---
title: "Workflow for NHS Labs delivering SCID and SMA ISEs (SPOT-it Methodology)"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-067178"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-067178"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-067178.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-067178.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "NHS ENGLAND"
published: "2026-03-23"
---

# Workflow for NHS Labs delivering SCID and SMA ISEs (SPOT-it Methodology)

Buyer: NHS ENGLAND  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-067178

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## Summary

NHS England has announced an intention to award contracts under the Provider Selection Regime (PSR) for services related to the NHS Newborn Blood Spot in-service evaluation (ISE) for Severe Combined Immuno-Deficiency (SCID) and Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), using the SPOT-it Methodology. This procurement process falls within the health industry category, specifically targeting services provided by medical laboratories. The standstill period begins on 24 March 2026, allowing providers to submit representations until 1 April 2026. The procurement method used is a direct award without a prior call for competition, focusing on existing providers to ensure continuity of service. The services will commence on 1 April 2026 and are expected to run until 31 March 2028, with an option to extend for another year.

This procurement presents significant opportunities for specialised medical laboratories, particularly those with capabilities in scientific and clinical workforce provision, laboratory operations, and data management. The procurement process evaluated the providers based on criteria including quality and innovation, value, and social value, making it suitable for providers that excel in delivering integrated and sustainable health services. Collaboration with NHS England can enhance a provider’s profile in the UK health sector, offering growth potential through involvement in high-profile evaluation activities. The process involved key industry players, with Great Ormond Street Hospital being one of the identified suitable providers, emphasising the importance of a well-established reputation in the health services domain.

## Notice

This is a notice of intention to make an award in respect of the Service pursuant to the Most Suitable Provider (MSP) Process for the services of three SPOT-it Methodology Screening Labs, via direct award as part of the delivery and implementation of the ongoing NHS Newborn Blood Spot in-service evaluation (ISE) for Severe Combined Immuno-Deficiency (SCID), with the addition of the ISE for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), as recommended by the UK NSC.

For the avoidance of doubt, this is an intention to award notice. A notice of the confirmation of the award of each contract will be issued once they are signed.

Pursuant to the NHS Newborn Blood Spot in-service evaluation (ISE) for Severe Combined Immuno-Deficiency (SCID) contracts, with the addition of the ISE for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), the providers are to provide the following functions:

* Specialist scientific and clinical workforce required to deliver assurance, quality oversight, and programme reporting.
* Laboratory capacity and turnaround requirements to support in-service evaluation activity alongside existing SCID delivery.
* Quality assurance and quality control processes, including maintenance of consistent methodologies, validation status, and reporting standards.
* Information governance, data management, and secure data flows required to support national screening evaluation and reporting.
* Programme management and coordination activity necessary to support continuity and comparability of in-service evaluation outputs.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

Pursuant to the NHS Newborn Blood Spot in-service evaluation (ISE) for Severe Combined Immuno-Deficiency (SCID) contracts, with the addition of the ISE for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), the providers are to provide the following functions:

* Specialist scientific and clinical workforce required to deliver assurance, quality oversight, and programme reporting.
* Laboratory capacity and turnaround requirements to support in-service evaluation activity alongside existing SCID delivery.
* Quality assurance and quality control processes, including maintenance of consistent methodologies, validation status, and reporting standards.
* Information governance, data management, and secure data flows required to support national screening evaluation and reporting.
* Programme management and coordination activity necessary to support continuity and comparability of in-service evaluation outputs.

The Commissioner intends to award contracts following the Most Suitable Process to 3 providers who are existing providers. This is an expansion of existing services which, under PSR, constitutes a new service.

The services will start on 1st April 2026 and the initial period will run until 31st March 2028 with an option to extend for up to a further 1 year.

This procurement exercise will utilise the Most Suitable Provider (MSP) award process via the NHS Provider Selection Regime (PSR) regulations. 

The sourcing decision was taken in line with the Provider Selection Regime. The Basic Criteria were assessed and confirmed as met. A Most Suitable Provider approach was applied to secure continuity of specialist in service evaluation activity using established providers and methodologies

The Authority evaluated providers against five mandatory key criteria:

Quality and innovation 60%
Value 20%
Integration, collaboration and service sustainability 10%
Improving access and reducing inequalities and facilitating choice 5%
Social value 5%. 

Existing break and exit clauses are retained and relied upon in the general conditions to manage risk and affordability. These provisions provide NHS England with the ability to vary or exit the arrangement should the national screening policy, service configuration, or delivery models change, thereby mitigating the financial risk associated with the increased contract value.

Options: Option to extend for up to a further 12 months

### Procurement Information

The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations.

Explanation:

This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023.

For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Procurement Act Regulations 2023 do not apply to this award. The standstill period begins on the day after the publication of this notice.

Representations by providers must be made to decision makers by Friday 20th March 2026. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026299-2026 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Limited |
| Procurement method details | Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 23 Mar 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 5 Mar 2026 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| 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 | Complete |
| Lots status | Cancelled |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | NHS ENGLAND |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Post town | South East London |
| Postcode | SE1 8UG |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI4 Inner London - East |
| ITL 3 | TLI45 Lambeth |
| Local authority | Lambeth |
| Electoral ward | Waterloo & South Bank |
| Westminster constituency | Vauxhall and Camberwell Green |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | GREAT ORMOND STREET HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN NHS FOUNDATION TRUST |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 85145000 - Services provided by medical laboratories

## Release History

- 23 Mar 2026 at 14:04 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026299-2026

## Notice URLs

- https://www.england.nhs.uk/
- https://www.gosh.nhs.uk/
- https://www.gov.uk/courts-tribunals

## 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-067178. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-067178.json.