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Contracts for Innovation Cymru - Modernising the Bowel Screening Pathway in Wales

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

22 Sep 2026 at 11:57

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board is seeking innovative services to modernise the bowel screening pathway in Wales after a participant receives a positive faecal immunochemical test (FIT) result. The work should improve pre-colonoscopy assessment, participant access and experience, triage for appropriate investigations, and prioritisation of timely interventions based on clinical need. Solutions could support flexible or self-managed assessments, appointment booking, digital resources and video content, while reducing reliance on manual telephone work and helping specialist nursing teams manage demand. This is a Phase 2 development and real-world demonstration challenge for existing technologies, products, platforms or other solutions that can be adapted, enhanced or developed for Bowel Screening Wales. Delivery covers Wales and the main category is health and social care services, including software, research and development, and related consultancy.

The process has reached tender: the Health Board invited offers through an open procedure. Enquiries were due by 16 October 2026 at 00:00, and submissions by 20 October 2026 at 12:00. The planned evaluation decision date is 30 October 2026. The contract period is 16 November 2026 to 31 March 2027. Funding is £300,000 excluding VAT, or £360,000 including VAT, for one lot and is intended to support four to five projects, subject to the submissions received and available funding. Offers may be submitted electronically in Welsh or English. Evaluation is weighted 87% technical quality, 9% commercial cost and value for money, and 4% social value, covering measurable economic, social, environmental and cultural benefits for Wales. The draft contract sets payment 30 days after approval of completed deliverables.

This opportunity suits technology developers, digital health providers, software and information-system businesses, research and development organisations, health service specialists, and consultancies able to adapt an existing product or platform rather than start entirely from scratch. Strong applicants will be able to demonstrate a credible approach to participant assessment, clinical triage, pathway management, flexible engagement and digital communication after a positive FIT result. The project requires development, refinement and practical demonstration in a real-world NHS Wales setting, so relevant experience of implementation, service evaluation, user-centred design and working with clinical or screening services will be useful. Suppliers should be able to manage agreed deliverables, budgets, timescales and regulatory compliance. Small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community or social enterprises are identified as suitable participants, with social value in Wales forming part of the assessment.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Contracts for Innovation Cymru - Modernising the Bowel Screening Pathway in Wales

Notice Description

Innovative solutions to improve participant assessment, triage support and progression following a positive FIT result Introduction Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers in Wales, with over 2,200 new cases diagnosed each year , and early diagnosis remains one of the most important factors in improving patient outcomes. It is more common as people get older, with most cases diagnosed in those over 50. Bowel Screening Wales plays a vital role in identifying people aged 50-74 who might be at increased risk of bowel cancer, through the routine use of an at home stool sample kit, known as Faecal Immunochemical Testing (FIT) . Each year, more than 500,000 people are invited to participate in bowel screening, with around 12,000 participants receiving a positive FIT result and requiring further assessment and investigation. Following a positive FIT result, screening participants are informed to contact the national bowel screening administration team to make a mutually convenient appointment for a nurse-led pre-colonoscopy assessment. This assessment is predominantly undertaken by telephone and uses a standardised assessment form with questions designed to determine an individual's suitability for colonoscopy, identify clinical risks and ensure participants receive the support they need before further investigation. The assessment lasts between 30 and 60 minutes, depending on the level of complexity. Appointments are available Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm, and this is currently the only option available to screening participants. The current process was established when the Bowel Screening Wales programme launched in 2008 and has remained largely unchanged since that time. Whilst the pathway continues to provide a safe and effective means of assessment, the environment in which it operates has changed considerably. Bowel Screening participation has increased, eligibility has expanded, workforce pressures have intensified and public expectations around digital access, communication and convenience have evolved. Bowel Screening Wales is therefore seeking innovative approaches that can support service modernisation, improve participant experience, improve the timeliness of pre-colonoscopy assessments and strengthen the ability of NHS Wales to meet future demand. ________________________________________ The Challenge Current pre-colonoscopy assessment processes remain heavily reliant on manual and telephone-based activity during routine office hours (Mon-Fri. 9-4pm). This can limit access for screening participants (especially those of working age), create pressure on specialist nursing teams, contribute to variation in waiting times and participant experience, and limit opportunities to make better use of participant information resources (i.e. current inability to signpost participants to digital resources and video content). We are seeking innovative solutions that can improve access to timely assessments, provide increased flexibility for participants to undertake an assessment, enables participants to have more control over their engagement with the service, including the possibility of them booking their own appointment slots following assessment. In addition, the innovation should have the ability to enable the screening programme to triage participants for appropriate investigations and stratify individuals for timely interventions based on clinical need following a positive FIT result. The challenge is outcome focused and does not prescribe a specific technology, product type or delivery model. Applicants are encouraged to propose the approach they believe will best address the challenge and demonstrate how their solution could be adapted, developed or enhanced to meet the needs of Bowel Screening Wales. We are not seeking to specify a single solution in advance. The purpose of this challenge is to support the development and demonstration of solutions that can address the underlying service need as described above whilst creating foundations for future improvement. Phase 2: Development and Real-World Demonstration This challenge is being delivered as a Phase 2 Contracts for Innovation competition. We are seeking organisations with existing technologies, products, platforms, or solutions that require adaptation, enhancement, or development to meet the needs of Bowel Screening Wales. Projects should support the development, refinement, and real-world demonstration of innovative approaches capable of improving participant assessment, triage and pathway management following a positive FIT result. The expectation is that solutions will be deployed and evaluated in a real-world setting where appropriate, enabling learning from practical implementation to inform ongoing refinement and future development throughout the project. Funding Allocation and Project Details Competition Type: Phase 2 Development and Real-World Demonstration Total Funding Available: PS 300,000 Number of Projects Anticipated: Current funding of PS300,000, excluding VAT, is available to fund 4-5 projects which may be subject to change. The total funding available for the competition can change and the funders reserve the right to adjust the provisional funding allocations, I.e., should additional funding become available. Portfolio Approach This challenge is open to applications that deliver a Phase 2 development and real-world demonstration project. Current funding of up to PS300,000 is available to support up to 4-5 projects which may be subject to change, dependent upon the number/quality of submissions received. All costs must be clearly justified and value for money demonstrated with willingness for appropriate contributions from the provider to help deliver the project. We reserve the right to consider an increased budget for exceptional applications if the scale of the delivery across Wales warrants it. Please note any adoption and implementation of a solution from this competition would be subject of a separate, possible competitive, procurement exercise. This competition does not cover the purchase of any solution although we may choose to investigate and explore innovative procurement routes as part of this challenge.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-07775b
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/089557-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

33 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products

48 - Software package and information systems

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

85 - Health and social work services

98 - Other community, social and personal services

CPV Codes

33000000 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products

48000000 - Software package and information systems

73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

79310000 - Market research services

85000000 - Health and social work services

98000000 - Other community, social and personal services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£300,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£300,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 Sep 2026Today
Submission Deadline
20 Oct 20264 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
16 Nov 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BANGOR
Postcode
LL57 2PW
Postcode Area
Llandudno
Country
Wales
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLL Wales
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLL3 North Wales
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLL32 Gwynedd
Delivery Location
TLL Wales
Local Authority
Gwynedd
Electoral Ward
Y Faenol
Westminster Constituency
Bangor Aberconwy

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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