---
title: "SPECIMEN TRANSPORTERS"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-064acc"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-064acc"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-064acc.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-064acc.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "CARDIFF AND VALE UNIVERSITY HEALTH BOARD"
published: "2026-03-27"
---

# SPECIMEN TRANSPORTERS

Buyer: CARDIFF AND VALE UNIVERSITY HEALTH BOARD  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-064acc

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## Summary

The Cardiff and Vale University Health Board has completed the procurement process for "Specimen Transporters" in the healthcare industry. This contract involves the distribution of External Quality Assessment (EQA) materials globally, requiring bespoke packaging solutions for biological specimens. The procurement process has progressed to the award stage, with the contract beginning on 23rd March 2026 and expected to conclude on 22nd March 2028. MEDDX Solutions Limited, based in Hereford, was awarded the contract through a direct procurement method. The procurement process was guided by technical specifications and the continuity requirements due to the bespoke nature of the products involved.

This tender creates opportunities primarily for businesses specialising in medical equipment and packaging compliance with international transport regulations. Companies with expertise in bespoke biocompatible packaging and those capable of meeting specified operational requirements would be well-suited to participate in similar future tenders. The direct award highlights a focus on maintaining existing supplier relationships for highly specialised products, indicating opportunity for businesses with a track record of bespoke service provision. Additionally, there is scope for innovation in sustainable materials in related contracts, promoting growth for firms that can provide environmentally friendly solutions. The contract’s renewal options also suggest potential for extended partnership with the Health Board.

## Notice

WEQAS require a specialist packaging solution to distribute External Quality Assessment (EQA) material to more than 35,000 sites globally each month. The packaging must provide a compliant, leak-proof secondary containment for Exempt and Category B Biological Specimens, using sustainable materials where possible.

### Procurement Information

The direct award justification applies as the current supplier has historically supplied the specialist specimen transporters and associated packaging products required for the WEQAS service. The products supplied are bespoke and designed specifically to meet WEQAS operational requirements, including unique vial sizes, transport combinations and international biological specimen transport regulations. The transporters incorporate patented leak-proof clamshell technology with integrated absorbent material and are manufactured to meet IATA transport compliance standards. These specifications are essential to ensure the safe and compliant transport of External Quality Assessment materials distributed globally. The products supplied are bespoke to WEQAS and have been developed and refined over a number of years to meet specific operational and regulatory requirements. Replicating this design and manufacturing process with an alternative supplier would present significant technical, regulatory and operational risks, including potential disruption to service delivery. Continuity of supply is critical as WEQAS distributes over 35,000 EQA consignments per month worldwide. Any disruption to packaging supply would impact international distribution and service delivery. Previous market engagement indicated that no alternative suppliers were able to meet the required specification or provide a cost-effective equivalent within operational timescales. For these reasons, the direct award is considered justified due to technical reasons, absence of competition, and the requirement for bespoke specialist products essential for service continuity.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/028588-2026 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Direct award |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 27 Mar 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 9 Feb 2026 |
| Contract period | 23 Mar 2026 - 22 Mar 2028 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £436,583 |
| Contracts value | £436,583 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | CARDIFF AND VALE UNIVERSITY HEALTH BOARD |
| Additional buyers | NHS WALES SHARED SERVICES PARTNERSHIP (HOSTED BY VELINDRE UNIVERSITY NHS TRUST) |
| Locality | CARDIFF |
| Post town | Cardiff |
| Postcode | CF14 4HH |
| Country | Wales |
| ITL 1 | TLL Wales |
| ITL 2 | TLL5 South East Wales |
| ITL 3 | TLL51 Central Valleys and Bridgend |
| Local authority | Rhondda Cynon Taf |
| Electoral ward | Taff's Well |
| Westminster constituency | Cardiff North |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | MEDDX SOLUTIONS |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

### Codes

- 34900000 - Miscellaneous transport equipment and spare parts

## Release History

- 27 Mar 2026 at 14:21 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/028588-2026
- 10 Feb 2026 at 14:58 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/011994-2026
- 9 Feb 2026 at 09:34 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/011233-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/028588-2026
  27th March 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/011994-2026
  10th February 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/011233-2026
  9th February 2026 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-14067
  contract schedule for award
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-14068
  award letter
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-14080
  declaration of interest

## Notice URLs

- http://nwssp.nhs.wales/ourservices/procurement-services/
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.meddxsolutions.co.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-064acc. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-064acc.json.