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Gamma Irradiation of NHSBT Tissue Allografts and Consumables

NHS Blood and Transplant

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

08 Oct 2026 at 15:22

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) intends to procure gamma irradiation services for tissue allografts and consumables used by its Tissue and Eye Services. The supplier would irradiate tissue products and consumables to specified absorbed-dose ranges, with frozen storage where needed, then return treated products to NHSBT. The requirement is for medical laboratory services. Delivery location is stated as the United Kingdom.

This is a planning-stage requirement, not an invitation to tender. NHSBT plans to hold preliminary market engagement meetings remotely to understand suppliers’ capabilities, capacity and service options before deciding on a formal procurement. Suppliers were asked to express interest by email by 13 November 2026, including their organisation name, proposed attendees and a short description or website link for relevant services. A future notice was expected on 1 December 2026. The planned contract period runs from 4 January 2027 to 4 January 2031, with possible extension to 4 January 2033. The estimated value is £80,000 excluding VAT (£96,000 including VAT). The procurement is presented as one lot; NHSBT indicates suitability for SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises. No award evaluation basis is stated.

The work is suited to suppliers with established gamma irradiation capability for a range of tissue products and consumables, able to meet the specified dose limits: 25–40 kGy for tissue and 25–45 kGy for consumables. Suppliers should be able to provide frozen storage at about -20°C when required, maintain temperature records and return products within 72 hours. They must issue an irradiation certificate before release, recording dose limits, routine dose and irradiation and NHSBT product batch numbers. NHSBT also expects support for dose mapping and performance qualification, compatibility trials for new materials, and a suitable quality management system. Validation, calibration, recall and business continuity arrangements are also required. The planned market engagement is intended to assess supplier capacity and service options; participation does not guarantee a later contract, and NHSBT has not committed to proceeding with procurement or making an award.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Gamma Irradiation of NHSBT Tissue Allografts and Consumables

Notice Description

Gamma Irradiation of NHSBT Tissue Allografts and Consumables NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is looking to appoint a suitable supplier to provide gamma irradiation services for tissue allografts and consumables used by NHSBT Tissue and Eye Services (TES). NHSBT wishes to engage with suppliers before commencing a formal procurement process. The purpose of this engagement is to improve NHSBT's understanding of current market capability, capacity, service delivery options and supplier interest in this requirement. The successful Supplier will be required to provide gamma irradiation of tissue products to an absorbed dose specification of 25kGy minimum and 40kGy maximum, and consumables to an absorbed dose specification of 25kGy minimum and 45kGy maximum. The Supplier must be able to process a range of tissue products and consumables, provide suitable frozen storage at approximately -20degC where required, maintain appropriate temperature records and return irradiated products within a maximum turnaround time of 72 hours. The Supplier must provide an irradiation certificate before products are released back to NHSBT. The certificate must include the minimum and maximum absorbed dose, routine dose, irradiation batch number and the relevant NHSBT product batch number. The Supplier will also be required to support dose mapping and performance qualification activities, undertake compatibility trials for new materials where required, operate an appropriate quality management system and maintain suitable validation, calibration, recall and business continuity arrangements. NHSBT intends to hold preliminary market engagement meetings. Meetings are expected to be held remotely, with final dates and times to be confirmed. To enable NHSBT to finalise the arrangements, interested organisations should send an expression of interest by email to Sahithi Bandi sahithi.bandi@nhsbt.nhs.uk no later than November 13th 2026.The response should include the organization's name, proposed attendees and a brief overview, or website link, describing the relevant services available. Participation in this market engagement does not guarantee any future business. NHSBT is not committed to undertaking a procurement exercise or awarding a contract as a result of this notice. NHSBT will not reimburse suppliers for any costs incurred in participating in this engagement.

Planning Information

Gamma Irradiation of NHSBT Tissue Allografts and Consumables NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is looking to appoint a suitable supplier to provide gamma irradiation services for tissue allografts and consumables used by NHSBT Tissue and Eye Services (TES). NHSBT wishes to engage with suppliers before commencing a formal procurement process. The purpose of this engagement is to improve NHSBT’s understanding of current market capability, capacity, service delivery options and supplier interest in this requirement. The successful Supplier will be required to provide gamma irradiation of tissue products to an absorbed dose specification of 25kGy minimum and 40kGy maximum, and consumables to an absorbed dose specification of 25kGy minimum and 45kGy maximum. The Supplier must be able to process a range of tissue products and consumables, provide suitable frozen storage at approximately -20°C where required, maintain appropriate temperature records and return irradiated products within a maximum turnaround time of 72 hours. The Supplier must provide an irradiation certificate before products are released back to NHSBT. The certificate must include the minimum and maximum absorbed dose, routine dose, irradiation batch number and the relevant NHSBT product batch number. The Supplier will also be required to support dose mapping and performance qualification activities, undertake compatibility trials for new materials where required, operate an appropriate quality management system and maintain suitable validation, calibration, recall and business continuity arrangements. NHSBT intends to hold preliminary market engagement meetings. Meetings are expected to be held remotely, with final dates and times to be confirmed. To enable NHSBT to finalise the arrangements, interested organisations should send an expression of interest by email to Sahithi Bandi sahithi.bandi@nhsbt.nhs.uk no later than November 13th 2026.The response should include the organization’s name, proposed attendees and a brief overview, or website link, describing the relevant services available. Participation in this market engagement does not guarantee any future business. NHSBT is not committed to undertaking a procurement exercise or awarding a contract as a result of this notice. NHSBT will not reimburse suppliers for any costs incurred in participating in this engagement.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0783fd
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/095319-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

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
£80,000 Under £100K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
8 Oct 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Dec 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
4 Jan 2027 - 4 Jan 2031 4-5 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
NHS Blood and Transplant
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BRISTOL
Postcode
BS34 7QH
Postcode Area
Bristol
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK5 West of England
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK52 Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
South Gloucestershire
Electoral Ward
Filton
Westminster Constituency
Filton and Bradley Stoke

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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