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International Courier Contract For NEQAS/WBMDR

NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership-Procurement Services (hosted by Velindre University NHS Trust)

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

23 Feb 2026 at 00:00

OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

10 Dec 2024 at 00:00

OJEU - F2 - Contract Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process led by NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership-Procurement Services, hosted by Velindre University NHS Trust, culminated in the award and activation of contracts for the International Courier Contract for NEQAS/WBMDR, focusing on transport services for biological samples within the health industry category. The main procurement category is services, and it followed an open procurement procedure. The contract consists of two lots, awarded to DHL and Priority Express (Couriers) Ltd for delivery within the UK and internationally, with a total value of £65,000 GBP. The process reached completion with contract activation dates of 13 February 2026 and 23 December 2025 respectively, and was facilitated from Cardiff and Slough, UK, with the High Court serving as the review body.

This tender opens substantial opportunities for businesses specialising in courier and logistics services, particularly those capable of handling perishable biological samples efficiently for international and UK distribution. Companies equipped with quick and reliable delivery systems can leverage this contract to expand operations and engage with reputable health programmes like UK NEQAS for H&I and the Welsh Bone Marrow Donor Registry. SMEs such as DHL and Priority Express (Couriers) Ltd have successfully secured contracts, showcasing potential growth prospects for similar companies aiming to increase their presence in the healthcare logistics market.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

International Courier Contract For NEQAS/WBMDR

Notice Description

The Welsh Blood Service (WBS), operating under Velindre University NHS Trust, invites tenders for the provision of transport services for biological samples. These services are required to support the operations of two key programmes: UK National External Quality Assessment Service for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (UK NEQAS for H&I), which distributes blood samples to medical laboratories globally as part of its External Quality Assessment (EQA) schemes. Welsh Bone Marrow Donor Registry (WBMDR), which facilitates the transport of donor samples to laboratories worldwide as well as the transport of samples from GPs/Hospitals/Donors addresses within the UK to WBS. NEQAS offer 19 different EQA Schemes, which are available to laboratories or appropriate companies in the UK and internationally (our customers). The EQA service necessitates the regular distribution of blood samples to our customers to allow us to check the quality of their medical tests. Some of the samples sent deteriorate quickly; therefore, delivery to destinations must be ASAP to ensure samples are suitable for testing. The successful provider will be required to Ensure timely and reliable distribution of biological samples, including perishable samples that must be delivered to UK and international destinations as quickly as possible to maintain suitability for testing and non-perishable samples, which can be dispatched via courier or post based on customer preferences. The successful supplier must also be able to provide transport solutions for donor samples originating from GPs, hospitals, or donor addresses within the UK to the WBS, as well as outgoing shipments from WBS to laboratories worldwide.

Lot Information

International Courier Contract For NEQAS

The Welsh Blood Service (WBS), operating under Velindre University NHS Trust, invites tenders for the provision of transport services for biological samples. These services are required to support the operations of two key programmes: UK National External Quality Assessment Service for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (UK NEQAS for H&I), which distributes blood samples to medical laboratories globally as part of its External Quality Assessment (EQA) schemes. Welsh Bone Marrow Donor Registry (WBMDR), which facilitates the transport of donor samples to laboratories worldwide as well as the transport of samples from GPs/Hospitals/Donors addresses within the UK to WBS. NEQAS offer 19 different EQA Schemes, which are available to laboratories or appropriate companies in the UK and internationally (our customers). The EQA service necessitates the regular distribution of blood samples to our customers to allow us to check the quality of their medical tests. Some of the samples sent deteriorate quickly; therefore, delivery to destinations must be ASAP to ensure samples are suitable for testing. The successful provider will be required to Ensure timely and reliable distribution of biological samples, including perishable samples that must be delivered to UK and international destinations as quickly as possible to maintain suitability for testing and non-perishable samples, which can be dispatched via courier or post based on customer preferences. The successful supplier must also be able to provide transport solutions for donor samples originating from GPs, hospitals, or donor addresses within the UK to the WBS, as well as outgoing shipments from WBS to laboratories worldwide.

Renewal: Optional Extension Period of 12 Months

International Courier Contract For WBMDR

NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership - Procurement Services on behalf of The Welsh Blood Service (WBS), operating under Velindre University NHS Trust required an experienced supplier provision of transport services for biological samples. These services are required to support the operations of two key programmes: UK National External Quality Assessment Service for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (UK NEQAS for H&I), which distributes blood samples to medical laboratories globally as part of its External Quality Assessment (EQA) schemes. Welsh Bone Marrow Donor Registry (WBMDR), which facilitates the transport of donor samples to laboratories worldwide as well as the transport of samples from GPs/Hospitals/Donors addresses within the UK to WBS.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-kuma6s-146629
Publication Source
Sell2Wales
Latest Notice
https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/search_switch.aspx?ID=146629
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

64 - Postal and telecommunications services

CPV Codes

64120000 - Courier services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£375,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£375,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£65,000 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Feb 20266 months ago
Submission Deadline
13 Jan 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
23 Dec 20258 months ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
3 years

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership-Procurement Services (hosted by Velindre University 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
CARDIFF
Postcode
CF14 4HH
Postcode Area
Cardiff
Country
Wales
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLL Wales
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLL5 South East Wales
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLL52 Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan
Delivery Location
TLL Wales
Local Authority
Cardiff
Electoral Ward
Heath
Westminster Constituency
Cardiff North

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
2
Supplier Names

DHL

PRIORITY EXPRESS (COURIERS) LTD

Further Information

Notice Documents

  • https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=DEC496075
    International Courier Contract For NEQAS/WBMDR - The Welsh Blood Service (WBS), operating under Velindre University NHS Trust, invites tenders for the provision of transport services for biological samples. These services are required to support the operations of two key programmes: UK National External Quality Assessment Service for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (UK NEQAS for H&I), which distributes blood samples to medical laboratories globally as part of its External Quality Assessment (EQA) schemes. Welsh Bone Marrow Donor Registry (WBMDR), which facilitates the transport of donor samples to laboratories worldwide as well as the transport of samples from GPs/Hospitals/Donors addresses within the UK to WBS. NEQAS offer 19 different EQA Schemes, which are available to laboratories or appropriate companies in the UK and internationally (our customers). The EQA service necessitates the regular distribution of blood samples to our customers to allow us to check the quality of their medical tests. Some of the samples sent deteriorate quickly; therefore, delivery to destinations must be ASAP to ensure samples are suitable for testing. The successful provider will be required to Ensure timely and reliable distribution of biological samples, including perishable samples that must be delivered to UK and international destinations as quickly as possible to maintain suitability for testing and non-perishable samples, which can be dispatched via courier or post based on customer preferences. The successful supplier must also be able to provide transport solutions for donor samples originating from GPs, hospitals, or donor addresses within the UK to the WBS, as well as outgoing shipments from WBS to laboratories worldwide.
  • https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=FEB591324
    International Courier Contract For NEQAS/WBMDR - The Welsh Blood Service (WBS), operating under Velindre University NHS Trust, invites tenders for the provision of transport services for biological samples. These services are required to support the operations of two key programmes: UK National External Quality Assessment Service for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (UK NEQAS for H&I), which distributes blood samples to medical laboratories globally as part of its External Quality Assessment (EQA) schemes. Welsh Bone Marrow Donor Registry (WBMDR), which facilitates the transport of donor samples to laboratories worldwide as well as the transport of samples from GPs/Hospitals/Donors addresses within the UK to WBS. NEQAS offer 19 different EQA Schemes, which are available to laboratories or appropriate companies in the UK and internationally (our customers). The EQA service necessitates the regular distribution of blood samples to our customers to allow us to check the quality of their medical tests. Some of the samples sent deteriorate quickly; therefore, delivery to destinations must be ASAP to ensure samples are suitable for testing. The successful provider will be required to Ensure timely and reliable distribution of biological samples, including perishable samples that must be delivered to UK and international destinations as quickly as possible to maintain suitability for testing and non-perishable samples, which can be dispatched via courier or post based on customer preferences. The successful supplier must also be able to provide transport solutions for donor samples originating from GPs, hospitals, or donor addresses within the UK to the WBS, as well as outgoing shipments from WBS to laboratories worldwide.

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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