--- title: "Supply of Sample Tubes" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-060fcc" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-060fcc" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-060fcc.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-060fcc.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "NHS BLOOD AND TRANSPLANT" published: "2026-01-27" --- # Supply of Sample Tubes Buyer: NHS BLOOD AND TRANSPLANT Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-060fcc [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-060fcc) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-060fcc.json) ## Summary NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is inviting suppliers to participate in the procurement process for the supply of sample tubes, in a planning stage with a focus on market engagement. Located at 500 North Bristol Park, Bristol, this procurement process falls under the industry category of Medical Equipment, Pharmaceuticals, and Personal Care Products. Interested suppliers are encouraged to express their interest in the project, which spans from 7th August 2026 to 6th August 2031, with potential for renewal. Suppliers should contact Jo Murphy at jo.murphy@nhsbt.nhs.uk by 6th February 2026 to participate in the pre-tender questionnaire phase. This procurement presents growth opportunities for businesses specializing in medical supplies and equipment, particularly those adept in the production of sample tubes equipped with specific features such as K2 EDTA with colour-coded caps, as well as automated de-capping equipment. Companies with the capability to provide a robust supply chain and meet stringent compliance and quality standards will be well-positioned to compete. With an estimated contract value of £2 million, this tender presents a substantial opportunity for growth within the healthcare supply sector, stimulating innovation and efficiency improvements in blood and tissue donation testing processes. ## Notice NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is a Special Health Authority in England, with responsibilities across the United Kingdom for organ donation and transplantation. Our core purpose is to 'save and improve lives' through the provision of a safe and reliable supply of blood components, solid organs, stem cells, tissues and related services to the NHS, and to the other UK Health Services where directed. Testing function in the Blood Supply Directorate performs a wide range of testing services, these include but are not limited to the large-scale blood grouping and microbiological screening of blood and tissue donations. The Authority has two testing sites in England, in which approximately 1.5 million donations are tested each year. Each donation bled requires a minimum of 3 x 6mL sample tubes to be taken into K2 EDTA tubes which have colour coded caps for identification purposes. Some donors also require additional tubes these include but are not limited to 4mL EDTA and K3 EDTA tubes. Tubes are of the evacuation type and the Authority requires a unique bar-code label to be affixed at bed side over a blank manufacturers label. The Authority also requires automated de-capping equipment at each of the Authority's Testing sites which have sufficient capacity to handle the daily workload by safely removing at least 40 original stoppers from sample tubes per minutes per decapper, with a minimum de-capping success rate at 95%. To find out more about this opportunity, or to an express an interest, please contact jo.murphy@nhsbt.nhs.uk before Friday 6th February 2026. ### Planning Information Interested suppliers will receive a pre-tender questionnaire for completion. Please contact jo.murphy@nhsbt.nhs.uk to register your interest. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/007219-2026 | | Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement 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 | 27 Jan 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 1 Apr 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 6 Aug 2026 - 6 Aug 2031 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £2,000,000 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planning | | Lots status | Planning | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | NHS BLOOD AND TRANSPLANT | | Locality | BRISTOL | | Post town | Bristol | | Postcode | BS34 7QH | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) | | ITL 2 | TLK5 West of England | | ITL 3 | TLK52 Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire | | Local authority | South Gloucestershire | | Electoral ward | Filton | | Westminster constituency | Filton and Bradley Stoke | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 33 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products ### Codes - 33000000 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products ## Release History - 27 Jan 2026 at 15:40 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/007219-2026 - 27 Jan 2026 at 14:29 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/007152-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/007219-2026 27th January 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/007152-2026 27th January 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents - https://www.nhsbt.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-060fcc. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-060fcc.json.