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Histopathology Archive Storage Services

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

07 Oct 2026 at 15:40

UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board is assessing a potential service for secure off-site storage and retrieval of histopathology archives. The anticipated work covers storing and managing paraffin wax blocks and histopathology slides; retrieving and transporting materials; tracking archives and maintaining chain of custody; migrating archives and mobilising the service; and providing reporting and contract management. NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership is managing the procurement planning for the Health Board. Delivery is expected to cover Newport and Cardiff. Other NHS Wales organisations may join the requirement, subject to discussions. The service is intended to safeguard and manage clinical pathology materials while enabling their retrieval when required.

This is at planning stage: the buyer has announced an intention to procure, but has not invited tenders. The expected route is an open procedure, and preliminary market engagement is planned to help shape the procurement strategy, specification and assessment of market capability and capacity. The estimated value is £300,000 excluding VAT (£360,000 including VAT), and may be refined after engagement. One lot is planned and is marked suitable for SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises. The buyer currently anticipates an initial five-year contract from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2032, with options to extend for up to a further five years, potentially to 31 March 2037. These arrangements remain subject to planning and stakeholder engagement.

The work is suited to providers able to deliver secure, off-site storage and controlled retrieval of sensitive histopathology archives. Relevant operational strengths include managing paraffin blocks and slides, reliable archive tracking and chain-of-custody processes, safe transport, archive migration and mobilisation, and ongoing reporting and contract management. Suppliers should be able to demonstrate the capacity to maintain secure storage while responding to retrieval requirements across the expected service area. The single planned lot is identified as suitable for SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises, so the requirement is not presented as restricted to large suppliers. Preliminary market engagement is intended to test supplier capability and capacity and inform the eventual specification; businesses with experience in pathology archive storage and retrieval are well placed to contribute to that planning.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Histopathology Archive Storage Services

Notice Description

NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership (NWSSP) is giving advance notice of a potential future procurement for the provision of off-site Histopathology Archive Storage and Retrieval Services. The requirement is currently being assessed on behalf of Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, with discussions ongoing to determine whether additional NHS Wales organisations may participate in the future requirement. The anticipated scope may include: Secure off-site storage of histopathology archive materials; Storage and management of paraffin wax blocks and histopathology slides; Retrieval and transportation services; Archive tracking and chain-of-custody management; Archive migration and mobilisation services; and Associated reporting and contract management arrangements. NWSSP intends to undertake Preliminary Market Engagement to inform the procurement strategy, specification development and assessment of market capability and capacity. The estimated value is indicative and based on the currently anticipated scope. The final contract value and participating organisations may be refined following stakeholder engagement and Preliminary Market Engagement activities. This notice is for information purposes only and does not constitute a call for competition.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: The proposed contract term is indicative only and remains subject to further stakeholder engagement and procurement planning. It is currently anticipated that the contract may be awarded for an initial period of five years, with options to extend for up to a further five years.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-07830c
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/094882-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK3 - Planned Procurement 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

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85111800 - Pathology services

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
7 Oct 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
17 Nov 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 31 Mar 2032 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Aneurin Bevan 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
CAERLEON, NEWPORT,
Postcode
NP18 3XQ
Postcode Area
Newport
Country
Wales
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLL Wales
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLL5 South East Wales
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLL54 Monmouthshire and Newport
Delivery Location
TLL16 Gwent Valleys, TLL21 Monmouthshire and Newport
Local Authority
Newport
Electoral Ward
Caerleon
Westminster Constituency
Newport East

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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