---
title: "Genomics Unit - National External Quality Assessment Service (NEQAS)"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-c6e8d8ae-6b92-4b74-9be1-67a1da7056fe"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-c6e8d8ae-6b92-4b74-9be1-67a1da7056fe"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-c6e8d8ae-6b92-4b74-9be1-67a1da7056fe.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-c6e8d8ae-6b92-4b74-9be1-67a1da7056fe.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "NHS ENGLAND"
published: "2023-04-18"
---

# Genomics Unit - National External Quality Assessment Service (NEQAS)

Buyer: NHS ENGLAND  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-c6e8d8ae-6b92-4b74-9be1-67a1da7056fe

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## Summary

The National Health Service (NHS) England has awarded a contract for the Genomics Unit - National External Quality Assessment Service (NEQAS). The procurement process is complete, with a total contract value of £1,500,000 in GBP. The procurement method used was a direct Single tender action (below threshold). The contract period is from 1st April 2021 to 31st March 2023. The buying organisation is NHS England, located in Leeds, United Kingdom. The procurement stage is at the award stage, with the tender period ending on 1st March 2021.

This tender for the Genomics Unit NEQAS presents an opportunity for businesses involved in health services, particularly those providing quality assurance services for DNA extraction and testing. Companies specialising in DNA quality assurance, tumour content assessment, and genomic testing would be well-suited to competently bid for this contract. The tender requires suppliers to ensure high-quality samples are provided by the NHS Genomic Laboratory Hubs, covering various aspects of DNA extraction and quality assessment for the National Genomic Testing Directory. The purchasing authority, NHS England, aims to guarantee quality assurance for genetic services, presenting a valuable business opportunity for firms in the health services sector.

## Notice

Current Arrangements / Context Building on the 100,000 Genomes Project and existing genetic services, In October 2018 NHS England announced the launch of the NHS Genomic Medicine Service (GMS) which will be mobilised as part of a transition period to take place over 18 months. The long term aims of the Genomic Medicine Service are to: o Provide consistent and equitable care for England's 55 million population o Operate to common national standards, specifications and protocols o Deliver to a single national genomic testing directory - covering use of all technologies from single gene to whole genome sequencing initially for rare disease and cancer o Give all patients the opportunity to participate in research (for individual benefit and to inform future care) o Build a national genomic knowledge base providing real world data This procurement relates to external quality assurance of the samples and the DNA material taken at NHS Genomic Laboratory Hubs as part of the new Genomic Medicine Service. Such sequencing requires high quality DNA and to ensure these samples are provided by the NHS Genomic Medicine Centres (GMCs), a range of external quality assessment (EQA) schemes are required. An assured lab network of GLHs will provide the required assurance to the wider GMS (including for clinical genetics services and Genomic Medicine Centres established as part of the 100,000 Genomes Project). The quality assurance measures are concentrated on 5 major areas. NHS England are obligated to provide a quality assurance service to ensure samples collected are of high enough quality to extract a full genome. The required EQA service is as follows: * EQA for DNA extraction from blood samples * EQA for DNA extraction for formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue samples * EQA for the measurement of DNA quality * EQA for the assessment of tumour content and cellularity * EQA for the National Genomic Testing Directory

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/9b166e64-0f97-4c6a-8519-d2df9eec65fb |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Single tender action (below threshold) |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 18 Apr 2023 |
| Submission deadline | 1 Mar 2021 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 12 Jul 2021 |
| Contract period | 31 Mar 2021 - 31 Mar 2023 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £1,500,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £1,500,000 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | NHS ENGLAND |
| Locality | LEEDS |
| Post town | Leeds |
| Postcode | LS2 7UE |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLE Yorkshire and The Humber |
| ITL 2 | TLE4 West Yorkshire |
| ITL 3 | TLE42 Leeds |
| Local authority | Leeds |
| Electoral ward | Little London & Woodhouse |
| Westminster constituency | Leeds Central and Headingley |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | LOTHIAN HEALTH BOARD |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 85100000 - Health services

## Release History

- 18 Apr 2023 at 12:01 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/9b166e64-0f97-4c6a-8519-d2df9eec65fb
- 11 Oct 2021 at 19:20 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/2788b430-5992-4e9f-8a86-cfa091bec709

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/9b166e64-0f97-4c6a-8519-d2df9eec65fb
  18th April 2023 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/2788b430-5992-4e9f-8a86-cfa091bec709
  11th October 2021 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder
- https://atamis-1928.cloudforce.com/sfc/p/0O000000rwim/a/4J000000NeJt/Xiwb1.0PBVSvZTpkfjFH7AWCFAO1blby0rKzaf7fqNQ
  NHSE - NEQAS Contract 21-23_FV_Redacted
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/11c820b5-7e2b-4a56-9008-caf1b6762e41
  NHSE - NEQAS Contract 21-23_FV_Redacted

## Provenance

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