Award

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

Provision of HTLV Pathology Services

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

14 Oct 2026 at 09:06

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust commissioned specialist HTLV pathology services to support diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring of HTLV infection and associated disease. The service includes assays to detect, type and quantify infection, assess risk of HTLV-1-associated disease, identify early disease and monitor treatment responses. This helps inform disease management and clinical follow-up, including the frequency of clinic visits. The work is delivered in London for the Trust’s HTLV patient service. The requirement is for specialist diagnostic laboratory testing and associated clinical interpretation, rather than general pathology provision. The selected provider is the Molecular Diagnostic Unit at Imperial College London, whose assays were developed for the National Centre for Human Retrovirology.

The procurement is complete and the contract was awarded to the Molecular Diagnostic Unit, Imperial College London. The award was made on 24 September 2026, with the contract running from 5 October 2026 to 4 October 2028. Its value is £376,268. This was a direct award under Provider Selection Regime Direct Award Process A, without a prior competition. The Trust’s stated rationale was that the Molecular Diagnostic Unit is the only capable provider for the full requirement: the proviral quantification assay is available only there in the UK, and the clonality assay only there worldwide. The award basis identified no alternative supplier; price had no weighting. The contract is recorded as active. The procurement was for one lot.

For a supplier seeking to compete for comparable HTLV pathology work, credibility depends on specialist assay capability rather than broad laboratory capacity alone. The buyer relied on bespoke assays developed and validated for the National Centre for Human Retrovirology, including proviral load quantification and HTLV clonality testing. Relevant strengths include validated methods, UKAS-accredited laboratory provision, the ability to store viable samples so later testing can be performed, and expert interpretation with clinical support integrated into patient care. Experience supporting HTLV-associated disease risk assessment, early detection and treatment monitoring would also be central. The award shows that continuity with the existing assays and provider partnership was decisive: the buyer judged there to be no realistic alternative for the complete service, rather than choosing on price.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of HTLV Pathology Services

Notice Description

The HTLV pathology service will support the diagnosis, prognosis and<br/>monitoring of:<br/><br/>* HTLV infection with the provision of assays to detect, type and<br/>quantify HTLV infection, and<br/>* HTLV associated diseases particularly detection of high risk for or<br/>early disease and the monitoring of interventions to inform disease<br/>management.

Lot Information

Lot 1

The HTLV pathology service will support the diagnosis, prognosis and
monitoring of:

* HTLV infection with the provision of assays to detect, type and
quantify HTLV infection, and
* HTLV associated diseases particularly detection of high risk for or
early disease and the monitoring of interventions to inform disease
management.
An award has been made under PSR direct award process A.
Total contract value of PS376,268.00 between 05/10/26-04/10/28.

Procurement Information

The Molecular Diagnostic Unit (MDU) at Imperial College London <br/>is the only capable provider. <br/>The MDU provides NCHR with bespoke diagnostic assays that <br/>have been developed and validated for NCHR by the Section of <br/>Virology for patient benefit. These assays are essential for the <br/>assessment of HTLV-1-associated disease risk and are used to <br/>determine the frequency of clinic visits, (optimizing the use of <br/>clinical services), detect and allow early treatment of HTLV-1<br/>associated disease and monitor treatment responses. <br/>Continued provision of these assays by the MDU is justified on <br/>the following grounds: <br/>* The assays were developed by the MDU as part of the <br/>HTLV National Service provision. <br/>* The assays are either only available in the UK at the <br/>MDU (HTLV proviral quantification) or are only available <br/>in the World at the MDU (HTLV Clonality Assay). <br/>* The assays would not have been developed without the <br/>partnership between ICHNT/ICL. <br/>* Samples sent for proviral load quantification are stored <br/>viably to allow access to cells for the HTLV clonality <br/>Assay later (once the proviral load is known). <br/>* The MDU is uniquely placed to provide interpretation and <br/>clinical support. <br/>* All patients in England receive the same standard of care, which <br/>is world leading. The Direct Award Process A justification is <br/>based on the provider's specialist HTLV assay capability, <br/>validated methodology, continuity of stored viable samples, <br/>UKAS-accredited laboratory provision, and clinical integration <br/>with the National Centre for Human Retrovirology. (Supporting <br/>evidence available and retained to demonstrate that there is no <br/>realistic alternative provider for the full requirement)

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-07870c
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/096784-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85111800 - Pathology services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£376,268 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
14 Oct 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
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
W2 1NY
Postcode Area
West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
TLI London
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
Hyde Park
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Molecular Diagnostic Unit, Imperial College London

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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.

Loading OCDS record...