral specifications and the formal procedure still to be refined.

The engagement will suit established endoscopy equipment manufacturers, healthcare technology businesses, construction and design partners, innovation organisations, training providers and consortia able to combine these capabilities. Relevant suppliers should be able to support a regional clinical facility, provide and refresh specialist endoscopy equipment, and work with NHS clinicians in a live diagnostic environment. The buyer is particularly interested in partners able to develop and test new technologies and techniques, including artificial intelligence diagnostic tools, ergonomic designs and other emerging solutions. Experience of clinical research, data-rich test beds, workforce development, knowledge sharing and intellectual property arrangements would be valuable. The model also allows for SME and voluntary, community or social enterprise participation in research and innovation, alongside potential sponsorship and value-in-kind contributions.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Co-Developing the 'Digestive Disease Centre' at University Hospital Southampton, Hybrid Procurement and Sponsorship Opportunity

Notice Description

UHS is seeking to engage with interested parties to discuss and refine an opportunity to become a strategic endoscopy partner to the Trust. UHS provides a regional endoscopy service to a population of 3m+, offering a comprehensive range of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. Following a fire earlier this year, UHS has reviewed its long-term endoscopy requirements and is considering a new purpose-built regional diagnostic endoscopy centre situated close to the main hospital. UHS has existing endoscopy equipment to the value of approximately PS8-10m. This will need to be refreshed throughout this contract. UHS has an indicative budget of PS20-25m for the design and construction of the new centre. This will be designed to meet current and projected future endoscopy and motility needs, 'a one-stop-shop' and be an important centre to both trial new technology and techniques and provide training for the next generation of the endoscopy workforce. This opportunity is to explore and discuss how a partnership approach may drive better outcomes for patients, for innovation, for UHS clinicians, and for the partner[S(1.1][L(1.2]. This opportunity may include, but not necessarily be limited to: 1: Provision of endoscopy equipment to a new offsite location, both for the use of clinicians undertaking NHS clinical activity, and for use as a test bed for innovation and new technique development, and for use within a training environment. 2: Regional Training Centre: The physical co-location of experienced UHS staff, clinicians, data, patients with an industry partner seeking to promote best practice and create future workforce. 3: Joint Innovation Deal & Test Bed: The provision of a live, data-rich NHS environment to validate new technology, and techniques, for example artificial intelligence (AI) diagnostic tools and ergonomic designs and potentially the exploitation of emerging shared Intellectual Property. This would also include SME and VCSE participation for research and innovation. 4: Commercial Sponsorship Opportunity with Associated Rights and Benefits: In addition to the core procurement opportunities above, there is potential to explore a complementary commercial sponsorship arrangement, which may include the provision of value-in-kind goods and/or services that support contract delivery. This strategic partnership approach would identify and agree a range of associated rights and benefits for suppliers who also become sponsors. These may include appropriate sponsor recognition, opportunities for collaboration and innovation, shared learning, thought leadership engagement, and other mutually agreed activities that support the objectives of all parties. UHS, with support from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), is trialling the integration of commercial sponsorship into this procurement opportunity to explore how strategic partnerships can deliver additional value while supporting the successful delivery of contract outcomes. Whilst this notice is not intended to create a commitment to a contract, it is running alongside a live funded NHS capital project to develop designs and take forward the concept of a regional endoscopy centre. This hybrid procurement and sponsorship model is being piloted by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and UHS, offering potential suppliers a unique opportunity to play an active role in delivering a best-in-class new facility for patients: supporting improved care, championing innovation and delivering lasting benefits for all parties. To ensure fair and open competition in any future procurement, the developing design and specification will remain supplier-neutral and will not be tailored to any specific manufacturer, supplier or solution.

Planning Information

The purpose of this Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) is to explore market capability, test risk-allocation boundaries, understand vendor constraints regarding intellectual property and funding, and refine outcome-based specifications. This engagement is conducted under Sections 16 and 17 of the Procurement Act 2023. Participation is voluntary and will not advantage or disadvantage any operator in the subsequent formal tender procedure. The value is shown as £0, as value of the future contract is yet to be decided upon by the Contracting Authority and will be shared with the market at a later date. The PME will be formed of: 1.Interested Parties email. CommercialOpportunities@uhs.nhs.uk to register their interest and receive a high-level questionnaire to complete. 2.On return of a completed high-level questionnaire, a link to a virtual PME webinar will be shared. 3.The webinar will take place on virtually in mid-October and will allow the Contracting Authority to explain the requirements in more detail. 4.Optional 1-2-1 follow on conversations will take place with interested parties.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f48e
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084898-2026
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

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

33168000 - Endoscopy, endosurgery devices

33168100 - Endoscopes

73120000 - Experimental development services

80510000 - Specialist training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
8 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
6 Oct 20263 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Sep 2027 - 30 Aug 2037 Over 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
University Hospital Southampton
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
SOUTHAMPTON
Postcode
SO16 6YD
Postcode Area
Southampton
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ32 Southampton
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Southampton
Electoral Ward
Shirley
Westminster Constituency
Southampton Test

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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