---
title: "Contract for the provision of pathology diagnostic testing (S4 network)"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-052231"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-052231"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-052231.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-052231.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "GREAT WESTERN HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST"
published: "2025-07-07"
---

# Contract for the provision of pathology diagnostic testing (S4 network)

Buyer: GREAT WESTERN HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-052231

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## Summary

The Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (GWH) has completed the award stage for the contract titled "Contract for the provision of pathology diagnostic testing (S4 network)," classified under the pathology services industry category. This direct award has been made to the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) under the Provider Selection Regime (PSR) "Most Suitable Provider" process. The procurement method did not involve a prior call for competition, highlighting the specific suitability of OUH within the S4 pathology network. The contract, valued at an estimated £2,040,000, runs from 6th June 2025 to 5th June 2026, with key decision-makers affirming the transparency and strategic alignment with NHS requirements. The award process was confirmed through a review strategy based on a 100% weighted criteria set, targeting integration, quality, and cost considerations.

This procurement presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in pathology diagnostic testing services within NHS networks. Firms capable of leveraging technological integration, collaboration, and innovation will find this contract suitable as it focuses on improving service delivery through interconnected systems like LIMs. The initiative also emphasizes centralising testing, offering business growth potential to enterprises aligned with NHS strategic objectives, including enhancing service quality and operational efficiencies. Businesses with expertise in medical testing infrastructure, particularly those with existing NHS relationships, will be well-positioned to compete and potentially collaborate under similar frameworks in the future.

## Notice

This is a direct award to Oxford University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (referred to as OUH), for the provision of pathology diagnostic testing under the Provider Selection Regime (PSR) "Most Suitable Provider". This is an inter-NHS contract award

### Lot Information

Lot 1

This is a direct award to Oxford University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) under the
Provider Selection Regime (PSR) using the "Most Suitable Provider" process. The contract is for the provision of pathology diagnostic testing currently outsourced within the NHS. 
As per the NHSE strategy to deliver cost effective pathology services and build resilience, improve internal delivery and deliver social value, GWH will be repatriating some of its existing outsourced testing within its NHS partners for Immunology/Haematology /Blood sciences into the S4 Pathology network hub. 

English Trusts are divided into various pathology networks with a central hub arrangement. GWH is part of S4. The network participants are connected via Lims which went Live for GWH in May 2025.

The contract term is for one year, from 06/06/2025 to 05/06/2026. 

The estimated contract value for one year is PS2,400,000. This contract value is a forecast only. The value of the contract is determined by the test type, actual test volume and driven by patient need. Contract value for 25025/2026 will be subject to benchmark prior to contract expiry. 

As shown in the disclosed criteria, the main weighted criteria, Integration, Collaboration and Service is
weighted at 50%, as the key objective to centralise testing within the S4 pathology network, connected via LIMs. The other elements of quality-led criteria total a further 40% of the weighting. Value in terms of cost
has been weighted at 10% because integration, and maintaining the quality of the service is the main objective. 

GWH will be awarding this contract under PSR "Most suitable provider" as OUH are the only organisation that is a) part of the S4 pathology network and therefore fulfils NHSE strategic requirements for a future pathology service b) as the hub lead, can deliver the testing required c) from May 2025, will be connected to OUH via LIMs.

OUH already deliver part of the testing requirement under existing arrangements. University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (referred to as UHS) also provide pathology testing services to GWH under long term contractual arrangements. GWH are awarding this under the PSR regime as the "Most Suitable provider" as OUH is a) the hub lead and b) connected to GWH via LIMs. GWH will no longer be able to transfer those tests via any other route. UHS are supporting GWH as part of the transfer of the work into OUH. This process will therefore centralise the inter NHS testing under one contract.

### Procurement Information

This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice (F03) . The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award. GWH intends to observe a standstill period of eight working days. The standstill period begins on the day after the publication of this notice. Representations by providers must be made to decision makers by 4pm 5th June 2025. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR'.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/037848-2025 |
| Notice type | Tender 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 | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 7 Jul 2025 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 22 May 2025 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £2,040,000 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | GREAT WESTERN HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST |
| Locality | SWINDON |
| Post town | Swindon |
| Postcode | SN3 6BB |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire |
| ITL 3 | TLK71 Swindon |
| Local authority | Swindon |
| Electoral ward | Ridgeway |
| Westminster constituency | East Wiltshire |
| Delivery location | TLK South West (England) |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | OXFORD UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 85111800 - Pathology services

## Release History

- 7 Jul 2025 at 13:34 - TenderUpdate - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/037848-2025
- 23 May 2025 at 11:37 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026222-2025

## Notice URLs

- https://www.gwh.nhs.uk/
- https://www.salisbury.nhs.uk/

## 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-052231. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-052231.json.