---
title: "External Quality Assessment (EQA) Service"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-05d767"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05d767"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05d767.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05d767.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "NHS ENGLAND"
published: "2026-05-07"
---

# External Quality Assessment (EQA) Service

Buyer: NHS ENGLAND  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05d767

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[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05d767.json)

## Summary

The procurement process for the "External Quality Assessment (EQA) Service" has been concluded with the award of a contract by NHS England. This process, pertaining to the Health Services category, was conducted under the Provider Selection Regime (PSR) Regulations 2023, which sits outside the scope of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The service is required to support the NHS Genomic Laboratory Hub by providing external quality assessments in compliance with ISO 17043, for various genomic tests listed in the NHS National Genomic Testing Directory. The limited procurement method led to a contract award without prior competition, ensuring that the direct need was met swiftly. The awarded contract commenced on 1st April 2026, is active, and runs initially for two years, with an optional one-year extension at the discretion of the Commissioner.

This tender offers substantial business growth opportunities, especially for businesses in the health services sector with expertise in genomic testing and quality assurance. The successful bidder, UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT SERVICE, reflects the expertise required in UKAS-accredited quality assurance schemes. Businesses equipped to deliver robust quality assessment services under stringent standards will find themselves well-suited to bid in such regulated procurements. Organizations that can demonstrate ISO 17043 compliance and innovative approaches to genomic testing will be particularly competitive in future tenders within this specialised area of public health services. Such contracts, valued at £2,400,000, including the optional extension period, represent significant engagement opportunities for capable service providers aiming at strategic growth within the NHS frameworks.

## Notice

This is a DAP A for an existing service following a Market Engagement exercise.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

The NHS Genomic Laboratory Hub (GLH) Service Specification requires each NHS GLH to:
The NHS Genomic Laboratory Hub(GLH) Service Specification requires each NHS GLH to:
* Deliver the genomic tests which are prescribed in the NHS National Genomic Testing Directory (the Directory);
* Participate and achieve satisfactory performance in UKAS-accredited (or newly developed pilots offered incompliance with ISO 17043) external quality assurance schemes to assure the quality of testing, analysis, interpretation and reporting of tests prescribed in the Directory, including Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS).
An award has been made following Direct Award Process A. The service started on 1st April 2026 for a period of 2 years with an option to extend for a further 1 year at the Commissioner's discretion. The total contract value of PS2,400,000.00 includes the 1 year option to extend.

Options: There is an option to extend the contract beyond the initial term for an additional 1 year.

### Procurement Information

These contract awards are being made under the Direct Award Process A

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/041656-2026 |
| Notice type | Planning 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 | Planning, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 7 May 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 30 Jan 2026 |
| Award date | 31 Mar 2026 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £2,400,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £2,400,000 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | NHS ENGLAND |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Post town | South East London |
| Postcode | SE1 8UG |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI4 Inner London - East |
| ITL 3 | TLI45 Lambeth |
| Local authority | Lambeth |
| Electoral ward | Waterloo & South Bank |
| Westminster constituency | Vauxhall and Camberwell Green |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT SERVICE |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 85100000 - Health services

## Release History

- 7 May 2026 at 06:55 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/041656-2026
- 30 Oct 2025 at 16:23 - Planning - Planning Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/069861-2025

## Notice URLs

- https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome
- https://www.ardengemcsu.nhs.uk/
- https://www.england.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-05d767. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05d767.json.