---
title: "Pre Market Engagement for Microbiology Molecular Platforms, Consumables and Quality Control Products"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-064cd8"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-064cd8"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-064cd8.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-064cd8.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "WESTERN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE TRUST"
published: "2026-05-11"
---

# Pre Market Engagement for Microbiology Molecular Platforms, Consumables and Quality Control Products

Buyer: WESTERN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE TRUST  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-064cd8

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## Summary

Western Health and Social Care Trust is leading a Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) exercise to inform a future procurement strategy for Microbiology Molecular Platforms, Consumables, and Quality Control Products for Northern Ireland's Health and Social Care Trusts. This process is in its planning stage, with a focus on industry engagement through site visits to introduce potential suppliers to Trust laboratory environments. Key procurement stages are scheduled from 22nd to 26th June 2026, with suppliers required to express interest by 22nd May 2026. Milestones indicate the engagement process is compliant with the Procurement Act 2023, further emphasizing transparency and proportionality in market engagement efforts. The procurement strategy development reflects Northern Ireland's devolved government regulatory standards and aligns with central government classifications.

This PME stage offers substantial opportunities for businesses in the medical equipment and laboratory supply industries, particularly those specialising in diagnostic and molecular testing services. Businesses proficient in the provision of diagnostic platforms, reagents, and other laboratory consumables are well-suited to contribute to the development of an integrated managed service model across multiple Trust sites. The process welcomes suppliers with innovative delivery models that accommodate varied laboratory infrastructures, potentially enhancing service uniformity while considering logistical and operational requirements across the region's varied sites. This engagement underscores the comprehensive scope for participating businesses to influence future tender structures and align with emerging procurement strategies in healthcare diagnostics.

## Notice

Purpose of the PME The purpose of this second stage Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) is to continue engagement with the marketplace on behalf of Belfast, Northern, Southern, South Eastern and Western Health and Social Care Trusts for Northern Ireland. Building on the previous PME activity, this stage seeks suppliers views on the capability and capacity of the market to support the delivery of managed microbiology and molecular diagnostic services. This PME does not form part of a formal procurement process and does not represent a commitment to proceed to tender or to adopt a particular delivery solution. The intention is to inform the development of a future procurement strategy. This stage of the PME is focused on exploring managed service delivery models which may include (but is not limited to) diagnostic platforms, associated equipment, reagents, consumables, quality control materials, installation, maintenance and ongoing service support. Site Visits: Suppliers with capability in the potential delivery of managed microbiology and molecular diagnostic services are invited to participate in in-person site visits across all Trust laboratory locations as part of this stage of the PME process. The purpose of the site visits is to support the development of the forthcoming procurement by enabling suppliers to observe laboratory environments and consider the feasibility of delivering a comprehensive, integrated managed service across all Trust sites. This includes consideration of diagnostic platforms, associated equipment, reagents, consumables, quality control materials, installation, maintenance and ongoing service support requirements. Suppliers should note that laboratory environments vary across Trust sites in terms of age, configuration and underlying infrastructure. These variations may present significant considerations in relation to space planning, equipment placement, utilities, ventilation and floor loading capacity. Suppliers are encouraged to take these factors into account when considering potential managed service models and delivery approaches, and to reflect these considerations in any feedback provided as part of the PME. Background: A contract is currently in place from 30 January 2019 to 28 February 2028. Planning is underway for a future re procurement to ensure continued service provision across all Trust laboratory sites. A formal procurement competition is anticipated to be launched in early 2027 via the Find a Tender Service (FTS). An initial Supplier Engagement Session (SES) has previously been undertaken to inform early market understanding and identify potential service considerations. This PME site visit exercise represents a further stage of market engagement, building on that activity. The PME will assist the Buyer in understanding the extent to which the market can support delivery across the full scope of requirements within varied laboratory infrastructures. Information sought from Suppliers: The Buyer is seeking high level, indicative market insights from suppliers regarding their approach to delivering managed microbiology and molecular diagnostic services in a multi site laboratory environment. Suppliers are invited to share views and considerations on: * configuration and delivery of an integrated managed service model; * infrastructure and environmental requirements typically associated with such services; and * how managed service approaches may be adapted to accommodate laboratories of differing age, layout and infrastructure capability, whilst maintaining uniformity across all five trusts. Further indicative technical information, including high level test scope and volumes, may be shared as part of site visit discussions with participating suppliers to support informed and constructive feedback. Pricing or commercial information is not being requested at this stage; however, further information, including indicative costings and related assumptions, may be requested later as part of this pre market engagement exercise.

### Planning Information

This Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) exercise will include in person site visits with interested suppliers across all Trust laboratory locations.
The purpose of the engagement is to obtain information from the market to help inform the development of the future procurement strategy. This PME, including site visits and information gathering, is undertaken for market engagement purposes only and does not form part of any formal tender, assessment or contractual process.
The PME will be conducted in accordance with CP13 – Preliminary Market Engagement, and the Procurement Act 2023, supporting transparency, fairness and proportionality.
Suppliers wishing to participate are required to register their interest and confirm attendance in accordance with the instructions provided in this notice by the stated deadline.
What you need to do now:
1. If not registered on eTendersNI, do so on the website www.eTendersNI.gov.uk . Go to
the 'Suppliers new to eTendersNI' section and follow the registration process. Potential tenderers will be required to register against the relevant CPV codes applicable to them to ensure they receive email alerts regarding specific areas of interest. If already registered potential tenderers should review their contact details to ensure the information is up to date. Assistance is available from eTendersNI Helpdesk, telephone number:
08002404545.
2. To request the CP13 - Preliminary Market Engagement Explanatory Document (Site Visits), you must e-mail palsgransha.sourcing@hscni.net by 15:00 hrs on Friday 22nd May 2026.
3. Once you are in receipt of the CP13 - Preliminary Market Engagement Explanatory Document, follow the instructions within the document and submit your completed Declaration of Interest via email to palsgransha.sourcing@hscni.net (CfT Ref: 6114409) before the deadline at 15:00 hrs on Friday, 5th June 2026.
4. Indicate your availability for the proposed Site Visit Dates utilising the
Declaration of Interest Form for dates – Monday 22nd - Friday 26th June 2026 (to assist with scheduling).

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/043053-2026 |
| 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 | 11 May 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 4 Jan 2027 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 1 Mar 2028 - 28 Feb 2033 |
| 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 | Planning |
| Lots status | Planning |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | WESTERN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE TRUST |
| Additional buyers | BELFAST HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE TRUST; BUSINESS SERVICES ORGANISATION; BUSINESS SERVICES ORGANISATION, PROCUREMENT AND LOGISTICS SERVICE; NORTHERN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE TRUST; SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE TRUST; SOUTHERN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE TRUST |
| Locality | DERRY |
| Post town | Northern Ireland |
| Postcode | BT9 7AB |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| ITL 1 | TLN Northern Ireland |
| ITL 2 | TLN0 Northern Ireland |
| ITL 3 | TLN07 Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon |
| Local authority | Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon |
| Electoral ward | Kernan |
| Westminster constituency | Upper Bann |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 33 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products
- 38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

### Codes

- 33100000 - Medical equipments
- 33124000 - Diagnostics and radiodiagnostic devices and supplies
- 33124100 - Diagnostic devices
- 33124130 - Diagnostic supplies
- 33141625 - Diagnostic kits
- 33696500 - Laboratory reagents
- 38000000 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)
- 38950000 - Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) equipment
- 38951000 - Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) equipment

## Release History

- 11 May 2026 at 13:34 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/043053-2026
- 10 Feb 2026 at 14:54 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/011990-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/043053-2026
  11th May 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/011990-2026
  10th February 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## 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-064cd8. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-064cd8.json.