This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

16 Oct 2026 at 13:09

Summary of the contracting process

City Hospitals Independent Commercial Enterprises Limited is exploring a future healthcare linen and laundry service for delivery in the North East of England, including Sunderland. The scope could cover processing and laundering healthcare linen; linen rental and managed linen services; reusable theatre and clinical textiles; collection and distribution; emergency and contingency provision; stock and inventory management; and digital reporting. The buyer is also interested in sustainable service delivery, including carbon reduction and reusable textile solutions. This is a service procurement, with potential suppliers expected to support healthcare operations through reliable linen processing, supply and distribution.

The process is at planning and consists of preliminary market engagement, not an invitation to tender or a competition. The buyer intends to use supplier meetings, questionnaires, requests for information, site visits, presentations or market events to assess market capacity, delivery models, resilience, sustainability and mobilisation needs and to shape its future procurement strategy and specification. Suppliers are asked to send company details, relevant experience, facility and geographic coverage information, including North East service capability, and other relevant information by 30 October 2026. The potential contract is expected to run from 1 June 2027 to 31 May 2032, with an extension possible to 31 May 2034. The procurement is above the applicable threshold; no estimated monetary value is stated.

This engagement is most relevant to healthcare linen processors and laundry operators, linen rental and managed-service providers, and suppliers of reusable clinical or theatre textiles. Suppliers with collection and distribution networks serving the North East, and the capacity to maintain emergency and contingency services, are well placed to contribute. The potential service also suits businesses able to manage linen stock and inventory and provide digital reporting. The buyer is seeking insight into service resilience, continuity, mobilisation, and sustainable delivery, including carbon reduction and reusable textile options. Suppliers should be prepared to demonstrate relevant healthcare linen and laundry experience, processing facilities, geographic coverage and compliance with applicable healthcare standards and processing requirements. Small and medium-sized businesses are identified as suitable for the planned procurement. Engagement is voluntary and will not affect eligibility for a later competition.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Market Engagment Notice for a Laundry and Linen Service

Notice Description

Purpose of Engagement The Contracting Authority is undertaking preliminary market engagement in advance of a potential future procurement for the provision of healthcare linen and laundry services. The purpose of this engagement is to: * Assess current market capacity and capability. * Understand available service delivery models. * Explore opportunities for innovation, resilience and business continuity. * Understand supplier approaches to sustainability, carbon reduction and reusable textile solutions. * Consider potential mobilisation requirements and timescales. * Inform the development of the future procurement strategy, specification and contract requirements. This engagement is being undertaken in accordance with Sections 16 and 17 of the Procurement Act 2023 and does not constitute a call for competition. Participation in the engagement process will not provide any advantage or disadvantage in any subsequent procurement exercise. Scope The Contracting Authority is interested in engaging with suppliers capable of delivering healthcare laundry and linen services, including but not limited to: * Processing and laundering of healthcare linen. * Linen rental and managed linen services. * Reusable theatre and clinical textile solutions. * Collection and distribution services. * Emergency and contingency service provision. * Stock management and inventory control. * Digital and reporting solutions. * Sustainable and environmentally responsible service delivery. Suppliers must be able to demonstrate compliance with relevant healthcare standards and requirements, including arrangements for the processing of healthcare linen. Engagement Activity The Contracting Authority intends to undertake one or more of the following: * Supplier meetings. * Market engagement questionnaires. * Requests for information. * Site visits. * Supplier presentations. * Market engagement events. Participation is voluntary and no supplier will be excluded from any future procurement opportunity on the basis of non-participation. Indicative Timetable * Publication of engagement notice: * Supplier expressions of interest: * Engagement activities: * Potential procurement commencement: The timetable is provided for planning purposes only and may change. Response Requirements Interested suppliers should provide: 1. Company details and contact information. 2. Overview of healthcare linen and laundry experience. 3. Details of processing facilities and geographic coverage, including ability to provide a service in the North East of England. 4. Any information the supplier considers relevant to the future service requirement.

Planning Information

Submit the information requested to choice.contractsteam@nhs.net

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-078985
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/097943-2026
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
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

98 - Other community, social and personal services


CPV Codes

98311100 - Laundry-management services

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
16 Oct 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Jun 2027 - 1 Jun 2032 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
CITY HOSPITALS INDEPENDENT COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES LIMITED
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
SUNDERLAND
Postcode
SR4 7TP
Postcode Area
Sunderland
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC44 Sunderland
Delivery Location
TLC22 Tyneside, TLC23 Sunderland

Local Authority
Sunderland
Electoral Ward
Millfield
Westminster Constituency
Sunderland Central

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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