---
title: "Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (AST) system"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-055b36"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-055b36"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-055b36.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-055b36.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "THE COMMON SERVICES AGENCY (MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS NHS NATIONAL SERVICES SCOTLAND) (NSS)"
published: "2025-07-08"
---

# Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (AST) system

Buyer: THE COMMON SERVICES AGENCY (MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS NHS NATIONAL SERVICES SCOTLAND) (NSS)  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-055b36

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-055b36)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-055b36.json)

## Summary

The Common Services Agency, known as NHS National Services Scotland (NSS), is in the planning stage for procuring a standard Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (AST) system to be utilised across all 15 NHS Health Boards in Scotland. This procurement process, classified under medical equipment, is expected to commence with submissions of interest by 22nd July 2025, with further details to be announced by 30th September 2025. This initiative is designed to enhance clinical microbiology services and requires a (semi-) automated system with robust real-world performance for both small and large laboratories. The delivery location is indicated as UKM, encompassing the Scottish region.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in medical equipment, particularly those with capabilities in AST systems that are scalable and meet the specified compliance standards, such as EUCAST. Enterprises with innovative solutions that include bi-directional interfaces and longevity in service life for their products could find this tender particularly rewarding. Suppliers who can demonstrate the ability to handle substantial volumes of ASTs, with advanced reporting capabilities and the flexibility to incorporate updated testing criteria, will be well-positioned to benefit from this procurement. Such firms can leverage this opportunity to solidify their presence within the UK healthcare sector, particularly in Scotland.

## Notice

NHS Scotland requires a standard Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (AST) system to be used across all 15 NHS Health Boards which provide a Clinical Microbiology service: from multi-disciplinary laboratories in remote / rural Boards to large laboratories providing specialist services in tertiary referral Boards. The AST solution must be (semi-) automated and up-scalable so that it is practical for both small and large laboratories and it must have a proven real-world performance record. Please note interest by 22nd July 2025

### Lot Information

Lot 1

NHS Scotland requires a standard Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (AST) system to be used across all 15 NHS Health Boards which provide a Clinical Microbiology service: from multi-disciplinary laboratories in remote / rural Boards to large laboratories providing specialist services in tertiary referral Boards. The AST solution must be (semi-) automated and up-scalable so that it is practical for both small and large laboratories and it must have a proven real-world performance record. The national AST system must deliver panel testing for both bacteria and fungi. Suppliers are requested to provide details of the antibiotics, organisms and "drug-bug" combinations which may be tested on their system as well as those which cannot be tested on their system. It is essential that NHS Scotland-bespoke testing panels are available and that the system is fully EUCAST compliant, in line with Scottish AMR surveillance requirements. Annual EUCAST updates must be available on the system within six months of publication, including breakpoints and interpretive criteria. In the absence of specific EUCAST "drug-bug" testing and interpretive criteria, alternatives stipulated by the SMVN (e.g. CLSI) must be incorporated into the testing system. If the supplier's system is capable of delivering "rapid AST (RAST)", details should be provided. A bi-directional interface between the AST system and each Board's Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) is essential and implementation should be led by the AST system supplier. The national AST solution must routinely report minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) data as well interpreted MICs via system software to routinely report antibiograms and ensure unusual phenotypes are highlighted. The ability to search and produce management reports on AST data would be advantageous and details should be provided. AST equipment is expected to have a lifespan of a minimum of 7 to 10 years. Suppliers are asked to submit details of [a] their standard (semi-) automated AST equipment currently available for all 15 NHS Scotland Boards that deliver an AST service, [b] details of standard testing panels currently available, [c] interpretive criteria, [d] reportable patient results and [e] epidemiological packages, if available. Prerequisites and dependence on any additional or ancillary equipment / systems should be highlighted. Suppliers are asked to describe the system(s) available to fulfil this national requirement and also provide a (maximum) 2 page summary detailing the service that would be provided. Indicative numbers of ASTs carried out per year in NHS Scotland laboratories are (average 2018 - 2024): Average AST tests per year: 100,000 - 1 Health Board

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/038272-2025 |
| Notice type | Planning 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 | 8 Jul 2025 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 29 Sep 2025 |
| 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 | Planned |
| Lots status | Planned |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | THE COMMON SERVICES AGENCY (MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS NHS NATIONAL SERVICES SCOTLAND) (NSS) |
| Locality | EDINBURGH |
| Post town | Edinburgh |
| Postcode | EH12 9EB |
| 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 | Drum Brae/Gyle |
| Westminster constituency | Edinburgh South West |
| Delivery location | TLM Scotland |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 33 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products

### Codes

- 33100000 - Medical equipments

## Release History

- 8 Jul 2025 at 13:34 - Planning - Planning Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/038272-2025

## Notice URLs

- http://www.nss.nhs.scot/browse/procurement-and-logistics
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000803774
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=803774
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA11883

## 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-055b36. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-055b36.json.