--- title: "Provision of Culture Media, Labware and Embryoslides" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0681b5" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0681b5" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0681b5.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0681b5.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Award" buyer: "QE FACILITIES LTD" published: "2026-05-14" --- # Provision of Culture Media, Labware and Embryoslides Buyer: QE FACILITIES LTD Current stage: Award OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0681b5 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0681b5) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0681b5.json) ## Summary QE Facilities Ltd, a public authority under the central government located in Gateshead, has completed a tender process titled "Provision of Culture Media, Labware and Embryoslides." The tender, regarding the industry of laboratory reagents, follows a direct procurement method, justified under the Procurement Act 2023 due to technical compatibility issues. The contract, valued at approximately £387,749.70 including VAT over a five-year period, with the term starting from 1st May 2026 to 30th April 2031, has been awarded to VITROLIFE LIMITED, an SME based in Warwick. The contract status is active following its award on 30th April 2026. This tender offers substantial opportunities for businesses specialising in laboratory reagents and related services, particularly those equipped to meet critical technical dependencies and ensure continuity of clinical services. Companies that can assure high-quality, specialised products compatible with sensitive medical equipment would benefit significantly from competing in similar tenders. This direct award process demonstrates the importance of maintaining supplier consistency in sectors where technical adjustments could impact service quality and client outcomes. ## Notice A 5 year price agreement for the provision of Culture Media, Labware and Embryoslides for use within the Gateshead Fertility Services. Cost based on previous 12 months spend is estimated to be PS323,124.75 ex VAT, PS387,749.70 inc VAT over the term of the 5 year agreement ### Procurement Information Embryo culture media is a critical component of the IVF process, with a direct impact on embryo development, clinical pregnancy rates, and potentially the long-term health outcomes of resulting offspring. Any change in culture media therefore represents a significant clinical decision with inherent risk. It is not feasible to conduct a tandem trial using multiple media products concurrently within our service. Such an approach would require formal ethical approval and would introduce substantial complexity into routine clinical practice. Furthermore, any transition between media systems would necessarily affect all patients undergoing treatment during that period, thereby exposing them to potential variability in outcomes. While retrospective analysis could be undertaken to evaluate the impact of a change on key performance indicators, this would only be possible after implementation, at which point any negative effects on patient outcomes would already have occurred. In addition, EmbryoScope time-lapse incubators require the use of EmbryoScope-specific culture dishes (slides), which are the only compatible consumables for this equipment. This creates a technical dependency that further limits the ability to consider alternative suppliers. For these reasons, this direct award is justified under Section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023, relying on Schedule 5, paragraph 6 (single supplier: technical reasons). The requirement can only be supplied by a particular supplier due to technical compatibility and the absence of reasonable alternatives. A change in supplier would result in incompatibility and/or disproportionate clinical and operational risk. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/044335-2026 | | Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Goods | | Procurement method | Direct | | Procurement method details | Direct award | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | SME | | All stages | Award | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 14 May 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | 12 Apr 2026 | | Contract period | 30 Apr 2026 - 30 Apr 2031 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | £323,124 | | Contracts value | £323,124 | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Complete | | Lots status | Complete | | Awards status | Active | | Contracts status | Active | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | QE FACILITIES LTD | | Locality | GATESHEAD | | Post town | Newcastle upon Tyne | | Postcode | NE9 6SX | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLC North East (England) | | ITL 2 | TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear | | ITL 3 | TLC43 Tyneside | | Local authority | Gateshead | | Electoral ward | High Fell | | Westminster constituency | Gateshead Central and Whickham | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## Supplier | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Number of suppliers | 1 | | Supplier names | VITROLIFE | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 33 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products ### Codes - 33696500 - Laboratory reagents ## Release History - 14 May 2026 at 11:45 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/044335-2026 - 14 Apr 2026 at 12:41 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/033770-2026 - 14 Apr 2026 at 10:04 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/033640-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/044335-2026 14th May 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/033770-2026 14th April 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/033640-2026 14th April 2026 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents - https://www.qefacilities.co.uk/ - https://www.vitrolifegroup.com/en ## 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-0681b5. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0681b5.json.