---
title: "ESNEFT2745 - Pathology Labels, Forms and Packaging"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-067e13"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-067e13"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-067e13.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-067e13.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "EAST SUFFOLK AND NORTH ESSEX NHS FOUNDATION TRUST"
published: "2026-05-22"
---

# ESNEFT2745 - Pathology Labels, Forms and Packaging

Buyer: EAST SUFFOLK AND NORTH ESSEX NHS FOUNDATION TRUST  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-067e13

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## Summary

The East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust is seeking interested suppliers for its tender titled "ESNEFT2745 - Pathology Labels, Forms and Packaging", focusing on the supply of non-clinical consumables for pathology services. The procurement process currently is at the tender stage with a competitive flexible procedure. Businesses are invited to submit their expressions of interest by 5th June 2026 at noon. The procurement falls under the services category, specifically pathology services, and encompasses various pathology disciplines, community settings, and primary care across the United Kingdom, particularly in Colchester. This initiative is part of an ongoing plan to award contracts by 1st September 2026, with a contract start date set for 15th October 2026, projecting a period cover until 14th October 2031, with possible extensions up to 2033.

This procurement process presents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in medical supplies, particularly those producing labels, forms, and packaging tailored for pathology settings. SMEs and VCSEs are encouraged to participate, as the process includes a selective assessment that evaluates the supplier's capability in a competitive two-stage procedure. With a gross contract value estimated at £6 million, participating businesses stand to gain substantial growth through the provision of high-quality consumables to a reputable public health institution. By engaging with this opportunity, companies can expand their market presence, particularly if they can demonstrate operational resilience and adherence to ethical supply chain practices.

## Notice

Supply of Non-clinical consumables for use within various pathology disciplines, community settings and across primary care inclusive of forms, labels and packaging

### Planning Information

The Contracting Authority is undertaking preliminary market engagement (PME) to inform the development of a future procurement for the supply of Bespoke Pathology Consumables. This is to include Labels, Forms, Specimen Bags and miscellaneous packaging. The Authority will be conducting the further competition under the Procurement Act 2023.
The purpose of this engagement is to understand current market capability, capacity, and commercial models that may enhance the delivery of high quality and efficient Pathology consumables.
Through this early engagement, the Authority seeks insight into the intended Procurement route and stages under the competitive flexible procedure, value for money, operational resilience and ethical supply chain sourcing. Feedback from Suppliers will help shape the procurement strategy, refine the service specification, and ensure that the future opportunity is realistic, deliverable, and aligned with market best practice.
Participation in this engagement is voluntary and will not form part of any future tender evaluation process. Information shared at this stage will be used solely to support the Authority’s planning and will not advantage or disadvantage any supplier in any subsequent competition.
The engagement will run from the date of this notice 8 April 2026 until 22 April 2026 as the deadline for any feedback. To participate in this engagement Suppliers must submit an expression of interest to simone.dato@esneft.nhs.uk no later than noon on 13 April 2026.
Upon expressing an interest to participate in this engagement, Suppliers must confirm if they have the capability to provide such products and provide some indicative information to substantiate this (i.e: customer reference sites). 
The Authority will then share an overview of the opportunity in more detail with capable providers and offer a dedicated 1:1 meeting virtually via MS Teams should the supplier wish to discuss the requirements further. The offer of a 1:1 slot is at the discretion of the Authority.
The Authority will outline specific areas they seek feedback on from capable Suppliers during this engagement. This is not an exhaustive list and the Authority welcome all feedback the Suppliers feel relevant for the Authority to consider.
All capable Suppliers will have the opportunity to submit questions during the engagement up until the feedback deadline for this stage. The Authority may try to answer these either during this period should it impact the Suppliers response or immediately following the event if it doesn’t. The Authority may also request additional feedback as appropriate following this engagement.
If operational pressures require them to do so, the Authority may change the date of the engagement and subsequent 1:1's. Any amendments will be notified ahead of the event.
Details of any future procurement will be published separately in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/047553-2026 |
| Notice type | UK4 - Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Competitive flexible procedure |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning, Tender |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 22 May 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 22 May 2026 |
| Future notice date | 29 Apr 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 14 Oct 2026 - 14 Oct 2031 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £5,000,000 |
| Lots value | £5,000,000 |
| 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 | EAST SUFFOLK AND NORTH ESSEX NHS FOUNDATION TRUST |
| Locality | COLCHESTER |
| Post town | Colchester |
| Postcode | CO4 5JL |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLH East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLH3 Essex |
| ITL 3 | TLH34 Essex Haven Gateway |
| Local authority | Colchester |
| Electoral ward | Mile End |
| Westminster constituency | Colchester |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 85111800 - Pathology services

## Release History

- 22 May 2026 at 09:01 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/047553-2026
- 8 Apr 2026 at 13:22 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/031979-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/047553-2026
  22nd May 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/031979-2026
  8th April 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://ipswichhospital.multiquote.com/Page/ViewRFX.aspx?a=42uWWoT%2FJVk%2BJ3MK%2B16juPHqM7%2BqLsF8ZbPyJAV%2F1HRRQi%2B7Dk6FJ1uO658%2FSy3e%2F6S9DfDG%2BgA0LBANaHHAJAKB9MB%2BvTsOTDSDuakE0Lp%2BVVXZUCnRSqJtdMDh8EXzdYg8rYka8%2FWYQarEy8lRjk%2FEhYmhgcC7pCbZBwAlKrU%3D
- https://ipswichhospital.multiquote.com/Page/ViewRFX.aspx?a=42uWWoT%2FJVk%2BJ3MK%2B16juPHqM7%2BqLsF8ZbPyJAV%2F1HRRQi%2B7Dk6FJ1uO658%2FSy3e%2F6S9DfDG%2BgA0LBANaHHAJAKB9MB%2BvTsOTDSDuakE0Lp%2BVVXZUCnRSqJtdMDh8EXzdYg8rYka8%2FWYQarEy8lRjk%2FEhYmhgcC7pCbZBwAlKrU%3DAdvertforRFX-CA17879
- https://www.esneft.nhs.uk/
- 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-067e13. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-067e13.json.