---
title: "EQA for the National Genomic Test Directory"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-02eb09"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-02eb09"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02eb09.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02eb09.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "NHS ENGLAND"
published: "2021-10-12"
---

# EQA for the National Genomic Test Directory

Buyer: NHS ENGLAND  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-02eb09

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## Summary

The procurement process for the "EQA for the National Genomic Test Directory" initiated by NHS England is complete. This tender relates to the external quality assurance (EQA) of DNA samples collected at NHS Genomic Laboratory Hubs, which is crucial for ensuring the accuracy and reliability of genomic tests. With a total contract value of £1,500,000, the procurement falls under the health services industry and was executed using a limited procurement method without a prior call for competition. The relevant contract was signed on 13 July 2021 and the primary delivery location is indicated as NHS England within the UK.

This tender presents significant opportunities for growth in the healthcare and laboratory services sector, especially for businesses that specialise in quality assurance and laboratory testing. Companies with capabilities in DNA extraction, histopathology assessments, and the provision of external quality assessment schemes will be particularly well-suited to compete in future tenders within this domain. The requirement for high-quality DNA testing services by NHS England ensures that firms with relevant certifications and proven expertise in genomic medicine will find potent opportunities for collaboration and business expansion.

## Notice

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).

### Lot Information

Lot 1

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 populationo 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 cancero 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 below. 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

### Procurement Information

A full list of the UKAS accredited suppliers able to provide a quality assurance service for the testing of DNA samples can be found here:https://www.ukas.com/browse-ukas-accredited-organisationsThe NHS England Genomics Unit has assessed the UKAS-accredited supplier market by use of the link above to identify which are able to meet the service requirements. Based on this assessment, the Genomics Unit has ascertained that:* UK NEQAS (hosted by NHS Lothian) are the only provider qualified and ISO17043 or equivalent accredited for the DNA extraction EQA schemes and related molecular pathology schemes as described above;* No other single provider has the ability to provide the range of medical laboratory tests across Haematology, Blood Coagulation, Immunophenotyping and Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics disciplines. The list of centres with their corresponding EQAs listed can be accessed here Centres - UK NEQAS. The UK NQEAS centres involved are:GenQA/UK NQEAS Genomics - https://www.genqa.org/UK NEQAS Leucocyte Immunophenotyping - http://www.ukneqasli.co.uk/UK NEQAS Haematology - https://www.ukneqash.org/

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/025500-2021 |
| 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 | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 12 Oct 2021 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 12 Jul 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 | £1,500,000 |

## Status

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

## 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 | TLI London |

## 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

- 12 Oct 2021 at 14:50 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/025500-2021

## Notice URLs

- http://www.ukneqasli.co.uk/UK
- https://www.england.nhs.uk//
- https://www.genqa.org/UK
- https://www.nhslothian.scot/Pages/default.aspx
- https://www.ukas.com/browse-ukas-accredited-organisationsThe
- https://www.ukneqash.org/

## 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-02eb09. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02eb09.json.