---
title: "Microbiology Automation, including automated Blood Culture, Microbial Identification and Susceptibility Testing Systems"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0659ae"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0659ae"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0659ae.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0659ae.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "BELFAST HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE TRUST"
published: "2026-02-20"
---

# Microbiology Automation, including automated Blood Culture, Microbial Identification and Susceptibility Testing Systems

Buyer: BELFAST HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE TRUST  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0659ae

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## Summary

The Belfast Health and Social Care Trust is leading a procurement process on behalf of several trusts and the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service for the supply of advanced microbiological testing laboratory automation. This tender, initiated on 20 February 2026, aims to procure systems for automated blood culture, microbial identification, and susceptibility testing across facilities in Northern Ireland. The tender process, governed by a competitive flexible procedure, is at the tender stage with a submission deadline of 1 April 2026. The procurement falls under the medical equipment category, with significant gross potential valued at £25,947,007 and encompasses additional services related to laboratory systems. Interested parties should note the enquiry period ending on 25 March 2026 and anticipate the award period completion by 30 November 2026.

This tender presents substantial growth opportunities for businesses specialising in laboratory automation, medical equipment supply, and related services. Companies adept in providing integrated, interoperable systems that meet specific technical requirements and offer reliable maintenance services would be well-suited to compete. The tender includes provisions for potential future purchases, which can further extend business prospects if infrastructure constraints are resolved. Suppliers must demonstrate strong legal, financial, and technical capabilities, particularly in handling complex, high-value contracts, and have the capacity to deliver sophisticated laboratory solutions. The selective procurement method ensures that only qualified suppliers are considered, maximising collaboration opportunities within the UK's healthcare sector.

## Notice

The Business Services Organisation (BSO) Procurement and Logistics Service (PaLS), on behalf of the Health and Social Care (HSC) Trusts and the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service (NIBTS), invites tenders for the supply of advanced laboratory automation solutions for microbiological testing, including automated Blood Culture, Microbial Identification and Susceptibility Testing Systems.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

Options: The tender includes options to procure additional equipment where funding becomes available and infrastructure constraints are resolved. Details of known future requirements are included within the tender documentation; however, provision of these items is not currently feasible due to unresolved floor loading and wider infrastructure issues. These potential future purchases will be assessed as part of the tender and may proceed if, and when, the constraints are addressed and funding is secured. The tender also includes provisions for additional quantities and changes to test repertoires. Criteria for additional purchases are set out in the tender documentation and include, but are not limited to, changes in clinical guidance, departmental recommendations, changes in clinical practice, consolidation of testing services, and unforeseen increases in demand.

Renewal: There is provision for an extension of the contract for any period up to and including 24 months. A further extension of up to 18 months may also be applied; however, this additional 18-month extension may be used solely to facilitate a subsequent procurement competition or to put in place alternative arrangements for the required supplies or services. The estimated Total Value provided includes all potential extensions, as well as any known potential future purchases described within the "Description of Options".

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015855-2026 |
| Notice type | UK4 - Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Competitive flexible procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Tender |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 20 Feb 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 1 Apr 2026 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 1 Jan 2027 - 31 Dec 2032 |
| Recurrence | 2034-01-01 |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £21,622,505 |
| Lots value | £21,622,505 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Active |
| Lots status | Active |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | BELFAST HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE TRUST |
| Additional buyers | BUSINESS SERVICES ORGANISATIONS, PROCUREMENT AND LOGISTICS SERVICE; NI BLOOD TRANSFUSION SERVICE; NORTHERN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE TRUST; SOUTH EASTERN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE TRUST; SOUTHERN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE TRUST; WESTERN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE TRUST |
| Locality | BELFAST |
| Post town | Northern Ireland |
| Postcode | BT9 7AB |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| ITL 1 | TLN Northern Ireland |
| ITL 2 | TLN0 Northern Ireland |
| ITL 3 | TLN06 Belfast |
| Local authority | Belfast |
| Electoral ward | Blackstaff |
| Westminster constituency | Belfast South and Mid Down |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 33 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products
- 38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)
- 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

### Codes

- 33000000 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products
- 33696000 - Reagents and contrast media
- 33696200 - Blood-testing reagents
- 38000000 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)
- 38400000 - Instruments for checking physical characteristics
- 38434000 - Analysers
- 71900000 - Laboratory services

## Release History

- 20 Feb 2026 at 17:13 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015855-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015855-2026
  20th February 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps
- 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-0659ae. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0659ae.json.