---
title: "Core Molecular Testing"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-02bef1"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-02bef1"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02bef1.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02bef1.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "LOTHIAN HEALTH BOARD"
published: "2026-04-13"
---

# Core Molecular Testing

Buyer: LOTHIAN HEALTH BOARD  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-02bef1

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[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02bef1.json)

## Summary

The procurement process for "Core Molecular Testing" orchestrated by NHS Lothian has recently been concluded. The contract, valued at £3,000,000, was awarded on 9 April 2026 to Abbott Laboratories Ltd under a direct award procedure without prior call for competition. The procurement falls under the laboratory services industry, with a primary focus on delivering a managed molecular testing service for NHS Lothian. The location of services is within the UKM75 region, specifically in Edinburgh. The contract spans a period of three years, aimed at ensuring the continuity of service amidst ongoing system upgrades within NHS networks.

This tender presents growth opportunities for businesses capable of providing specialised laboratory services, specifically those with experience in managing comprehensive service solutions within the healthcare sector. Large-scale businesses, like Abbott Laboratories Ltd, are well-suited to meet the complex technical and clinical requirements outlined in the contract. Businesses with capabilities in managing critical healthcare services and maintaining high standards of operational reliability and data integrity could benefit significantly from such awards. The procurement approach adopted by NHS Lothian is strategic, aiming to mitigate any operational disruption and to sustain patient care quality during key technological transitions.

## Notice

Provision of the Managed Laboratory Service for NHS Lothian for its core molecular testing requirement.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

Lothian Health Board (more commonly known as NHS Lothian) requires a managed service solution for its core molecular testing capacity for a contract period of 3 years. The Supplier will assume responsibility for the guaranteed availability of the managed service solution through the provision and management including maintenance.

### Procurement Information

This contract is being awarded under the Direct Award procedure under Lot 1 - Clinical Managed Services of the SBS Framework for Clinical Managed Services including Managed Maintenance Services SBS10251. National Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) replacement program is currently being rolled out across the Boards in Scotland and NHS Lothian have been recently given a go live date which coincides with the expiry of the current Managed Service Contract (MSC) for molecular testing. LIMS implementation delay would have a knock-on effect on other Boards hence it is imperative NHS Lothian maintains the timeline. A potential change of supplier due to competition would introduce significant clinical risk at the operational and programme level in terms of potential dual interface builds/manual transcription, increased potential for misidentification or data integrity errors as well as diversion of essential specialist resource away from the LIMS programme at a time when stability is critical. Most importantly, a change of supplier would put a disproportionate risk to patient care. To reduce clinical risk during unavoidable LIMS implementation a direct award of core molecular testing MSC is recommended under Procurement Act 2023 Schedule 5 Paragraph 7: "(b) the difference or incompatibility would result in disproportionate technical difficulties in operation or maintenance."

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/033429-2026 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Limited |
| Procurement method details | Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 13 Apr 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 30 May 2021 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £6,500,000 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Cancelled |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | LOTHIAN HEALTH BOARD |
| Additional buyers | NHS LOTHIAN |
| Locality | EDINBURGH |
| Post town | Edinburgh |
| Postcode | EH1 3EG |
| Country | Scotland |
| ITL 1 | TLM Scotland |
| ITL 2 | TLM1 East Central Scotland |
| ITL 3 | TLM13 City of Edinburgh |
| Local authority | City of Edinburgh |
| Electoral ward | City Centre |
| Westminster constituency | Edinburgh East and Musselburgh |
| Delivery location | TLM75 City of Edinburgh |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | ABBOTT LABORATORIES |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

### Codes

- 71900000 - Laboratory services

## Release History

- 13 Apr 2026 at 15:33 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/033429-2026
- 7 Oct 2025 at 10:59 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/062829-2025
- 22 Jun 2021 at 14:05 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014206-2021

## Notice URLs

- http://www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk/
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000655661
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000826921
- https://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:085820-2009:TEXT:EN:HTML
- https://www.nhslothian.scot/
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00326

## 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-h6vhtk-02bef1. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02bef1.json.