---
title: "Maintenance of Existing Controlled Rate Freezers"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0655af"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0655af"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0655af.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0655af.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "NHS BLOOD AND TRANSPLANT"
published: "2026-02-17"
---

# Maintenance of Existing Controlled Rate Freezers

Buyer: NHS BLOOD AND TRANSPLANT  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0655af

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## Summary

NHS Blood and Transplant is leading a procurement process for the "Maintenance of Existing Controlled Rate Freezers," classified under the medical and surgical equipment maintenance services industry. The contract is geographically spread across various UK sites, particularly in the South West England region (Bristol). This procurement is at the Award stage, with key dates including the contract period starting on 2nd March 2026 and potentially extending until 28th February 2030. The procurement was conducted via direct award due to the technical uniqueness that Planer Limited offers, as they are uniquely positioned to maintain the existing equipment.

This tender presents significant business growth opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) specialising in medical equipment maintenance, especially those capable of providing high-level technical services for controlled rate freezers. Although Planer Limited has been identified as the supplier, the need for specialised maintenance services in this niche sector highlights the demand for firms possessing technical proficiency. Businesses in regions hosting NHS facilities, particularly those with expertise in cryopreservation technology, would find themselves well-suited to participate in similar future contracts. The procurement process underscores the importance of building technical capabilities that align with central government requirements, potentially leading to strategic partnerships and market expansion.

## Notice

NHSBT have requirements to cryopreserve haemopoietic stem cells for transplantation and Tissue Services cryopreserve processed tissue allografts (such as skin, arteries and heart valves). To ensure cell viability, the cells / tissues have to be frozen at a controlled rate prior to storing in vapour phase nitrogen at a temperature below-150degC. Rapid freezing would cause cell/tissue damage and result in the loss of cell/tissue viability; as such the products must be slowed at a rate no quicker than -2degC /minute until they are below -40degC. A controlled rate freezer is the best way of achieving the slow rate of freeze required. NHSBT currently have 28 controlled rate freezers across 6 sites that require a maintenance contract.

### Procurement Information

Planer are the only supplier able to maintain our current supplied controlled rate freezers.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014167-2026 |
| Notice type | UK5 - Transparency Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Direct award |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 17 Feb 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 17 Feb 2026 |
| Contract period | 2 Mar 2026 - 29 Feb 2028 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £425,155 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Pending |
| 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 |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | PLANER |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 50 - Repair and maintenance services

### Codes

- 50420000 - Repair and maintenance services of medical and surgical equipment

## Release History

- 17 Feb 2026 at 10:36 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014167-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014167-2026
  17th February 2026 - Transparency 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-0655af. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0655af.json.