--- title: "Request for information - Liquid Handling Robots" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-09c27976-6c7c-46c8-81c6-27b6ba013967" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-09c27976-6c7c-46c8-81c6-27b6ba013967" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-09c27976-6c7c-46c8-81c6-27b6ba013967.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-09c27976-6c7c-46c8-81c6-27b6ba013967.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "UK Health Security Agency" published: "2026-08-28" --- # Request for information - Liquid Handling Robots Buyer: UK Health Security Agency Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-b5fd17-09c27976-6c7c-46c8-81c6-27b6ba013967 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-09c27976-6c7c-46c8-81c6-27b6ba013967) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-09c27976-6c7c-46c8-81c6-27b6ba013967.json) ## Summary The UK Health Security Agency is exploring liquid handling robotics for its sequencing laboratories in Bristol, Colindale, Manchester and Porton Down, with delivery in the United Kingdom. The equipment would support laboratory processing for nucleic acid sequencing services, including pathogen surveillance programmes, clinical metagenomics sequencing and outbreak detection. The procurement forms part of UKHSA’s Pathogen Genomics Strategy and Pandemic Preparedness Programme, intended to maintain and expand the capacity and efficiency of its genomics services. This is a laboratory equipment requirement, within the broader category of laboratory, optical and precision equipment (CPV 38000000). Suppliers should therefore focus on automated liquid handling systems suitable for sequencing workflows and public health laboratory environments. This process is at the planning stage and is currently a request for information rather than an invitation to tender. UKHSA published the RFI on 28 August 2026 and expects responses by 11 September 2026. The engagement end date is 11 September 2026. UKHSA says that it will not enter into contracts on the basis of RFI replies, and that not responding will not affect a supplier’s ability to tender for any future opportunity. The process is intended to help UKHSA explore available liquid handling robotics before any future procurement. No contract value, budget, contract duration, lot structure, award criteria or tender procedure is set out at this stage. This engagement is relevant to specialist manufacturers, distributors and technology providers of liquid handling robotics for genomics, molecular biology or high-throughput laboratory processing. Suppliers with demonstrable experience supporting nucleic acid sequencing workflows and pathogen surveillance, clinical metagenomics or outbreak detection are well placed to contribute useful market information. Relevant preparation may include evidence of reliable automation, throughput, accuracy, integration with laboratory processes and the ability to support deployment across multiple UKHSA sequencing sites. UKHSA has indicated that the requirement is not suited to SMEs or voluntary, community and social enterprises, so the intended market is larger specialist suppliers or established organisations with the capacity to provide and support laboratory robotics at national scale. ## Notice The key dates for this RFI are as follows: RFI Published: 28 August 2026 RFI Response: 11 September 2026 Should you have any questions or queries relating to this RFI, please use the Atamis portal's messaging centre to direct your questions to us for a response. If a response is not received by the RFI response deadline this will have no impact on your ability to tender for the opportunity in the future. UKHSA will not enter into contracts on the basis of replies to this RFI. Description of Scope of Requirements: The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is responsible for protecting every member of every community from the impact of infectious diseases, chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents and other health threats. We provide intellectual, scientific and operational leadership at national and local level, as well as on the global stage, to make the nation's health secure. Background: The UKHSA Sequencing Laboratories in Bristol, Colindale, Manchester, and Porton Down offer nucleic acid sequencing services to support a variety of public health and clinical functions. These services currently include ongoing pathogen surveillance programmes, clinical metagenomics sequencing, and outbreak detection. As part of the UKHSA Pathogen Genomics Strategy and Pandemic Preparedness Programme, we are looking to maintain and expand the capacity and efficiency of our Genomics services. We therefore wish to explore available liquid handling robotics to support sequencing laboratory processing. Should you wish to respond to this Request for Information or require more information, please follow the link below: https://atamis-1928--prospend.vf.force.com/apex/CS_ContractPage?filters=&page=1&Preview=Yes&searchStr=&SearchType=Projects&sortStr=Alphabetical&uid=a07Pz00001uBE2zIAG&sfdcIFrameOrigin=https://atamis-1928.lightning.force.com ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/f890efff-d994-4608-bbb6-dcb5b2aae8cf | | Notice type | Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Goods | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 28 Aug 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 11 Sep 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planning | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | UK Health Security Agency | | Locality | LONDON | | Postcode area | East London | | Postcode | E14 4PU | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLI London | | ITL 2 | TLI4 Inner London - East | | ITL 3 | TLI42 Tower Hamlets | | Local authority | Tower Hamlets | | Electoral ward | Canary Wharf | | Westminster constituency | Poplar and Limehouse | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) ### Codes - 38000000 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) ## Release History - 28 Aug 2026 at 10:20 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/f890efff-d994-4608-bbb6-dcb5b2aae8cf ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/f890efff-d994-4608-bbb6-dcb5b2aae8cf 28th August 2026 - Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/499eaa8a-ea3c-4300-b3b8-cbf4848238d4 RFI - Liquid handling robots FINAL ## Notice URLs - https://atamis-1928--prospend.vf.force.com/apex/CS_ContractPage?filters=&page=1&Preview=Yes&searchStr=&SearchType=Projects&sortStr=Alphabetical&uid=a07Pz00001uBE2zIAG&sfdcIFrameOrigin=https://atamis-1928.lightning.force.com ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-09c27976-6c7c-46c8-81c6-27b6ba013967. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-09c27976-6c7c-46c8-81c6-27b6ba013967.json.