---
title: "Workflow for NHS Labs delivering SCID and SMA ISEs (SPOT-it Methodology)"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-067179"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-067179"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-067179.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-067179.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-067179

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## Summary

NHS England has initiated a Provider Selection Regime to award contracts for the delivery of laboratory services using SPOT-it Methodology. This process involves awarding contracts for the NHS Newborn Blood Spot in-service evaluation for Severe Combined Immuno-Deficiency (SCID) and Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). The procurement falls outside the scope of standard regulations, using a limited process under the Most Suitable Provider approach. The tender status is complete, with the procurement method set as a direct award without prior publication of a call for competition. The award was decided on 5th March 2026, and the standstill period following this intention to award commenced to receive representations by 1st April 2026. The service is categorised under medical laboratories and will primarily serve the UK region.

This tender provides strategic opportunities for businesses specialising in medical laboratory services with proficient capabilities in quality assurance, data management, and clinical workforce provision. Companies like Great Ormond Street Hospital, Newcastle, and Synnovis LLP have already been identified as suitable providers, showcasing the demand for high-quality and innovative services. The procurement highlights the importance of integration, collaboration, and service sustainability with a weighting preference of 60% on quality innovation and significant emphasis on social value and reducing inequalities. The tender supports continuity for established services and could attract businesses with experience in similar NHS-driven health initiatives, aiming to expand service offerings and enhance national healthcare objectives.

## 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/026300-2026 |
| 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 | THE NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE HOSPITALS 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/026300-2026

## Notice URLs

- https://www.england.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-067179. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-067179.json.