--- title: "Request for Information - Lyophilisation services" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-2f5554a0-3f1a-4ed2-929f-956043013b80" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-2f5554a0-3f1a-4ed2-929f-956043013b80" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-2f5554a0-3f1a-4ed2-929f-956043013b80.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-2f5554a0-3f1a-4ed2-929f-956043013b80.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "UK HEALTH SECURITY AGENCY" published: "2026-06-30" --- # Request for Information - Lyophilisation services Buyer: UK HEALTH SECURITY AGENCY Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-b5fd17-2f5554a0-3f1a-4ed2-929f-956043013b80 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-2f5554a0-3f1a-4ed2-929f-956043013b80) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-2f5554a0-3f1a-4ed2-929f-956043013b80.json) ## Summary The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is currently in the planning stage of a procurement process concerning lyophilisation services for pathology. This Request for Information (RFI) is aimed at assessing market capabilities for developing and optimising freeze-drying processes for X-ray irradiated pathogens. The objective is to support the UKHSA's Pandemic Preparedness strategy by enhancing the stability and usability of diagnostic materials. The RFI has been published with an engagement end date set for 14th July 2026. The procurement falls under the industry category of pathology services, with the main procurement category being goods, and is relevant for businesses located in the United Kingdom, specifically around London, postal code E14 4PU. This procurement process offers a significant opportunity for businesses with expertise in handling and stabilising biological materials, particularly those dealing with irradiated pathogens. Companies equipped with the capability to meet ISO 9001 quality standards and provide necessary quality control testing would be well-suited to compete. The engagement seeks to establish a relationship with suppliers who can lyophilise up to 20 pathogens over the next four years, providing strategic resilience in pandemic response capabilities. Potential suppliers should be capable of optimising lyophilisation protocols and ensuring high product quality through rigorous testing, making this an attractive prospect for businesses looking to expand their presence in the medical and health security sectors. ## Notice The key dates for this RFI are as follows: RFI Published: 30th June 2026 RFI Response: 14th July 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: UKHSA is seeking to engage with the market to better understand supplier capability for the provision of lyophilisation (freeze-drying) services for X-ray irradiated pathogens to provide greater resilience and flexibility across use cases as part of UKHSA's Pandemic Preparedness strategy. UKHSA requires support in developing optimal formulations and lyophilisation processes to ensure that irradiated, inactivated pathogens can be safely stored, handled, and distributed for diagnostic use and pandemic preparedness. Lyophilisation is required to enhance the long-term stability and usability of these materials, supporting strategic resilience and response capabilities. Requirements: We need the supplier to have: * Ability to handle irradiated, inactive viral and bacterial material in liquid medium * Ability to develop and optimise lyophilisation protocols including assessment of different stabilisation matrices * Appropriate quality system in place (at least ISO 9001) to ensure consistency and traceability * Provide product quality control (QC) testing of final product, including thermal stability and absence of contaminants. * Overall aim is to lyophilise up to 20 pathogens over the next 4 years o Estimated vial volume for lyophilisation is 0.3mL - 2mL o Estimated batch size for lyophilisation is 6 - 100mL o Estimated number of batches per year is 5 Should you wish to respond to this Request for Information, please complete the response questionnaire which is found at the following link: https://atamis-1928--prospend.vf.force.com/apex/CS_ContractPage?filters=&page=1&Preview=Yes&searchStr=&SearchType=Projects&sortStr=Alphabetical&uid=a07Pz00001jEyqdIAC&sfdcIFrameOrigin=https://atamis-1928.lightning.force.com ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/397f4807-4222-46ba-bbf3-5b61714b6950 | | 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 | 30 Jun 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 14 Jul 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 | | Post town | 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 - 85 - Health and social work services ### Codes - 85111800 - Pathology services ## Release History - 30 Jun 2026 at 11:20 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/397f4807-4222-46ba-bbf3-5b61714b6950 - 30 Jun 2026 at 11:20 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/b39f634d-5e4e-490f-bdf4-4c7fecff4660 ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/397f4807-4222-46ba-bbf3-5b61714b6950 30th June 2026 - Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/b39f634d-5e4e-490f-bdf4-4c7fecff4660 30th June 2026 - Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/fdd18233-2619-4648-913a-06262c947217 RFI Lyophilisation Services FINAL C456187 - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/0d08969f-c1da-48ed-a0fc-e297ab50ef10 RFI Lyophilisation Services FINAL C456187 ## Notice URLs - https://atamis-1928--prospend.vf.force.com/apex/CS_ContractPage?filters=&page=1&Preview=Yes&searchStr=&SearchType=Projects&sortStr=Alphabetical&uid=a07Pz00001jEyqdIAC&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-b5fd17-2f5554a0-3f1a-4ed2-929f-956043013b80. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-2f5554a0-3f1a-4ed2-929f-956043013b80.json.